Manuscripts

Life and murder of Lloyd Magruder, Jr

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Description: Brief recounting of the life and death of Lloyd Magruder, Jr., an Idaho merchant and one time Congressional candidate who made a fortune from gold mining in Washington in the early 1860s. The account focuses on his 1863 murder by Chris Lowry, Doc Howard (David Renton), Jim Romaine, and Bill Page, guards hired by Magruder to escort him back to Idaho. It ends with the eventual capture and execution of Magruder's murderers in San Francisco, California. Typescript with handwritten notes by Wolfe. Also includes a published version of the article, which was presented at the 1932 meeting of the American Clan Gregor Society.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: approximately 1932.
Call number: mssHM 72990
Creator: Wolfe, Helen (1867-)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Gift of Miss Helen Wolfe, April 20, 1939.

Lloyd Magruder letters to Thomas C. Magruder

Manuscripts

In these three letters to his brother, Lloyd Magruder writes of his experiences searching for gold in California during the mid-19th century. All three letters were written from the town of Marysville, California. In the first letter, HM 16729, dated 1855, September 17, Lloyd writes he has been elected Justice of the Peace for Marysville. He also campaigned successfully for the office of County Clerk. He also reports that he is a new father of a seven-month-old boy. The next letter, HM 16730, is dated 1861, October 13. Lloyd is still in Marysville, and has just finished assisting with the California census, for which he is awaiting payment from Washington, D.C. While he has not done as well as he'd hoped, he did spend some time in Sacramento as part of the Legislature. His daughter is now thirteen. The final letter of this group, HM 16731, was written 1862, April 28, and contains details concerning delivery of the payment due Lloyd from the Census Bureau. Lloyd writes that he is heading for the Salmon River Mines in Washington Territory.

mssHM 16729-16731

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J.H. (John Holmes) Magruder letters to his family

Manuscripts

This series of six letters are written by John Holmes Magruder during his journey from New York to California in hopes of finding gold. In HM 16723, dated 1849, January 1 and written to his brother Thomas and his sister Olivia, John is restless, eager to get his sailing journey underway, and is excited by the prospects of finding gold in California. HM 16724 (1849, March 9) describes John's voyage over sea to Santa Catarina Island, and reports from California continue to be encouraging. In his next letter (HM 16725, 1849, June 27), John writes while on board the whaling vessel Tahmaroo, bound for California. He describes in detail what he saw of Brazil and Santa Catarina, and says that there are still positive reports of gold being found in California, but that Sacramento and San Francisco are "infested with gamblers, robbers and black legs from every nation." HM 16726, dated 1849, September 11, and written to his brother Ogden, finds John in Sacramento, where he has begun his search for gold, despite having been stricken with fever. He does not expect to be back for a few years. In HM 16727, to Thomas, and dated 1849, September 17, John is still recovering from fever, but hopes to be back to his search in a few weeks. The next letter (HM 16728) is addressed to Thomas, and dated 1851, October 7. John believes he will settle in California permanently, and has become interested in local politics. He is in business with his brother Lloyd, but aside from reporting that things are well, he gives no further details.

mssHM 16723-16728

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The history of science and technology in America: two bibliographies

Manuscripts

The typescript contains two bibliographies compiled by Gregor D. Smith. The first bibliography was intended as an aid to researchers working at the Burndy Library, and the second as a listing of then-recent books and periodical articles, to be used to support research and to develop library collections in the history of science in the United States. Also includes a three-page cover letter written by Smith to Bern Dibner, dated 1977, August 22.

mssHM 82725-82726

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Margaret Deland correspondence

Manuscripts

The collection is comprised solely of correspondence, the vast majority of which was written by Margaret Deland to her first cousin, Madeleine Romaine Wade Poindexter. The only other author represented in the collection is American writer Alice Wellington Rollins (1847-1897) who also wrote letters to Poindexter. Issues discussed within the correspondence include nineteenth century authors and their works, the status of women in religious life, female suffrage and women's rights, United States politics and government, and Deland's personal life.

mssHM 41267-41382

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1916-1928

Manuscripts

mssHM 41267-41382

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1890-1915

Manuscripts

mssHM 41267-41382

Life and murder of Lloyd Magruder, Jr

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Lloyd Magruder letters to Thomas C. Magruder

J.H. (John Holmes) Magruder letters to his family

The history of science and technology in America: two bibliographies

Margaret Deland correspondence

1916-1928

1890-1915