Manuscripts

Correspondence

Description: A collection of 91 items from 1897 to 1963, which consists chiefly of letters written by Charles William Watts to his wife and daughter between 1897 and 1900. The letters are written from Alaska, including Juneau, Sheep Camp, Skagway, the Yukon River Valley, Dawson, and the Klondike River Valley. Watts's letters describe the Klondike gold rush and life in Alaska and in the Yukon. The collection also contains a photograph of Charles William Watts with a group of hunters and various clippings. There are also a few letters and notes written in 1963 by Lee Rohrbough.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1897-1898
Call number: mssHM 48341-48427
Creator: Watts, Charles William (1858-1900)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from Lee Rohrbough, February 1966.
Restrictions

Correspondence, photograph, clippings

Manuscripts

A collection of 91 items from 1897 to 1963, which consists chiefly of letters written by Charles William Watts to his wife and daughter between 1897 and 1900. The letters are written from Alaska, including Juneau, Sheep Camp, Skagway, the Yukon River Valley, Dawson, and the Klondike River Valley. Watts's letters describe the Klondike gold rush and life in Alaska and in the Yukon. The collection also contains a photograph of Charles William Watts with a group of hunters and various clippings. There are also a few letters and notes written in 1963 by Lee Rohrbough.

mssHM 48341-48427

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Charles William Watts papers

Manuscripts

mssHM 48341-48427

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George E. Pilz correspondence, (bulk 1882-1898)

Manuscripts

This small group consists of the letters George E. Pilz to James Jerome Smith, who employed Pilz to secure profitable mining claims in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. These letters contain descriptions of Pilz's work as well as descriptions of the conditions under which he lived in Juneau, Alaska and Dawson, Yukon. Additionally there is the prospectus of the Harrisburg Consolidated Mill and Mining Company of Alaska (HM 66217)

mssHM 66195-66218

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Joe A.Y. letter to Harry

Manuscripts

Joe A.Y. addresses this letter to his friend "Harry" from Skagway, Alaska Territory on August 3, 1897. A.Y. provides details about the Klondike Gold Rush, with a focus on the possibilities for growth and prosperity awaiting Skagway. He informs Harry about Skagway's geographic setting, business conditions, commodity prices, labor costs, his estimation of how to succeed financially in Alaska, and his enthusiasm for the territory.

mssHM 83908

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F. Lyle Lyman correspondence

Manuscripts

The letters relate the story of Lyman's trip from Illinois to Dawson, Yukon Territory. His first stops were in Seattle and Vancouver; he finally arrived in Skagway, Alaska on March 3rd, after which he and his friend made their way through the Chilkoot Pass to Dawson. Although Lyman did not do much mining, he does talk about the miners whom he met. He briefly mentions a scheme to make money, but never gives further details. His letters describe the difficulties of hiking through the snow and bad weather (although he found the Chilkoot Pass less dangerous than he had expected); an avalanche which killed several people; the other travelers he encountered; the dangers of rafting down the Whitehorse rapids; and the conditions of the mining towns of Dyea and Dawson. There is one letter to Lyman from his mother. The group also includes a cabinet photograph of F. Lyle Lyman and four newspaper clippings regarding gold mining in the Klondike.

mssHM 65941-65958

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Map of Alaska & Surroundings, showing the Klondike Gold Fields, and Routes to the Mining Camp

Rare Books

Inset map of Klondike Region. Verso text and photos establish publication date. Sub map: Map of Klondike Region. MS note: 2108. "Advertisement for A. B. Chase Pianos." Prime meridian: GM. Relief: hachures. Projection: Conic. Printing Process: Lithography. Other Features: Sub-maps. Verso Text: Text and pictures of region, MS notes: Alaska & Klondike 1897..

2108

Correspondence

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Correspondence, photograph, clippings

Charles William Watts papers

George E. Pilz correspondence, (bulk 1882-1898)

Joe A.Y. letter to Harry

F. Lyle Lyman correspondence

Map of Alaska & Surroundings, showing the Klondike Gold Fields, and Routes to the Mining Camp