Charles Plummer journal

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  Charles Plummer diaries

  Manuscripts

  Two diaries kept by Charles Plummer, one while he was traveling from Boston to San Francisco in 1849 and one while he was sailing from Boston to Brazil in 1863-1864. The 1849 diary begins with Plummer's preparations to leave Boston and his joining of the New England and California Trading and Mining Association. He departed from Boston on the ship Lenore in February 1849 and while on board recorded notes on brigs he has seen (including his tracking of the brig Charlotte), a minstrel's concert on board, his stop at the Port of Talcahuana (Chile), and notes on the flying fish and birds he has seen, including the capture of an albatross. He also writes of difficulties with the Association, noting that various members had been tried on board for "deception, falsehood, neglect of duty, intemperance &c." In July the Lenore put down anchor near Benicia and Plummer was chosen to join a "pioneer party to the mines" which traveled up the Sacramento River to the Feather River and set up a "gold washer." The trip was ultimately disappointing, and things did not improve upon the party's return to the Lenore, where on September 10 "a mutiny...result[ed] in the dissolution of our company." In November the Lenore was sold and Plummer stayed for a few months in San Francisco, which was "truly a dark time," as his companion Morris had dysentery and Plummer suffered from a "bad cough [and] two very sore fingers." He wrote that their only opportunity for the winter might be to "go to the mines," which he hoped to avoid at all costs. In December Plummer came down with dysentery and began taking opium pills, and made few further entries in the diary until he gave it up completely on December 18.

  mssHM 75054-75055

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  Charles Plummer letters to his family

  Manuscripts

  These manuscripts are a series of letters written by Charles Plummer to his family. The first four letters (HM 23343-23346) are addressed to his father, Farnham Plummer, with the final letter (HM 23347) written to his sister Elizabeth. The first letter, HM 23343 dated 1849, February 4 - July 7, also contains a table of daily observations taken by Charles during his trip to California from his home state of Massachusetts, via Cape Horn. The chart is divided by latitude and longitude, and includes barometer and thermometer readings for each date. Also included are incidental details such as landmarks sighted, other ships sighted, and Charles' health (eg. "A little unwell. Took medicine"). The letter is dated 1849, June 30 and July 4, and describes the latter part of Charles' voyage and arrival at San Francisco. He writes that the voyage by sea (as a while has been a pleasant and a lucky one." HM 23344, dated 1851, March 14, sees Charles in San Francisco, and in fine health, but concerned about how he might make some money. He describes local gold mines, each being different from the next, and says he will send home some of the "gold burning quartz" he has found. He writes of meeting Chinese and French immigrants, and asks about family back home in Massachusetts. In HM 23345 (1853, March 10), Charles wishes to hear news of home, in his father's hand in particular, for he has had none for a good while. He has made new friends, and has met a few people he knew from home. He closes his letter as follows: "I would like much to see my native town once more, and trust I may ere another frontier shall pass away." HM 23346, dated 1855, January 1, finds Charles asking once more for a letter from home. He wishes everyone a Happy New Year, and says that the day is marked in California much like it is in New York or Massachusetts, and most of the local stores are closed. He is astonished by how much liquor has been consumed in San Francisco for the occasion. Included in HM 23347 (dated 1856, August 4) is a print of the public execution of Hetherington and Brace, "The Murderers of Baldwin, Randall, West, and Marion, July 29th, 1856" outside Fort Vigilance, upon which Charles has made handwritten notes. In the letter, written to his sister Elizabeth, Charles describes being a witness at this execution, which he went to because "business was suspended all about town and I could accomplish nothing." He writes of the fruit industry in San Francisco, and how it differs in operation compared to back home.

  mssHM 23343-23347

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  E.R. Plummer diary

  Manuscripts

  Eugenio Plummer's 1891-1893 diary, which focuses on accounting notes for dealings in agriculture, livestock, and land. Also includes notes on court cases, some family genealogy, and entries on Plummer's daily activities.

  mssHM 74643

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  E.H. Plummer letters

  Manuscripts

  All 13 of these letters were written to E. H. Plummer by friends and associates who had experienced the San Francisco earthquake and fires of 1906. (These letters were written in response to Plummer's letters of concern he had sent to his various friends in the San Francisco area.) In the letters the authors' discuss their personal experiences in the earthquake and the aftermath. They talk about personal property being destroyed and lost, the fear they felt during the earthquake, their anxiety in not knowing about loved ones in other parts of the area, the deaths of friends and the difficulty of communicating by the telegraph or mail. They also talk about their hope for the future and the belief that San Francisco would be rebuilt even better than before. Specific topics discussed are: Frederick Funston, A. W. Greely, Arthur McArthur, the Spring Valley Water Company, the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Presidio, the fires after the quake, and martial law. Some of the letters were written from Monterey, Oakland, Sausalito and San Jose and discuss the effects of the earthquake in those cities. Bruce Cornwall, prominent San Francisco lawyer and real estate broker, is the author of one of the letters.

  mssHM 70858-70870

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  William Hayes Chamberlin journal

  Manuscripts

  The first volume is No. 5 of several copies Alexander Rea Chamberlin made of his great-grandfather's journal. It includes a facsimile copy of the original journal as well as facsimile copies of the journal as it was printed in the Lewisburg, Pennsylvania newspaper, Chronicle. in 1849 and 1850. Chamberlin's journal covers his overland journey to California in 1849. The volume also contains later entries from a diary Chamberlin kept in 1853 to 1857 while living in California. These entries also include a trip Chamberlin took back East by ship. While in New Orleans he makes several specific comments on the slaves he sees.

  mssHM 82522 (a+b)

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  Journey of an overland trip from Missouri to California

  Manuscripts

  This volume is Gorgas' diary of his journey from St. Joseph, Missouri to Placerville, CA, and his return trip to New York via the Panama Canal as part of the California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century. Much of the early entries are concerned with weather conditions and landscape and route details. Gorgas and his party finally reach Placerville on July 26, the ninetieth day of their journey, and begin digging for gold outside Sacramento in August. On February 1, 1851, Gorgas boarded a ship, the Olive Branch, bound for New York by way of the Panama Canal, intending to return home to his much-missed family. He lands at Jamaica on April 1, and arrives at New York on April 8. Dated 1850, April 28 through 1851, April 8. Notes include price charts and signatures of people Gorgas may have met during his travels. Includes newspaper clipping with picture of Placerville, CA, circa 1850, and a four-page handwritten timeline of Gorgas' journey (not in his hand).

  mssHM 651