Manuscripts

Manuscript regarding vigilance committees

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Description: In this manuscript, Fairchild tells the story of a hanging he witnessed in San Andreas, California in 1850. Fairchild remembers that a Chilean miner, named Joaquin, who had stabbed a man, was first tried and then hung by a vigilance committee. Fairchild also talks about life in the camp including crime, mining, and competition with other miners.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: [before 1896]
Call number: mssHM 68185
Creator: Fairchild, Lucius (1831-1896)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Gift of Mary Fairchild Morris, September 8, 1932.

Execution of Casey & Cora, by the San Francisco Vigilance Committee May 22nd 1856

Rare Books

Image is of an empty lot, surrounded by the Vigilance Committee in formation, with bodies hanging to the left of the lot from Fort Vigilance. The view is "taken from Cor. of Davis & Commercial."--text, below image. "Pub. by Britton & Rey."--text, below image. Paper color: buff.

48052:114

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San Francisco Committee of Vigilance Membership Certificate of Wellington R. Tolles

Manuscripts

This document certifies that Wellington R. Tolles is a member of "the Committee of Vigilance of the City of San Francisco and is a Member of the Washington Guard."

mssHM 83172

Committee of vigilance of San Francisco

Visual Materials

Image of a membership certificate for the Committee of Vigilance of San Francisco, California; vignettes of soldiers marching and officers on horseback in oval frames are interspersed between images of men and women symbolizing virtues like strength, bounty, patriotism, and moral power; certificate text at center.

priJLC_POL_002853

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Journal and San Francisco Committee of Vigilance Membership Certificate of Sylvanus B. Marston

Manuscripts

The journal, which contains 57 pages, covers the entire voyage from Bangor to San Francisco. It includes descriptions of the weather, ocean conditions, and other ships the Cantero encountered along the passage. Marston describes his stays at Santa Catarina Island (Brazil) and Valparìso (Chile), including details about the people he met, the food he ate and the churches and places he visited. The journal contains two songs, written by a passenger on board, about going to California in search of gold. The certificate for Marston's membership in the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance measures 51 x 38 cm.

mssHM 56797, HM 63329

Fort Vigilant Rooms of the Committee Sacramento St. bet. Davis & Front [upper] Mass Meeting Endorsing the Acts of the Vigilance Committee [sic] June 14th [lower]

Rare Books

Upper image is of a fort with gunnybags in front of it and cannons and guards on the roof. There is a view of the street with ships in the background of the image. Lower image is of a square filled with people. To the left is a building with three-story balconies that are also filled with people. "Daguerpe. by Vance. Lith. Britton & Rey."--text, below lower image. The text to the left of the image provides the constitution and address of the Vigilance Committee. Paper color: gray.

48052:007

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Reminiscences of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the late 19th century

Manuscripts

Mrs. Holmes begins her reminiscence with her father, Victor Chevallier, sailing from Paris to San Francisco in 1848; her mother later sailed to California from Bordeaux, France. After he arrived, Chevallier purchased the only pharmacy in San Francisco. Louise recalls some of the stories her father told her about early San Francisco, the Gold Rush and vigilante activity. Due to Louise's father's health, the family moved to Los Angeles in 1874. Mrs. Holmes discusses her memories of growing up in Los Angeles and tells stories about some of the eccentric residents of the city. Her father opened a pharmacy across from the Pico House and Louise remembers some of the famous guests she saw at that hotel and at the Grand Central Hotel, including Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb. She also gives a general description of the layout of the city and includes details about the cities' doctors, merchants, and photographers as well as the locations of stores and schools

mssHM 52705

Manuscript regarding vigilance committees

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Execution of Casey & Cora, by the San Francisco Vigilance Committee May 22nd 1856

San Francisco Committee of Vigilance Membership Certificate of Wellington R. Tolles

Committee of vigilance of San Francisco

Journal and San Francisco Committee of Vigilance Membership Certificate of Sylvanus B. Marston

Fort Vigilant Rooms of the Committee Sacramento St. bet. Davis & Front [upper] Mass Meeting Endorsing the Acts of the Vigilance Committee [sic] June 14th [lower]

Reminiscences of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the late 19th century