Martha Ellen Read Putnam diary | Collections | The Huntington

Martha Ellen Read Putnam diary | Collections | The Huntington

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Diary of Martha Spence Heywood [microform] : 1850-1856
Manuscripts
Microfilm of a typescript of Martha Spence Heywood's diary, kept from 1850-1856. It begins when Martha was living in Kanesville, Iowa, after joining the Mormon Church and while waiting to travel westward. She gives a brief account of her baptism in Canada and sojourns with various Mormon families in New York State. She also recounts her travels to St. Louis in 1849 and teaching school in Springville. Martha departed with the Joseph Heywood company for Utah in 1850 and gives a detailed account of the company's journey across the plains. The majority of the diary recounts in detail Martha's life in Nephi, Utah, from 1850-1856. She writes personal and insightful insights on polygamy (shortly after her marriage to Heywood she wrote "Tis rather trying to a woman's feelings not to be acknowledged by the man she has given herself to and desires to love with all her heart"), the birth and raising of her children, her illnesses from childbirth, the death of her daughter Serepta Maria from measles in 1856, her loneliness in Nephi (she wrote that she "could not bear" to be left alone by her husband and taught school in 1854 since it was "of much benefit to me as the activity ... and its responsibility prevented lonesomeness that otherwise would have been disagreeable"), and politics within the Mormon settlement at Nephi. She also writes of Indian troubles, including Mormons killed by Indians in 1853, and of the discovery of two bodies dressed in United States livery who were shot to death in November 1852. Martha also writes frequently of her acquaintances in Nephi, visits by Brigham Young, and a variety of other domestic concerns.
MSS MFilm 00161
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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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Mary Olive Karr Gilkey diary
Manuscripts
The diary begins in October 1877 when Mary, at the age of 12, is in Tumwater, Washington on her way to Olympia; it is here that she decides that she is going to start keeping a diary. The diary then skips to July 1884 when Mary is a teacher in Scappoose, Oregon. She discusses her students, her feelings for a man she refers to as "C.J.," and her continuing effort to be a good Christian woman. In October she moves back to Forest Grove, Oregon to be with her family, the Karrs and Walkers. While there, she spends her time attending prayer meetings and catching up with her family. She also takes a trip to Portland where she attends a reception for a missionary friend; she briefly talks of becoming a missionary herself, but decides to return to school instead. The last entry is August 9, 1885, and Mary is back at home after deciding to leave school
mssHM 64595
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Margaret Jane Cooper diary
Manuscripts
Cooper's diary begins January 1, 1862 while she was living in Pennsylvania. In March 1862, her husband Adam left for the mining town Lincoln City, Colorado. In 1863, she joined him in Colorado. She talks about Denver and mining some. She specifically talks about Indians possibly attacking Denver and martial law being enacted in February 1865. In 1867, she talks about her family's trip back to Pennsylvania (although it seems they later returned to Colorado). She also talks about Lincoln's assassination and funeral. Throughout the whole diary she talks chiefly about her personal life: visits with family and friends; the weather; church going; etc. The diary ends in April 1873. With the diary are six loose pages of writing by Cooper. These include information about her family and some diary entries. There is also a program for "Centennial Federal Reception" in 1876 as well as a letter by J. F. Lewis, MD, to Adam Cooper, also from 1876.
mssHM 80588
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Ellen Nowlan letter to Mrs. R.D. Clark
Manuscripts
A six-page letter by Ellen Nowlan to Mrs. R. D. Clark of South Fallsburgh, New York. This letter includes substantial commentary by a transplanted New Yorker about life in northern California, including reference to Oakland and to the new state university in Berkeley. In her letter, Nowlan makes extensive reference to the Chinese, whom she considered a social and epidemiological danger.
mssHM 83592
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Sarah Bixby letter to Martha Hathaway
Manuscripts
In this letter addressed "Dear Sister Martha," Sarah Bixby writes from Rancho San Justo in San Benito County, California. She describes the cold weather, and tells of the recent wedding of Margaret Hathaway, who, Sarah writes, has moved from "the heights of the betrothed young lady to the every day duties of the plain married woman, and now is her time, to make her mark in the world, by making her husband happy and her home attractive." She wonders "if Margaret will be a good correspondent now that she is married." The rest of the letter concerns family members and mutual acquaintances. Also included are three black-and-white portrait photographs: one of Mr. & Mrs. Lewellyn Bixby, one of Martha Hathaway, and one of Mrs. Jotham Bixby. Photos have identifying information on backs.
mssHM 15208