Journal of a voyage from New London to San Francisco, Upper California, keeped by Latham A. Brown

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  William H. Dougal journal of a voyage from New York to San Francisco

  Manuscripts

  This manuscript describes the journey of William H. Dougal, an engraver and artist, who traveled from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn in 1849, as a passenger aboard the ship "Galindo." Much of the seabound content concerns the weather. Dougal goes ashore in Chile on November 17 and describes the land and its people. He is particularly impressed with the horsemanship of the Chileans. The final date listed is November 22, where Dougal reports the ship is eight miles from San Francisco. Published as "Off for California" (RB 277286), of which this manuscript appears to be a printer's copy. Typescript from original held by San Mateo Historical Society. Includes 20 photographs of drawings by the author, some with typewritten captions on verso, and a seven-page typescript likely intended to be included in the published version.

  mssHM 50579

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  Harvey W. Brown journal

  Manuscripts

  Diary kept by Harvey W. Brown while he traveled from Boston to San Francisco, and back again, in 1868. Brown left Boston on March 9, 1868, traveled to New York, and departed on board the Henry Chauncey on March 11. During the voyage Brown described his seasickness and the death and sea burial of a man from steerage, as well as making regular notes on weather conditions and distances traveled. On March 19 Brown arrived in Aspinwall (now Colón, Panama), traveled across the Isthmus by rail, and boarded the steamer Sacramento. On March 25 he described seeing "a volcano...on the mountain...it look[ed] like a grate of live coals." Writing on his 22nd birthday, April 1, 1868, Brown grew introspective, noting, "Little did I think last year at this time I should be here or that Aunty would be sleeping in the silent grave...How the things will change in a year." But his merriment returned when he got a piece of paper pinned to his jacket as an April Fool's joke. After a stop in Acapulco, the Sacramento arrived in San Francisco on April 2. Brown worked sporadically while in California as a painter (he worked briefly on the Mercantile Library) and applied for a job in cabinet making, but on April 17 he instead "hired a store" with his friend Ned at the cost of $25 a month. They attempted to sell corn, and while Ned did reasonably well Brown failed to sell anything. On May 6 Brown and Ned moved to new rooms when Brown got an unspecified job, but he "could not stand it...It made my arm so lame I could not work" (although he was well enough to go to the theatre that night). Brown seems to have been much more interested in amusement than work, and found the time to frequent the theatre, pay $20 in gold to join the Olympic Club, take multiple day trips, play nine pins and shooting, attend an Independent Order of Odd Fellows picnic, and carouse with his friends at places like the Bella Union, where he describes one of them as being "pretty drunk." By May 21 Brown had grown tired of San Francisco and bought tickets home for himself and a friend named Frank. They departed on the Sacramento on May 22, and had an uneventful voyage back across Panama and home, although Brown did not like their ship, the Rising Star. By June 16 they were back in Boston. Brown apparently worked as a carpenter, although the last entry in the diary, made August 31, 1868, notes that he "bought out A.Polson fish market [ in Fields Corners, Dorchester]." The front pages of the diary contain various sketches, including one of a ship. The back of the diary contains some accounting notes.

  mssHM 78060

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  Diaries and correspondence of Everett Bodine Latham

  Manuscripts

  The three diaries detail Latham's employment as both a geologist and engineer in 1910, 1912, and 1916. He discusses his everyday activities as a petroleum geologist for the Pinal Dome Oil Company, the Kern Trading & Oil Company, and the Kern County Oil Protective Association, including surveying land and oil drills, making maps, and the routine office work involved. He also discusses his work as a consultant with different oil companies including the Pacific Midway Oil Company. The 1916 volume includes the entries Latham made while in Washington D.C. assisting the Navy in congressional hearings on naval oil reserves in California; he appeared before the Committee on Public Lands on February 10th. There are newspaper clippings, photographs, and various letters glued onto the pages throughout the three volumes. The group also includes seven pieces of correspondence, most of which are related to Latham's work; authors include Burt L. Davis, President of the Pacific Midway Oil Company, and the Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels

  mssHM 65959-65968

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  San Francisco news letter and California advertiser. Illustrated Postscript to the S.F. News Letter

  Rare Books

  Image is of a tumultuous wreck of two trains with some of the cars derailed, upended, and in flames. Victims are being removed from the wreck. "G. T. Brown. Lith. From a scetch [sic] made on the spot One Hour after the Collision."--text, below image. Paper color: buff.

  48052:161

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  John Hovey journal of a voyage from Newburyport, Mass. to San Francisco, Cal

  Manuscripts

  This journal follows the travels of John Hovey from Massachusetts to California. He departs from Newburyport aboard the vessel Charlott on January 23, 1849; a manifest of crew and passengers is included on pages one and two. Much of the seagoing details are concerned with the weather. The ship reached port on July 23, 1849. He journeyed along the Sacramento River and Mokelumne River with his companions, searching for gold. He was involved with separate disputes over claims with miners from Chile and France (see also HM 4384-4385 which are transcripts of these entries removed from this volume). Hovey departs California by ship on May 30, 1851. Bound volume, with many color illustrations.

  mssHM 322

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  [Residence of Mr. Milton S. Latham, Folsom Street between Second and Third, San Francisco]

  Visual Materials

  [Watkins' number unknown.] Title and date supplied by cataloger. Milton S. Latham (1827-1882) was the sixth governor of California. On verso of print is the stamp of Charles Turrill, Watkins' friend and biographer.

  photCL Watkins 97