Manuscripts

Israel Shipman Pelton Lord letter to M.N. Lord

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Description: In this letter to his brother, Israel Lord describes his journey from the Missouri River to California. He writes "Let nobody come the Overland route. It is a long dismal weary way which no money can pay for traveling over." He describes the process of digging for gold as most arduous. Typescript from original howned by Fanny V.W. Boos.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1850, January 22.
Call number: mssHM 53640
Creator: Lord, Israel Shipman Pelton (1805-)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from Noel C. Stevenson, date unknown.

Noel C. Stevenson's research collection on Israel Shipman Pelton Lord

Manuscripts

The collection contains notes, clippings, and drafts about Israel Shipman Pelton Lord and the history of California.

mssNCS

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Letter from a gold miner to his wife

Manuscripts

This unattributed letter from a gold miner to his wife (addressed "My dear wife" and named "Julia" in the body of the letter) describes his experiences digging for gold in Sonora, California. He has succeeded in finding gold and hopes to soon be able to pay his debts. He saw an argument between two gamblers escalate into guns being drawn and shots fired, but neither was hit; rather, two unfortunate bystanders were killed. Signed "Robert." Dated 1850, May.

mssHM 4166

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Israel Mitchell manuscripts

Manuscripts

Four of these five manuscripts were written by Israel Mitchell. These include a speech about agriculture, a manuscript on religion, science and astronomy and two items about slavery. Of the latter two items, the first is a poem written circa 1860 against the institution of slavery, which mentions the abolitionist John Brown. The other is a handwritten copy of a speech Mitchell gave before the Oregon legislature in 1857 regarding both slavery and the Oregon constitution; Mitchell is arguing that Oregon should enter the United States as a free state. He also talks about abolitionists and the United States constitution. The fifth item is a group of notes on Mitchell family genealogy (with mention of Mitchell's grand-uncle Daniel Boone).

mssHM 70712-70716

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Israel N. Prince letters to Elizabeth E. Hodsdon

Manuscripts

Series of letters written by Israel N. Prince to his sister Elizabeth E. Hodsdon in Falmouth, Maine. Prince's first letter traces his journey by boat from Boston to Charleston in 1850. The next several letters provide a detailed look at the hardships of frontier life in the Nebraska Territory, where Prince lives humbly ("our dogs have a more comfortable house," he writes), holds low a low opinion of many of his neighbors ("the character [of frontier people] is not what I could wish it might be," he laments), works briefly on the Burlington Railroad (which ended with "considerable loss"), and is disinterested in in the California and Kansas "excitement," although he later thought about moving to California or Oregon. Prince also urges Elizabeth and her family to come west, answers her questions about when he will return home by saying "when I came into the western country it was my determination not to go back till I had done something," writes of his many uncertainties ("I seem to myself to be peculiar in some respects," he noted, "At times I hardly know what to make of myself"), and shamefully admits his failures ("I hated to tell you that I was too poor to own a farm of any description"). Beginning in 1861 the letters describe "the great war feeling around" and Prince's enlistment in Company "C" of the 1st Nebraska Volunteers in June 1861. He was initially stationed at Pilot Knob, Missouri, and guarded bridges on the Iron Mountain Railroad, and writes of a difficult march to Springfield and an enemy raid at Georgetown, Missouri. Most of his time was spent near the Tennessee/Mississippi border between Savannah and Danville. Prince writes of his participation in the Battle of Shiloh and of the Army of Southeastern Missouri, which in early 1863 had just finished "one of the hardest campaigns of the war" (probably part of Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign). He alludes to "daily skirmishes," although also notes that his sister probably knows better than he what is happening since he has little access to newspapers or outside information. In addition to chronicling the movements of his regiment, Prince outlines the difficulties of army life, including long "forced marches," the shortness of supplies, his many illnesses, the possibility of his death, and the unpopularity of the men in command. In his last letter Prince writes that there is little hope for a promotion since "I don't believe I am a great favorite with some of the officers." Specific references are made to General John Davidson, Secretary of War Simon Cameron, General John C. Frémont, and General Justus McKinstry.

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George S. Pelton Papers

Manuscripts

This collection contains papers concerning George S. Pelton's agreement and disputes with Jack London concerning the film rights of his novel, The Sea Wolf (1904), and with Cecil B. DeMille concerning various productions of plays and Pelton's efforts to recover money advanced for plays that were never produced. Persons represented by 5 or more pieces: DeMille, Cecil Blount: 4 letters (1912-1913), HM 50983-50986; 2 documents (1912), HM 50987. London, Jack: 2 manuscripts (ca. 1912 and ca. 1913), HM 50991-50992; 4 letters (1905-1914), HM 50993-50996. 1 document (1906), HM 50997. Noel, Joseph J.: 4 manuscripts (1911-ca. 1914), HM 50999-51002; 3 letters (1914), HM 51003-51005; 2 documents (1908-1914), HM 51006-51007. Pelton, George S.: 21 letters and telegrams (1912-1914), HM 51009-51030; 4 documents (1911-1914), HM 51031-51033. Some notable items include: Bradstreet Company. Private investigator's reports on the financial status of Jack London, 1913, September 27, and 1914, April 1. HM 50981-50982. London, Jack. The Judge: play; typescript, and carbon copy of early draft, (ca. 1912-ca. 1913), HM 50991-50992. Note: Although the play was ascribed to Jack London, he repudiated it in a letter to George S Pelton, March 27, 1914, listed below. London, Jack. Letter (1914, March 27) to George S Pelton accusing Pelton and Joseph J Noel of double-crossing him over the sale of the rights to The Sea Wolf, HM 50995. Noel, Joseph J. Letters (1914, April 3 and May 10) to George S Pelton discussing Jack London and the Sea Wolf rights disagreement, HM 51004-51005. Pelton, George S. Letters and telegrams (1914) to his lawyer, Fred W Heath, discussing a possible lawsuit against Cecil Blount DeMille over money advanced to produce plays, HM 51015-51019. Pelton, George S. Letter (1914, March 31) to Jack London responding to London's accusations concerning The Sea Wolf, HM 51021. Note: This letter is a carbon copy; its original is part of the Jack London Collection, JL 16417. Pelton, George S. Letters (1914) to Joseph J Noel discussing Jack London and the Sea Wolf disagreement, HM 51025-51029.

mssHM 50981-51034

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Charles C. (Charles Coulson) Rich letter to Sarah D. Rich

Manuscripts

Letter from Charles Rich in Little Salt Lake City to his wife Sarah D. Rich in Great Salt Lake City, Deseret. Rich writes that he has been ill but is recovering, describes his supplies and food, and asks Sarah to pay the taxes at home. He writes that he will send her something when he gets to the mines, gives instructions on building a storehouse, and implores Sarah to "take special care of the children." He also includes notes to his children telling them to behave properly.

mssHM 72835

Israel Shipman Pelton Lord letter to M.N. Lord

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Noel C. Stevenson's research collection on Israel Shipman Pelton Lord

Letter from a gold miner to his wife

Israel Mitchell manuscripts

Israel N. Prince letters to Elizabeth E. Hodsdon

George S. Pelton Papers

Charles C. (Charles Coulson) Rich letter to Sarah D. Rich