Manuscripts
George Lawson letters
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George McKinley Murrell correspondence
Manuscripts
The collection consists of letters written by George M. Murrell describing his overland journey in the spring of 1849 as far as Fort Kearny, Nebraska. Other topics discussed are river travel, life along the wagon trail, wagon train organization, and interactions with Native Americans. After his arrival in Sacramento, California, in September 1849, the letters deal with mining and business ventures in California Gold Rush country near Coloma. The collection also contains two photographs of Murrell, approximately 1860.
mssHM 36338-36403
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George McKinley Murrell correspondence
Manuscripts
The collection consists of letters written by George M. Murrell describing his overland journey in the spring of 1849 as far as Fort Kearny, Nebraska. Other topics discussed are river travel, life along the wagon trail, wagon train organization, and interactions with Native Americans. After his arrival in Sacramento, California, in September 1849, the letters deal with mining and business ventures in California Gold Rush country near Coloma. The collection also contains two photographs of Murrell, approximately 1860.
mssHM 36338-36403
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George Bruce Upton letters to his father
Manuscripts
This is a series of nine letters written by George Bruce Upton, Junior, to his father, describing his journey to California and his experiences therein. The first two letters, HM 24681 and 24684, were written in February and April, 1852, while the younger Upton was en route to California aboard the ship "Great Britain." By the next letter (HM 24683, dated April-May, 1852), the ship has landed at San Francisco. HM 24684 (written May 31) sees George Junior in San Francisco, attempting to order goods for the opening of a store. In the next letter, (HM 24685, dated June 15), he travels to gold mines out of curiosity, and to check on an acquaintance, whom had gone there to search for gold. Putnam, the would-be miner, was found not doing well. George Junior likes what he has seen of San Francisco, though he is not enamored with its government. HM 24686, written in San Francisco on November 15, tells of a fire in Sacramento that, according to Junior, will "enhance the value of almost every description of merchandise" in San Francisco. The rest of the letter is concerned with the shipping and prices of goods, and details of the purchasing of a boat and insurance. The next letter in the series is dated January 15, 1854. George Junior is living in a shared house in San Francisco, and he writes "the city has improved wonderfully." The following letter was written May 31, 1854 (HM 24688) and contains George Junior's description of his visit to gold mines, and his own successful attempts at panning and digging. He also mentions quartz mining as a potential and relatively untapped source of revenue. In his opinion, he considers "the idea of the mines giving out, in the usual acceptance of the expression, as highly improbable." The final letter in this series is HM 24689, alleged to have been written in San Francisco in 1854, as only the final eight pages of the twelve-page letter remain. George Junior reports that "the mining population has diminished greatly," and that the market for goods has also fallen. He worries about the long-term prospects of San Francisco, despite its rapid growth during his stay there.
mssHM 24681-24689
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Quimby H. Lovejoy letter
Manuscripts
The letter, which is written to Lovejoy's wife, Emeline, discusses Lovejoy's experience in Columbia, California mining for gold. He gives detailed descriptions of mining techniques and equipment
mssHM 63692
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George W. Woodward letters and poem
Manuscripts
Letters by George W. Woodward to family from 1861 to 1865. There is also a poem he wrote about his experience in the war, entitled "Something Awful." All materials are typescripts.
mssHM 49530-49538
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Charles H. Hayden letters
Manuscripts
The letters are written to Hayden's brothers and discuss his experience in the mining camp of Fox Creek, California including his attempts at mining and running a butchering business. He also includes details about the bad weather and its effects on the mines in the area. One of the letters is written by friends of Hayden, who also lived in California
mssHM 63723-63727