Manuscripts
Reminiscences of California : an autograph manuscript
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Diary of travels through California
Manuscripts
Diary details travels by train and driving excursions (by horse-drawn vehicles) around California from February to April 1898. The diarist first journeys along the Pacific coast to Santa Barbara, where he describes the weather and climate, the town, and a visit to a local mission. He takes excursions from Santa Barbara to nearby Montecito, Carpinteria, Ventura, Goleta, and Naples, observing the homes of wealthy Easterners, large grapevines, the oil industry, cattle ranches, and the drought. He then travels to Fresno, where he writes about the city, malaria, heat and drought, water supply, the fruit industry, and a visit to the city's Chinatown. From Fresno, the diarist travels to the Monterey Peninsula via Tracy, Livermore, and San Jose. He describes the weather, land prices, and the towns of Pacific Grove and Monterey, and visits a giant live oak tree. The traveler then moves on to Southern California, stopping in Pasadena and Santa Monica before spending several days in San Diego, where he stays at the Coronado Hotel and writes of the weather, and the houses, streets, and landscape of the city, which he dislikes; he also visits La Jolla and the "Ramona House" adobe (possibly the Casa de Estudillo in San Diego). After a brief side trip to Tijuana, the diarist travels to San Bernadino County and the towns of San Bernadino, Riverside, and Pomona, with an added excursion into the mountains. Entries discuss the area's landscape, citrus groves, and the challenges of the orange industry. He ends his California journey in Los Angeles, leaving on April 8 and arriving in New York 10 days later. Final entries discuss the weather and scenery enroute and include some detailed description of the Colorado Springs area. The Southern Pacific Railroad is mentioned several times in the journal. The diary is in pencil, written in a bound "Memoranda" notebook. Also present is a second, unbound journal by the same author detailing an October 1898 hunting trip, most likely to Maine, which primarily contains descriptions of the weather (17 pages). In addition, there are three unused postcards depicting Los Angeles area real estate subdivisions, the Pacific Grove bathing beach, and the Riverside Salt Lake Railroad viaduct.
mssHM 84034
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Diary of an early motorist in Southern California
Manuscripts
Diary by an unnamed female author detailing daily life during her stay in Southern California. It includes descriptions of the rail trip from the East Coast to Los Angeles, a journey with her mother to the Southwest that lasted several months, and numerous entries about the family's automobiles. These include: a traffic collision with a streetcar, a major traffic jam en route to the Pasadena Rose Parade, parking and speeding tickets, auto maintenance, and various excursions with "the machine." An interesting glimpse into the early days of America's ongoing love affair with automobile travel.
mssHM 70173
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California Orchard Company report to stockholders
Manuscripts
The California Orchard Company's report to stockholders discusses the recent growth of trees and vines, orchard plantings, the hay crop, nursery stock, the labor force, expenses and wages, rainfall and irrigation, and finances and stock subscription payments due, and includes condensed balances from the general ledger. There are six black-and-white 5 x 7-inch photographs showing apricot, pear, apple, almond and walnut trees, and lima bean vines, with captions describing plantings and yields. Report is a copy of typescript signed by Carlyle Thorpe, manager, with typed subscription amounts filled in and original photographs mounted on pages. Includes mailing envelope addressed to J.M. Quint, Los Angeles.
mssHM 84032
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Diary of a trip to California
Manuscripts
The diary chronicles Margaret's travels from June 10 to August 27, 1911, primarily in Northern California. The first week of the journal details her trip alone by train from Niagara Falls to California, with descriptions of Niagara Falls and sites in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona including Cripple Creek, Albuquerque, and the Grand Canyon; some entries include observations of local Native Americans. The rest of the journal consists of descriptions of travels by train and car in California. Locations visited in Southern California include Los Angeles, Pasadena, Venice Beach, Pomona, and Santa Barbara. After June 23, Margaret was based in the Bay Area town of San Rafael with multiple excursions to San Francisco and around Northern California. Her entries describe people met and interacted with, travel methods, homes and architecture, local landmarks and history, flora and landscape, missions and churches, and weather. There are frequent mentions of Aunt May and Uncle Will, who met her in Pasadena and possibly lived in San Rafael; Aunt May, and occasionally Uncle Will, usually accompanied her on her excursions to San Francisco and around California. Entries regarding San Francisco mention Ethel Barrymore plays, the Cliff House restaurant, Golden Gate Park and its zoo and Japanese Tea Garden, Chinatown, and the effects of the 1906 earthquake. She briefly describes attending a women's suffrage event (an Equality Tea) on August 4 and rally on August 25 and mentions a suffrage amendment on the ballot that year in California. Sites traveled to in Northern California include St. Helena and the Chabot estate vineyards; the Guerneville area and the Russian River; Santa Rosa, including a visit to Luther Burbank and his gardens; a fruit farm in Los Gatos; and Eureka and other areas in Humboldt County. The journal also includes a draft or copy of a letter from Margaret to her mother written in San Rafael and dated August 27. The final nine pages of the diary are additional notes on travels in Humboldt County, many of which are crossed out. There are also several pages of loose notes, two envelopes, and a receipt. The journal is unbound and is handwritten in ink on loose paper.
mssHM 84033
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W. G. Winston letter to his mother, Mary H. Winston, Los Angeles, California
Manuscripts
Winston's letter covers a variety of topics, including emigration to California, the hard work required of the gold miners in the mines, the climate of Los Angeles, the admission of California into the Union, the question of extending slavery into California, the recent purchase of the Williams Rancho by the Mormons, and his living conditions in Los Angeles
mssHM 59835
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California Yankee : William R. Staats, business pioneer : manuscript
Manuscripts
Manuscript copy of Carol Green Wilson's biography California Yankee : William R. Staats, business pioneer (1947), which tells the story of William R. Staats (1867-1928) and his life in Southern California. Includes little personal information on Staats and instead focuses on his business dealings, including those with Henry E. Huntington, and his involvement in the development of Union Oil, Southern California Edison, Throop University (Cal Tech), the Mount Wilson Observatory, the Valley Hunt Club, and the Santa Catalina Island Yacht Club. It is also a detailed history of the economic development of Southern California, and Pasadena in particular, from the 1880s to the 1910s. Typewritten 1944 manuscript with handwritten editing notes. Originally titled, "So Many Worlds : A Business Explorer in the Promised Land."
mssHM 72900