Manuscripts
L. Montgaillard letters to Edward A. Breed, French Gulch, Calif
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Historical accounts of trouble between Chilean, French, and American miners
Manuscripts
HM 4384, dated January 1850, describes the problems between Chilean and American miners in the Calevaros mining district. The Chileans had been driven from the mines in northern California, and responded "with pistols, knives, and other weapons of offence," threatening to shoot the Americans if they did not leave. At a meeting of resident American citizens, twelve resolutions were passed in an attempt to quell the problem. The Chileans protested, and did not abandon the mines, and were fined as per the resolutions. The Americans then disbanded the Chileans by force. HM 4385, dated April 1851, relates the issues between American and French miners of the Garde Mobile at Mokelumne Hill. The French government sent members of its Garde Mobile to California to protect mining interests at Mokelumne Hill, and "caused a great excitement, as they marched on the Hill." They made an attempt to raise the French flag but were told "the Stars and Stripes...was on the only one that could fly." The French struck a rich vein, and then claimed the entire hill for France. A skirmish ensued, and the French eventually left the hill at the request of a French consul. These items are handwritten transcriptions taken from HM 322, Journal of a voyage from Newburyport, Mass., to San Francisco, Cal.
mssHM 4384-4385
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John Charles Frémont letter to "Mr. Wright,"
Manuscripts
In this letter to the otherwise unidentified "Mr. Wright" of Washington, Frémont writes thata French company called "the Belgian Miners" has arrived in San Francisco, and are under lease to him. He shall put them to work immediately "on a good vein" and writes that "their report to France will be of great importance." During his time in the South, Frémont reports that he "obtained a great deal of information relative to mines." He has found another rich vein, but is not sure of the ore it contains - he has sent a piece to England for identification - and has acquired a large amount of land that may be of considerable value. Frémont states that they have no commissioner, but hopes the President will "send out others without delay." He hopes Mr. Wright will act on his behalf in this and other matters.
mssHM 21240
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Account book and time book for the Rockdale Mining Company
Manuscripts
The volume contains an account book and time book for the Rockdale Mining Company in Blackhawk, Colorado. The time book, which covers 1864 and 1865, contains the names of employees, hours worked, days worked, and wages earned for several mines including the Leavenworth Gulch, the Calhoun Lode, and the Harsh Lode. The rest of the volume contains financial account information from 1875 to 1881
mssHM 66488
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John Hunt letters
Manuscripts
The four letters which John wrote to his family back in England describe in detail his life in a mining town in California. He talks about the climate and conditions in California, the hardships of mining, how easy it is to spend money in town on gambling and alcohol, his relationship with his Spanish girlfriend, and his desire to buy a ranch and have his family join him in California. Hunt specifically talks about Deadwood, Weaverville, San Francisco, and the following mines: French Gulch, Big Bear Mine, the Wheeler Claim and South Fork.
mssHM 68215-68218
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Frank W. Poole farm ledgers
Manuscripts
Two business ledgers used by Frank W. Poole in the running of his peach orchard during the years of the Great Depression, World War II, into the early 1950s; the ledgers document the persons of farm labor in Yuba City, California, their wages and expenses. The first ledger is a monthly time book for the years 1936 to 1941, which contains the pay records for the employees of the peach orchard, who were Sikh, Chinese, Japanese, white, and Mexican. The second ledger is a journal of expenses for the years 1942 to 1955, which records household, personal, and some farm expenses.
mssHM 84120
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L. M. Clement journal
Manuscripts
Clement's journal, which only includes entries from January to June, includes details regarding his work with the Central Pacific Railroad Company in Nevada and Placer counties, California. He discusses some technical aspects of railroad construction as well as other work he performs for the company such as surveying land for possible routes. At the end of the volume is a list of expenses for the same months as the journal. Also included is a typescript of the journal
mssHM 66487