Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Henry Williams letter to Edward Gould
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Image not available
Manuscripts
Letters of Henry Edward Williams of the 34th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment from Virginia and West Virginia to his family. In his letters, Williams discusses military operations including the raid on Harrisburg in December 1863, skirmishes outside of Charleston, South Carolina, and encounters with guerrillas. He also mentions his time in Libby Prison and military hospitals, Confederate deserters and prisoners, as well as fugitive slaves. In a letter dated 1864 August 28, Williams expressed his unhappiness about having shared a hospital room with wounded African American soldiers. Also included is a 1914 letter setting up a foundation to benefit the estate of Colonel George D. Wells, one of the commanders of Williams' regiment who died in 1864 after being wounded in battle, other regiment information, and biographies and obituaries of Williams.
mssWilliamsh
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Manuscripts
Edward Gould wrote these four letters to Sarah Ann Gould, who was perhaps his sister, while he was in California searching for gold. In the first letter (HM 31530, dated 1850, August 30), Gould has sent home "12 1/2/ ounces" and is "keeping grocery at the same place." He writes that he has almost come home several times, but "the thought of coming with so little Dust has kept me back." HM 31531 is dated 1850, October 14, and in it, Edward writes that with the decline of successful digging, things have become very uncertain. However, the city of San Francisco is growing and improving at an incredible rate. In Edward's next letter (HM 31532, dated 1851, April 30) he is back at the mines, after having a dull visit to San Francisco. He hopes his prospecting will improve as the water levels drop, and plans to "engage a little in the boot trade." The fourth and final letter in this series (HM 31533, written 1852, January 13) finds Edward still in the mines, planning to stay through spring.
mssHM 31530-31533
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Manuscripts
Williams writes of a Bill that has been introduced to him and that he has forwarded to Hoffman for his opinion. He reports that the Bill "has been favorably received & I hope it will meet with your approval."
mssHM 19021
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Manuscripts
Letter written from Daniel Miller near Petaluma, California, to his brother William in Newburn, Virginia. Miller writes of the difficulties of driving cattle over the Oregon Trail and through the Salt Lake Valley to California, and of cattle that were "likely stolen" by Mormons in Utah. He writes of stopping with the remaining cattle in the valley outside of San Francisco and of the trouble in owning land since "nearly all the country is claimed by grants made by the Mexican Government." He writes of his trip to San Francisco and details the high cost of goods in the area, but notes that he is also selling cattle for good prices. Miller also writes of gold mining and that he plans to avoid the practice since "many thousand dollars worth of [gold] dust...disappears in a few hours at the gambling tables." Miller concludes that "I have as yet not regrets about the move [to California], except the loss of our children" (Miller's three young daughters died during the journey to California).
mssHM 74319
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Manuscripts
Belshaw writes to Brannon of his life in Eugene City, Oregon, and the Willamette River Valley. He also writes that gold has been found twenty miles outside of the city. Typed copy of original.
mssHM 4212
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Manuscripts
Letter from Henry Scamman to Francesca Allen, providing comments about Scamman's family, his varied activities, and his hopes that Francesca would visit him in the spring. Scamman also writes about going to Sacramento to fight a tax-related bill and hunting quail. With envelope.
mssHM 83979