Manuscripts

Sarah Bixby letter to Martha Hathaway

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Description: In this letter addressed "Dear Sister Martha," Sarah Bixby writes from Rancho San Justo in San Benito County, California. She describes the cold weather, and tells of the recent wedding of Margaret Hathaway, who, Sarah writes, has moved from "the heights of the betrothed young lady to the every day duties of the plain married woman, and now is her time, to make her mark in the world, by making her husband happy and her home attractive." She wonders "if Margaret will be a good correspondent now that she is married." The rest of the letter concerns family members and mutual acquaintances. Also included are three black-and-white portrait photographs: one of Mr. & Mrs. Lewellyn Bixby, one of Martha Hathaway, and one of Mrs. Jotham Bixby. Photos have identifying information on backs.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1862, December 15.
Call number: mssHM 15208
Creator: Bixby, Sarah(Opens in new tab)

Sarah Siddons letter to Patty Wilkinson

Manuscripts

One-page fragment of a signed letter in which Siddons communicates that she will be staying with Lady Barrington, who was mourning the death of her son, until she is "wanted in Edinborough." The letter is addressed "To Miss Wilkinson."

mssHM 11385

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Sarah Studevant Leavitt autobiography

Manuscripts

This autobiography is the original handwritten manuscript of Sarah Studevant Leavitt, dated April 19, 1875. It describes her life including her childhood days in New Hampshire; the many visions and spiritual manifestations that she experienced; her conversion to Mormonism; and frontier and pioneer life as she and her family traveled from New Hampshire to Kirtland, Ohio, to Nauvoo, Illinois, to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and to Pine Canyon, Utah. Additional topics that Leavitt covers are the murder of Joseph Smith (1805-1844), her opinion of polygamy, and the persecution of Mormons.

mssHM 66386

Diary of Martha Spence Heywood [microform] : 1850-1856

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of Martha Spence Heywood's diary, kept from 1850-1856. It begins when Martha was living in Kanesville, Iowa, after joining the Mormon Church and while waiting to travel westward. She gives a brief account of her baptism in Canada and sojourns with various Mormon families in New York State. She also recounts her travels to St. Louis in 1849 and teaching school in Springville. Martha departed with the Joseph Heywood company for Utah in 1850 and gives a detailed account of the company's journey across the plains. The majority of the diary recounts in detail Martha's life in Nephi, Utah, from 1850-1856. She writes personal and insightful insights on polygamy (shortly after her marriage to Heywood she wrote "Tis rather trying to a woman's feelings not to be acknowledged by the man she has given herself to and desires to love with all her heart"), the birth and raising of her children, her illnesses from childbirth, the death of her daughter Serepta Maria from measles in 1856, her loneliness in Nephi (she wrote that she "could not bear" to be left alone by her husband and taught school in 1854 since it was "of much benefit to me as the activity ... and its responsibility prevented lonesomeness that otherwise would have been disagreeable"), and politics within the Mormon settlement at Nephi. She also writes of Indian troubles, including Mormons killed by Indians in 1853, and of the discovery of two bodies dressed in United States livery who were shot to death in November 1852. Martha also writes frequently of her acquaintances in Nephi, visits by Brigham Young, and a variety of other domestic concerns.

MSS MFilm 00161

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Sarah Bloom letter to Margaret Truax Hunter

Manuscripts

Letter from Sarah Bloom to Margaret Hunter in which Bloom writes of a Mormon pageant held at Palmyra, New York. Includes references to the general atmosphere of Palmyra during the pageant as well as notes on specific activities. Also includes a variety of family news.

mssHM 73097

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Moore & Bixby wool book

Manuscripts

Book containing the annual sheep shearings of Moore & Bixby, from San Justo Rancho and Saca Ranch in San Benito County, California. With notes about amounts gathered, sold, prices, and contitions of the wool. The volume is mostly blank.

mssHM 84343

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Charles C. (Charles Coulson) Rich letter to Sarah D. Rich

Manuscripts

Letter from Charles Rich in Little Salt Lake City to his wife Sarah D. Rich in Great Salt Lake City, Deseret. Rich writes that he has been ill but is recovering, describes his supplies and food, and asks Sarah to pay the taxes at home. He writes that he will send her something when he gets to the mines, gives instructions on building a storehouse, and implores Sarah to "take special care of the children." He also includes notes to his children telling them to behave properly.

mssHM 72835

Sarah Bixby letter to Martha Hathaway

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Sarah Siddons letter to Patty Wilkinson

Sarah Studevant Leavitt autobiography

Diary of Martha Spence Heywood [microform] : 1850-1856

Sarah Bloom letter to Margaret Truax Hunter

Moore & Bixby wool book

Charles C. (Charles Coulson) Rich letter to Sarah D. Rich