Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Image not available
Manuscripts
In this letter dated sometime in June, 1854, Lydia Burns Hall writes to her sister, Polly Hall. She remains unmarried, and is concerned she may eventually marry someone who will not be kind to her. Her life as a single woman is hard, but she thinks "their is better dayes acoming." On reverse of letter is a pictorial lettersheet containing John Sutter's account of "the first discovery of the Gold" and a view of Sutter's Mill
mssHM 3207
Image not available
Manuscripts
Lucy Wakefield writes to her friends Lucius and Rebecca, describing her environment in the mining town of Placerville, California. Like many others who arrived for the Gold Rush, she would like to stay in California permanently. Her shop has been doing well, and she has been making twenty dozen pies per week, all on her own. Of living in California, where she has been for two and a half years, she writes "there is no way for a woman to make money except by hard work of some sort." Lucy hopes to see her friends in California soon. Dated 1851, September 18-25.
mssHM 16386
Image not available
Manuscripts
Mr. M. Lawrence writes to Charles F. Irwin, a lawyer based in Placerville, and asks for advice regarding a potential lawsuit connected with the Baldwin Hotel. Written on printed letterhead for Baldwin's Hotel Oakwood in Arcadia, California.
mssHM 26609
Image not available
Manuscripts
Autograph album of Lydia Woodworth chiefly containing blank pages with 10 drawings, 1 handwritten piece of music, and 3 manuscript pieces contributed by her friends including members of the Strong family and Charles Warren Stoddard. Consists of: a poem titled "Madrigal" by Charles Warren Stoddard, 1880; an undated unsigned poem in French beginning "Ah! Mademoiselle Lydie! est a bien vous..."; 1880; pen-and-ink sketch of a woman by Joseph D. Strong, 1880; two pages of music, "To Lydia" with "words by J. E. T." and "music by C. T.", February 1879; three pen-and-ink sketches of a woman by Belle Osborne Strong, 1878 and undated; a pen-and-ink sketch of a figure in Chinese costume with a fan by Jules Tavernier; a watercolor of a misty landscape by J. W. Rix; a watercolor of flowers signed E. Williams; an ink-and-watercolor of a human skull, unsigned; an unfinished watercolor of a woman and flowers, unsigned; and a colored sketch of a flying duck by E. N. [McCoy?] . Also includes a note from Austin Strong, son of Joseph and Belle Strong, dated September 1919, identifying the contents as contributions "all from young artists living in San Francisco in the real Bohemia days." The volume is inscribed "Lydia Woodworth, from her dear Friend Jessie Rand, Dec. 25th, 1876."
mssHM 45669
Image not available
Manuscripts
Burns details his move from Michigan to California in 1853. He also discusses his time as L.A. Chief of Police and County Sheriff including crimes that were committed while he held these positions and criminals he helped prosecute. Burns also talks about his actions during the 1871 Chinese Massacre in Chinatown and politics in California and Los Angeles.
mssHM 66765
Image not available
Manuscripts
In this letter to his brother Henry, Stephen Brooks writes of debts incurred while opening a store in San Francisco. He misses the comforts of life and the life of society, and plans to stay in California for one year. Letterhead is an image of "View of San Francisco, February 1850."
mssHM 16539