Manuscripts

Alexander H. Sibley correspondence

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Description: Ten of the twenty-five letters were written by Alexander H. Sibley, and are chiefly about his voyage to California by sea. The letters written before Sibley left New York discuss the prevailing feeling of "gold fever" among his fellow passengers. He also wrote letters from Chagres and Havana, describing his stopovers in Panama and Cuba during his sea voyage. A letter by Sibley to his brother-in-law, Charles Christopher Trowbridge, describes the San Francisco fire of June 1850. A letter by Benjamin S. Lippincott discusses gold discoveries and vigilante activity in Sonora, CA. The other letters, written by various family members and friends in Detroit, MI, and Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, WI, are mainly about family affairs, and include a letter by Sibley's brother, Henry Hastings Sibley, regarding their mother's death.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1821-1855.
Call number: mssHM 60827-60851

Henry Hastings Sibley Letter to G. Rand

Manuscripts

In this letter, Sibley gives a short summary of his career in politics and the US Army including his appointment by "President Lincoln." It is written on letterhead for the "Larkin House" in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

mssHM 79167

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Nicholas Augustus Den letter to Alexander H. Sibley

Manuscripts

In this letter, Nicholas Den grants power of attorney to Alexander Sibley. Witnessed and signed by William Smyth and N. Rawson.

mssHM 26197

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Edward H. Miller papers

Manuscripts

Although the majority of the letters were written by Edward H. Miller to his sister Sally, other addressees include his sister Ellen and his parents. There are also a few letters by his brothers Elisha and David. Miller's letters describe in detail his voyage to California on board the ship Pacific; his attempt at mining and the hardships involved; conditions in California mining camps; life in Sacramento and San Francisco; his business with Mark Hopkins; damage done by fires and floods; vigilance activities in Sacramento; and his opinion about the Civil War, abolitionists, and slavery. Also included with the correspondence is a short manuscript account of Miller's voyage to California on board the ship Pacific, presumably written by Miller, and an obituary for Miller written by an unknown author.

mssHM 67920-67957

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Statement concerning letter of Wabasha and Taopi to Henry Hastings Sibley

Manuscripts

Regarding the letter from Wabasha to General Sibley, Good Thunder wishes to add that Wabasha wishes to "be among the whites and live like a white man."

mssHM 29234

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Upson family correspondence

Manuscripts

The majority of these letters deal with the Upson family's mining and business interests in California and Montana; life in Sterling, Montana, and Sacramento and San Francisco, California; and the settlement of the estate of Gad Ely Upson after his death in 1866. There is one letter by James Upson written in Panama while on his voyage to California onboard the ship Falcon. There is also one letter written by Hiram D. Upham, Deputy Agent for the Blackfeet Indians. The originals of these letters are in the Upson Family Papers at Yale University Library.

mssHM 68204-68214

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J.H. (John Holmes) Magruder letters to his family

Manuscripts

This series of six letters are written by John Holmes Magruder during his journey from New York to California in hopes of finding gold. In HM 16723, dated 1849, January 1 and written to his brother Thomas and his sister Olivia, John is restless, eager to get his sailing journey underway, and is excited by the prospects of finding gold in California. HM 16724 (1849, March 9) describes John's voyage over sea to Santa Catarina Island, and reports from California continue to be encouraging. In his next letter (HM 16725, 1849, June 27), John writes while on board the whaling vessel Tahmaroo, bound for California. He describes in detail what he saw of Brazil and Santa Catarina, and says that there are still positive reports of gold being found in California, but that Sacramento and San Francisco are "infested with gamblers, robbers and black legs from every nation." HM 16726, dated 1849, September 11, and written to his brother Ogden, finds John in Sacramento, where he has begun his search for gold, despite having been stricken with fever. He does not expect to be back for a few years. In HM 16727, to Thomas, and dated 1849, September 17, John is still recovering from fever, but hopes to be back to his search in a few weeks. The next letter (HM 16728) is addressed to Thomas, and dated 1851, October 7. John believes he will settle in California permanently, and has become interested in local politics. He is in business with his brother Lloyd, but aside from reporting that things are well, he gives no further details.

mssHM 16723-16728

Alexander H. Sibley correspondence

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Henry Hastings Sibley Letter to G. Rand

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J.H. (John Holmes) Magruder letters to his family