Manuscripts
Edward Gould letters to Sarah Ann Gould
Image not available
You might also be interested in
Image not available
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento letters to Benjamin Apthorp Gould
Manuscripts
In these letters to Gould, an American astronomer who founded the Argentine National Observatory and National Weather Service, Sarmiento discusses details of astronomy and of the Observatory. He also writes of political details, requests to be sent new and recent books on American foreign and domenstic policy, and is pleased to collaborate with Gould. HM 29259 is dated 1872, November 23; HM 29260 is dated 1877, February 28, and HM 29261 is dated 1885, May 17. In Spanish.
mssHM 29259-29261
Image not available
John Gould letter to Edward H. Rodd
Manuscripts
Autograph letter from London signed John Gould, to the ornithologist Edward H. Rodd, discussing the Great Black Woodpecker.
mssHM 83616
Image not available
Daniel B. Robinson letter to Mary Ann Robinson
Manuscripts
These manuscripts are a series of letters from Daniel Robinson to his sister Mary and brother James. In HM 19765 (1847, November 14), a letter to his sister, Daniel Robinson writes of his travels and contacts in the middle United States. HM 19766, dated 1849, March 12, also to Mary, Daniel writes he has delayed responding to her last letter due to a lack of interesting things to say. His main wish is to gain his fortune, and plans to accompany a group bound for the gold mines of California, and plans to leave Illinois in a week's time. He promises he will travel safely, and will write from time to time. The last letter to Mary in this sequence is dated 1850, October 31 (HM 19767), and Daniel has reached California, and has purchased "a lot of cattle" with several friends from Illinois. He would describe his journey if he had time, but plans to return to Illinois in the following spring. The final four letters are from Daniel to James, his brother. HM 19768 is dated 1849, April 12, and was written in St. Joseph, Missouri, where Daniel plans to stay for a month. The letter describes Daniel's trek to California, across overflowing rivers and many rough roads. The next letter (HM 19769) is dated May 3, and Daniel has left St. Joseph. His party had to wait two days for their chance to cross a river, as there were four hundred teams waiting for their turn. He saw several familiar Illinois faces in St. Joseph. On May 28, Daniel writes again to James (HM 19770). Their cattle broke free from their corral and scattered; they managed to recover some, but several were lost. Daniel learns that over four thousand teams have passed this way, bound for California. The final letter in this series is HM 19771, and is written from Sacramento City, California, dated 1849, October 3. Daniel reports the final leg of their journey was rather unpleasant, due to poor weather coupled with exhaustion. He says "there seems to be no extent to the amount of gold in California, and common laborers can get from two to three hundred dollars per month." His team has sold their wagons and cattle for mules and and mining equipment. He has heard many tales of gold, and expects to make his fortune soon. Of his journey to California, Daniel writes "I can safely say it is one of the most disagreeable trips a man can make." Included are three newspaper clippings from Illinois newspapers reprinting letters of Illinois travelers bound for California, two undated photos of Daniel Robinson, and a handwritten note addressed to "Mr. Tighe" and signed "Ruth Van Tuyl" regarding the photos and letters of Daniel Robinson.
mssHM 19765-19771
Image not available
Lloyd Magruder letters to Thomas C. Magruder
Manuscripts
In these three letters to his brother, Lloyd Magruder writes of his experiences searching for gold in California during the mid-19th century. All three letters were written from the town of Marysville, California. In the first letter, HM 16729, dated 1855, September 17, Lloyd writes he has been elected Justice of the Peace for Marysville. He also campaigned successfully for the office of County Clerk. He also reports that he is a new father of a seven-month-old boy. The next letter, HM 16730, is dated 1861, October 13. Lloyd is still in Marysville, and has just finished assisting with the California census, for which he is awaiting payment from Washington, D.C. While he has not done as well as he'd hoped, he did spend some time in Sacramento as part of the Legislature. His daughter is now thirteen. The final letter of this group, HM 16731, was written 1862, April 28, and contains details concerning delivery of the payment due Lloyd from the Census Bureau. Lloyd writes that he is heading for the Salmon River Mines in Washington Territory.
mssHM 16729-16731
Image not available
J.D. Duncan letters to A.H. Campbell
Manuscripts
In these two letters to his brother, J.D. Duncan writes that he has arrived in the town of Stockton, California from Wisconsin and plans to head north to the gold mines. A year later, he writes that he has found work with "a large Ditch Company." He writes of the current state of crops, of the scarcity of gold, and the danger posed by Indians. Nevertheless, J.D. believes there is still "plenty of gold to be had." HM 25788 is dated 1857, February 4, and HM 25789 is dated 1858, September 13, and both were written in Stockton, California.
mssHM 25788-25789
Image not available
Jonathan Heywood letters to Jane Heywood
Manuscripts
In these three letters addressed to his wife, Jane, Jonathan Heywood writes of his experiences in Yreka, California in 1853. HM 4201, dated July 16, Heywood writes that he has returned to California after six weeks in Oregon. He has sent gold dust home to Jane, and hopes to send more soon. He wishes that she send the children to school as much as possible. HM 4202 was written on August 7. Heywood sends more money and asks for news of home, as he has received no response to his letters. In HM 4203, dated September 4, Heywood writes that he is sending money home in the hands of a mutual friend.
mssHM 4201-4203