Manuscripts
John Downey letter to Erastus Burr
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Lafayette Maynard letters to Duff Green
Manuscripts
In the letters to his father-in-law, Maynard talks about his experiences in the Mexican War on the U.S. Steamer Mississippi. He mentions the surrender of Alvarado and Veracruz; Commodore Matthew C. Perry; General Santa Anna; Major General Winfield Scott; and Secretary of War William L. Marcy. In the two letters dated 1850, Maynard talks about his life in San Francisco. He talks in detail about social conditions in California; gold miners; law and order in the gold camps; and the weather and climate. He also describes the following California cities: Benicia, Martinez, Sacramento and Sutter. Included with the letters are copies of three items regarding the surrender of Alvarado including the log of the Steamer Scourge.
mssHM 68443-68456
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Aaron Burr letters to John Vanderlyn, Amsterdam and New York, (bulk 1811, Aug. 7-Sept. 22)
Manuscripts
14 letters that Burr wrote to John Vanderlyn, an American neoclassical artist and Burr's protegé, between Aug. 7 and Sept. 22 from Amsterdam. The letters discuss various commissions and unfinished business that Burr had asked Vanderlyn to attend to, including two portraits of his daughter Theodosia.
mssHM 21816-21833
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William P. Allison letter to unidentified recipients
Manuscripts
A detailed letter, written from Sacramento and addressed to "Dear Parents," describes William P. Allison's life in the gold fields around Eureka, and the conditions in Sacramento after a major fire.
mssHM 83996
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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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Eben Chapman letter to Eben Hunt
Manuscripts
Chapman writes that he has heard no news from home, and that a bank draft he sent to his wife was returned. He has found gold in California but not as much as he expected. Of California, he writes, "For the timid here is no place, he that would do well here must have courage," and describes the many plights of the miner. he also asks for Hunt's help regarding a debt owed him.
mssHM 4196
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John D. Mitchell letters
Manuscripts
One of the letters is a 16-page detailed account of Mitchell's voyage around Cape Horn and arrival in San Francisco in April 1849. The other letters are about Mitchell's experiences living in San Francisco and Sacramento including witnessing several hangings; his letters also give details regarding his attempts at mining for gold.
mssHM 63944-63950