Manuscripts

Elias S. Ketcham diary

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Description: Elias S. Ketcham of Rondout (Kingston), New York, kept this diary while living and working in the gold fields of California in 1853-54. He prospects for gold in Murphy's Camp, CA, but is not particularly successful in the mines. Ketcham often discusses his desire to return home to NY, his experiences as a miner, and his religious beliefs. The diary provides a colorful description of life in the mining camps: he describes his impressions of Indians, Mexicans, and Chinese and also discusses violent incidents in the mining communities
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1853-1854.
Call number: mssHM 58269
Creator: Ketcham, Elias S(Opens in new tab)

Elias S. Ketcham diary

Manuscripts

Diary kept by Elias S. Ketcham of Rondout (Kingston), New York and covers the first half of 1851. Most entries are summaries of his daily activities such as work, church meetings and visits with friends in and around Rondout. Ketcham was a very religious man and the majority of his diary is about what he needs to do to become a better Christian. There is some discussion regarding his decision to leave New York and join his brothers in California. In his last entry, June 12, Ketcham writes about the preparations he has made for his trip, and his feelings of uncertainty regarding leaving his friends and family to head West to search for gold. There are several entries dated 1861, 1862 and 1868 regarding Ketcham's boarding situation

mssHM 59423

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Joseph S. Paxson diary

Manuscripts

This daily diary documents Paxson's struggle with business and gold mining. He discusses in detail his financial problems, his loneliness in the city, and his unhappiness with his living situation. Paxson also notes all the ships arriving in San Francisco and the actions of the vigilance committees. At the end of the diary is an 11-page essay about the murder of James King and the hanging of James P. Casey and Charles Cora in May. Accompanying the diary is an incomplete transcript only covering January 1 to July 14.

mssHM 68388

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H. B. Lansing diaries

Manuscripts

Lansing's diaries give a detailed account of his life in California as a gold miner. He talks about his life in the mining camp, his friends and business partners, his home sickness, his desire to "sell out" and go home, as well as the specifics of mining for gold (buying and selling of claims, equipment problems, bad weather, boils on his hands, etc.). Lansing also describes in detail how he and his friends spend their leisure time: gambling, bowling, drinking and going to dances. Lansing mentions the Chinese he works with in the mines, Joaquin Murieta and the hanging of several Mexicans for murder. Lansing works in and travels to several different places in California including San Andreas, Sonora, Chinese Camp, Murphy's Camp and Yackee (Yaqui) Camp. Lansing also gives a daily tally of the gold he finds in his diggings by dollar amount. The first volume covers all of 1853 and second volume only covers January to May 1855.

mssHM 70409-70410

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John Henry Frederick Ahlert diary

Manuscripts

The diary covers the first trip Ahlert made to the Klondike. In it he describes his journey from Los Angeles to Dyea, including accounts of traveling conditions as well as descriptions of his surroundings. He also talks about the difficulties in mining gold as well as the frustration he experienced in registering claims along the rivers and creeks. In the last half of his diary, Ahlert describes Dawson and his life there.

mssHM 64258

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Eben Chapman letters to Eben Hunt

Manuscripts

Chapman discusses the prices of goods and market conditions in San Francisco. He also writes of his own mining and farming prospects, and of other various business dealings. He also discusses the idea of slavery in California in HM 4199. HM 4198, dated July 1, 1852, is incomplete, consisting of only the first three pages. HM 4199 is dated July, 1852.

mssHM 4198-4199

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Diaries and family history of Elias Smith [microform] : 1836-1888

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a family history and twelve diary volumes kept by Elias Smith between 1836 and his death in 1888. The reel opens with a will written by Smith's grandfather Asael Smith for his wife and children (1799). That is followed by a volume of family history and genealogy kept by Elias Smith. The first diary volume, dated 1836, was kept while Smith was traveling to Kirtland, Ohio. The 1837 volume was kept while Smith was living at Kirtland; the 1838-1839 volume describes his life in Far West, Missouri; the 1843-1851 volume commences when Smith left Nashville, Iowa, for a postal job in Illinois, and also includes commentary on anti-Mormon sentiment; and the 1851-1854 diary covers his overland journey to Utah and work as a probate judge in Salt Lake City. The remaining seven diaries detail Smith's life in Utah from 1859-1888, focusing on his court and agricultural work. The manuscripts are on two microfilm reels as follows: Reel 1 - Asael Smith letter, family history and genealogy, and diaries dated 1836-1872; Reel 2 - continuation of 1836-1872 diary through 1874, and diaries dated 1874-1888.

MSS MFilm 00245

Elias S. Ketcham diary

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Elias S. Ketcham diary

Joseph S. Paxson diary

H. B. Lansing diaries

John Henry Frederick Ahlert diary

Eben Chapman letters to Eben Hunt

Diaries and family history of Elias Smith [microform] : 1836-1888