Manuscripts

L. Montgaillard letters to Edward A. Breed, French Gulch, Calif

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Description: The collection consists of twenty-two letters written in French from L. Montgaillard to Edward A. Breed regarding the progress of the Noble Copper Mine located at French Gulch, California. Montgaillard describes the mine and mine shaft's growth in addition to their discovery of a rich vein, wages for the miners (including mention of Cornish miners), and expenses for supplies such as powder and wood.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1864 January 4-May 8.
Call number: mssHM 62567-62588
Creator: Montgaillard, L(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from William P. Wreden, July 20, 1960.
Associated people: Breed, Edward A.,
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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

Russian Gulch Harbor

Rare Books

Map is in an "L" shape, with most of the upper right quadrant absent. One of a series of 35 charts of small California harbors. The maps are hand tinted and include notes on the harbor conditions for ships. From the library of John Haskell Kemble. "Presented to U. S. Coast Survey with compliments of New Zealand Insurance Company ... San Francisco, 23 Jany 1886." "E. A. Dakin, Electric Pen Printer, 320 Sansome St." Previously identified as 479297dd. Coordinates based on the location of Russian Gulch (USGS ID 232050).

479297:28

L. Montgaillard letters to Edward A. Breed, French Gulch, Calif

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Historical accounts of trouble between Chilean, French, and American miners

John Charles Frémont letter to "Mr. Wright,"

Account book and time book for the Rockdale Mining Company

John Hunt letters

Frank W. Poole farm ledgers

Russian Gulch Harbor