Manuscripts

John D. Mitchell letters

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Description: One of the letters is a 16-page detailed account of Mitchell's voyage around Cape Horn and arrival in San Francisco in April 1849. The other letters are about Mitchell's experiences living in San Francisco and Sacramento including witnessing several hangings; his letters also give details regarding his attempts at mining for gold.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1849-1853.
Call number: mssHM 63944-63950
Creator: Mitchell, John D (1917-2005)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from John Howell, February 1961.
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John Mitchell letter to Cadwallader Colden, London

Manuscripts

The letter describes Mitchell's involvement in publishing the London edition of Colden's History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada; his effort to further Colden's interest with Mitchell's patrons Archibald Campbell, the third Duke of Argyll and the president of the Board of Trade George Montagu Dunk, the second earl of Halifax; the outbreak of yellow fever in New York; Mitchell's plans for "the Natural & medical History of N. America;" his interest in American native plants, including plant pigments that "the Indians dye their Red & black colours with," and in "the New surveys the french have lately made of their Colonies."

mssHM 22340

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Fifty-Nine Years After, Or Recollections of My Adventures by Sea and Land While in Search of Gold in California [typescript]

Manuscripts

Cheney's reminiscence covers his voyage to California on the ship Pacific, his arrival in San Francisco August 6, 1849, and his time living in California until he left for Australia in February 1853. Cheney discusses the weather conditions during his voyage and some of the events that took place on board, including the removal of the ship's captain while in Rio de Janeiro; he also discusses his visit to Callao, Peru. Of his time in California, Cheney remembers his attempts at mining and at some other ventures such as selling lumber. He gives detailed descriptions of his time in San Francisco, Coloma, and Sacramento, California, and in the mining towns Bidwell Bar and Antoine Canyon

mssHM 63644

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Peter Andrew Clapsaddle diary

Manuscripts

In this diary, Clapsaddle writes daily entries while on his voyage from New York to San Francisco. In it. he talks about life on board the ship, seasickness, his asthma, three passengers dying on board, church services he attended and the meals he ate. He also gives the ship's position and course. He briefly mentions the ship's stops in Panama and Guatemala, the arrival in San Francisco and a job he obtained with the Evening telegram. With the diary is a typed biography of Clapsaddle, outline of his voyage, map of his voyage and typescript of the diary.

mssHM 75101

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Elizabeth Whitney Putnam letter to J.D. Whitney, Sr

Manuscripts

Typescript of a letter from Elizabeth Whitney Putnam to her father J.D. Whitney, Sr., written shortly after the arrival of Elizabeth and her daughter Katharine in San Francisco. In the letter Elizabeth describes the difficulties of ocean travel, her voyage from the east coast to Panama on board the Georgia, her experiences crossing the Isthmus of Panama on foot and riding mules, a detailed firsthand account of the wreck of the Tennessee in the Pacific Ocean, and her final arrival in San Francisco aboard the Goliath, which also hit rocks off the California coast.

mssHM 73686

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Day before yesterday : the search for gold beginning 1849

Manuscripts

Chamberlain's reminiscences covers his voyage to California onboard the ship Capitol and his first year of living in California. He talks in detail about life in San Jose, Stockton, and various mining camps, gold mining, looking for work, doing carpentry for $12 a day, witnessing a hanging near Stockton, and John Amos Chaffee.

mssHM 68167

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"John" letter to "my dear aunt,"

Manuscripts

Typescript of a letter sent from "John" to "my dear Aunt," written while he was at sea heading to San Francisco on board the steamer Tennessee. He writes of leaving New York on the steamer Cherokee, canoing across the Isthmus of Panama, the scenery and native people of the area, and conditions on board the Tennessee. He concludes the letter on April 16 after his arrival in San Francisco, and briefly describes lumber and mining prospects.

mssHM 73059

John D. Mitchell letters

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John Mitchell letter to Cadwallader Colden, London

Fifty-Nine Years After, Or Recollections of My Adventures by Sea and Land While in Search of Gold in California [typescript]

Peter Andrew Clapsaddle diary

Elizabeth Whitney Putnam letter to J.D. Whitney, Sr

Day before yesterday : the search for gold beginning 1849

"John" letter to "my dear aunt,"