Manuscripts

Joel Robert Chappell letters

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Description: Two letters written to Joel Robert Chappell shortly before his death. The first, dated January 24, 1876, was written by H.L. Binford, a Los Angeles real estate broker who had also lived in Jackson, Tennessee. Binford writes of the restoration of his own health after moving to California, the temperance of the climate, and the successes of local farmers and business professionals. The second letter was written by H. Stephens in Los Angeles and dated February 19, 1876, the day after Chappell's death. In the letter Stephens writes of the availability of timber ("taken as a whole the country is not well wooded"), housing conditions, the cost of land, and sea passage to San Francisco. He also advises Chappell to buy a small amount of land and to save enough money to live on for a year.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1876.
Call number: mssHM 73669-73670
Creator

In search of Elizabeth

Manuscripts

Scrapbook compiled as a tribute to the life and writing of Elizabeth von Arnim; written and illustrated by Carol M. Chappell in Springfield, Missouri. This scrapbook was originally made for Mary Scott and contains personal remembrances, original artwork and printed material.

mssHM 82605

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Robert Selden Garnett letters

Manuscripts

These are two letters written by American officer Robert Selden Garnett. HM 46544, dated 1849, August 23, is addressed to A. Somervail Garnett ("My dear Somervail," Robert writes), and is written following the wrecking of the ship Edith off the California coast. Robert assures Somervail that he will do all he can to keep Somervail enrolled at Harvard until his education is completed, and gives Somervail advice concerning his chosen occupational path, particularly the importance of mathematics and surveying. Robert urges Somervail to be steadfast in his studies, but not at the expense of his social life, which Robert considers as important as school. Robert closes by saying he hopes to return to Washington by December 1. In the second letter (HM 46545, dated 1849, September 30), Robert writes to Caleb Lyon concerning the authorship of a proposed "seal or coat of arms for the new state of California" as well as a constitution for the pending state. Robert claims to be the sketcher of the original seal, and gives Lyon the authority to reveal him as such, should he deem it proper.

mssHM 46544-46545

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Robert Wyman Butterfield letters to Elsie Wyman Butterfield

Manuscripts

Robert Wyman Butterfield writes five letters to his mother, Elsie Wyman Butterfield, describing his journey to California aboard the ship "North American" and his experiences upon arrival. HM 47858, dated August 23-September 5, 1852, contains details of Butterfield's ocean journey to California around Cape Horn, including lengthy and detailed descriptions of Cape Horn and Valparaíso. At the end of the letter, he has reached San Francisco, and plans to go to the mines. In his next letter (HM 47859, written 1852, September 26), Butterfield is in Sonora, searching for gold, and he writes of his journey to that place from San Francisco. The third letter, dated 1852, October 10, is HM 47860, and Butterfield and his companions have built themselves a cabin they call "The Gold Hunter's Mansion," and the bulk of the letter consists of its description. He is excited about his prospects for mining, though he understands that "the time has passed for acquiring great wealth." HM 47861 (dated 1853, May 30) contains Butterfield's description of California bachelors, and how he and his companions bake bread. The final letter in this series, HM 47862, written 1853, September 17, finds Butterfield still in Sonora, and his experiences attending church. He worries that letters written by and meant for him have been lost in transit. Also included with this letter is a one-page typescript obituary of Caroline A. Butterfield Brown.

mssHM 47858-47862

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Robert Whitney Waterman letter to William Buel Franklin and autographed photograph

Manuscripts

HM 21322 is a letter to General Franklin, written on December 3, 1890. Waterman enclosed receipts for $5,125 of aid to Veterans Home at Yountville, and writes that "with this ceases my officials acts as Governor of California." He informs Franklin that his successor, H. H. Markham, will be inaugurated on January 8, 1891. HM 21323, dated December 6, 1890, contains an autographed photograph of Waterman and an autographed note bearing the words "Business before Pleasure." The recipient of both is not indicated. The letter and the note are written on pages with printed letterhead of the Executive Department of the State of California.

mssHM 21322-21323

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Antonio López de Santa Anna letter to Joel Roberts Poinsett

Manuscripts

Santa Anna writes to Poinsett of a Spaniard named Rafael Martinez, who wishes to find a home for two Mexican children. In Spanish.

mssHM 20720

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Robert Newell letter to Medorem Crawford

Manuscripts

Writing from Lewiston, Idaho, Newell writes of his duties as "Indian Agent," including the building of a mill, widespread repairs to existing buildings, and the construction of a school for the Indian children. He also reports of difficulties he has had with Washington (D. C.) concerning the Indian affairs.

mssHM 31275

Joel Robert Chappell letters

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In search of Elizabeth

Robert Selden Garnett letters

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Antonio López de Santa Anna letter to Joel Roberts Poinsett

Robert Newell letter to Medorem Crawford