Manuscripts
Robert Selden Garnett letters
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Robert Wyman Butterfield letters to Elsie Wyman Butterfield
Manuscripts
Robert Wyman Butterfield writes five letters to his mother, Elsie Wyman Butterfield, describing his journey to California aboard the ship "North American" and his experiences upon arrival. HM 47858, dated August 23-September 5, 1852, contains details of Butterfield's ocean journey to California around Cape Horn, including lengthy and detailed descriptions of Cape Horn and Valparaíso. At the end of the letter, he has reached San Francisco, and plans to go to the mines. In his next letter (HM 47859, written 1852, September 26), Butterfield is in Sonora, searching for gold, and he writes of his journey to that place from San Francisco. The third letter, dated 1852, October 10, is HM 47860, and Butterfield and his companions have built themselves a cabin they call "The Gold Hunter's Mansion," and the bulk of the letter consists of its description. He is excited about his prospects for mining, though he understands that "the time has passed for acquiring great wealth." HM 47861 (dated 1853, May 30) contains Butterfield's description of California bachelors, and how he and his companions bake bread. The final letter in this series, HM 47862, written 1853, September 17, finds Butterfield still in Sonora, and his experiences attending church. He worries that letters written by and meant for him have been lost in transit. Also included with this letter is a one-page typescript obituary of Caroline A. Butterfield Brown.
mssHM 47858-47862
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William S. Lyon letter to J.W. Vandervort
Manuscripts
Letter from William S. Lyon in Los Angeles, California, to John W. Vandervort, an early owner of property on Mount Wilson. Lyon writes to let Vandervort know that his two plants are ready for spring delivery, and that he hopes the recent frosts did not kill his poinsettia and hibiscus plants. Also includes an invoice for one hibiscus and one euphorbia plant, as well as delivery charges to Pasadena.
mssHM 72846
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Collection of Robert Frost letters and poems, (bulk 1894-1916)
Manuscripts
This collection contains 59 pieces of correspondence and poems of American poet Robert Frost, chiefly consisting of handwritten poems and letters sent by Frost to Susan Hayes Ward (1835-1916), poetry editor for The Independent, from the mid 1890s to the 1910s. Items consist of: thirty letters from Robert Frost to Susan Hayes Ward (HM 7656, HM 25338-25366); eighteen loose poems signed by Robert Frost (HM 7638-7646, HM 7648-7655, HM 7657); two poems whose authorship was repudiated by Frost; apparently in the hand of Elinor M. Frost (HM 1201, HM 7647); a collection of 17 handwritten poems presented by Frost to Ward for Christmas 1911 (HM 7237); a letter from Robert Frost to William Hayes Ward, the editor of The Independent (HM 25337); two letters from Elinor Frost to Susan Hayes Ward (HM 25367-25368); three letters from Frost to Huntington Library staff authorizing access to his papers (HM 10799, HM 47622, HM 48305); and two letters from Frost related to autographs (HM 13810, HM 59545).
mssHM 1201; mssHM 7237; mssHM 7638-7657; mssHM 10799; mssHM 13810; mssHM 25337-25368; mssHM 47622; mssHM 48305; mssHM 59545
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Robert Whitney Waterman letter to William Buel Franklin and autographed photograph
Manuscripts
HM 21322 is a letter to General Franklin, written on December 3, 1890. Waterman enclosed receipts for $5,125 of aid to Veterans Home at Yountville, and writes that "with this ceases my officials acts as Governor of California." He informs Franklin that his successor, H. H. Markham, will be inaugurated on January 8, 1891. HM 21323, dated December 6, 1890, contains an autographed photograph of Waterman and an autographed note bearing the words "Business before Pleasure." The recipient of both is not indicated. The letter and the note are written on pages with printed letterhead of the Executive Department of the State of California.
mssHM 21322-21323
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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
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James S. McMurphy letters to his family
Manuscripts
This is a series of six letters written by James S. McMurphy to his family documenting his journey from New England via Panama to California to seek his fortune as part of the Gold Rush of 1849-1850. The first letter in the series (HM 52732, dated before 1849, April 8) is the last page only, and written from Panama. McMurphy writes that he has been in Panama for a good time, and is thinking of working on a railroad while hoping for passage to California. He is discouraged by the dishonesty, and wishes he had chosen to travel around Cape Horn. HM 52733 is written between April 8-25, 1849, and is addressed "To the household of Robt. McMurphy." There is a marginal note which reads "Father in this letter you will find five watermelon seeds I want you to plant." James McMurphy is still in Panama. Many of his company are sick, but he has not yet fallen ill himself. He describes a native religious ceremony in which an elaborately decorated statue of the Virgin Mary was paraded through a village. This may have been in observation of Easter. He has found passage on a ship bound for San Francisco, and writes that his next letter will come from California, so if anyone plans to send him a letter, it should be addressed there. He estimates there are currently three thousand Americans in Panama, but that number will soon drop by half as they board ships for California. James' next letter, dated 1849, December 9 (HM 52734), is written from California, and addressed to "Capt. Robert McMurphy." He has purchased provisions, including potatoes to ward off scurvy. The weather has been very rainy. HM 52735, written 1850, March 15, is also incomplete, as it contains only the final page of the letter. He has been searching for gold, and discusses his supplies. HM 52736 (1850, April 3), finds James still working in California, retaining good health despite the poor weather, which has caused an interruption in his work. He considers scurvy to be the most dangerous disease in his environment, but unlike others, he has kept himself mostly free by eating potatoes daily. The warm weather has caused snow to melt, and the rise in water levels has impacted the progress of their drilling and blasting. He has heard that the government is planning a new route in Panama to help make the journey to California easier. He writes that there all types of miners from all over the country, and that many find gold, but "where you show me one man who saves his gold I will show you ten that squanders away his time and money at the Rum Shop & the Gambling Table." He has not, he writes, succumbed to such temptations. The last letter is this series is HM 52737, and dated 1850, May 11; one year to the day since James left Panama. The water level of the Sacramento River is still high from the melting snow. He is tiring of the disposition of the region, and looks forward to leaving. He writes of California becoming part of the United States, and of various details regarding other miners.
mssHM 52732-52737