Manuscripts

Lyman Belding autobiography

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Description: The autobiography begins with Belding's childhood in West Farms, Massachusetts (near Amherst College). He recalls his early days of school, camping at a nearby lake, and his first crush on a girl. Of his life in Wyoming Valley, Pennyslvania, Belding talks about his bout with typhoid fever in 1846 which led his doctor to advise him to go on a sea voyage. He talks about his first voyage on the ship Zion and his first long voyage on the whaling ship Uncas (going to the Arctic for whales). Of his voyages, Belden talks about the conditions of life on the ship, their food and drink, stops along the way, sea animals they saw, and the whales they killed. Belding also talks about hunting in the Sierra Nevadas, a meeting with Mark Hopkins, and a bird collecting trip he took to Baja, California.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: before 1917.
Call number: mssHM 75097
Creator

Lyman H. Howland letters to his son

Manuscripts

Lyman H. Howland wrote seven of these letters to his son, Garrald, after he left New Bedford to become an itinerant miner in California, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana. The first letter is a 16-page description of his 1892 railroad journey to Sacramento. In 1894, Howland is living in Spokane, Washington and talks of mining prospects. In 1896, Howland is mining in Troy, Idaho, and in 1897, he is mining in Sylvanite, Montana. Besides mining and his life as a miner, Howland also lectures his son on the evil of alcohol, talks of sending for his son to join him, and asks about family and friends back in New Bedford. Two of these letters are incomplete.

mssHM 83122-83129

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Peter Andrew Clapsaddle diary

Manuscripts

In this diary, Clapsaddle writes daily entries while on his voyage from New York to San Francisco. In it. he talks about life on board the ship, seasickness, his asthma, three passengers dying on board, church services he attended and the meals he ate. He also gives the ship's position and course. He briefly mentions the ship's stops in Panama and Guatemala, the arrival in San Francisco and a job he obtained with the Evening telegram. With the diary is a typed biography of Clapsaddle, outline of his voyage, map of his voyage and typescript of the diary.

mssHM 75101

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Day before yesterday : the search for gold beginning 1849

Manuscripts

Chamberlain's reminiscences covers his voyage to California onboard the ship Capitol and his first year of living in California. He talks in detail about life in San Jose, Stockton, and various mining camps, gold mining, looking for work, doing carpentry for $12 a day, witnessing a hanging near Stockton, and John Amos Chaffee.

mssHM 68167

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F. Lyle Lyman correspondence

Manuscripts

The letters relate the story of Lyman's trip from Illinois to Dawson, Yukon Territory. His first stops were in Seattle and Vancouver; he finally arrived in Skagway, Alaska on March 3rd, after which he and his friend made their way through the Chilkoot Pass to Dawson. Although Lyman did not do much mining, he does talk about the miners whom he met. He briefly mentions a scheme to make money, but never gives further details. His letters describe the difficulties of hiking through the snow and bad weather (although he found the Chilkoot Pass less dangerous than he had expected); an avalanche which killed several people; the other travelers he encountered; the dangers of rafting down the Whitehorse rapids; and the conditions of the mining towns of Dyea and Dawson. There is one letter to Lyman from his mother. The group also includes a cabinet photograph of F. Lyle Lyman and four newspaper clippings regarding gold mining in the Klondike.

mssHM 65941-65958

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Jairus Beal diary

Manuscripts

The journal covers the voyage on the barque Apthorp from New York to Havana, then to Antwerp and then to Boston. Beal talks about the voyage and his crew members, but also reminisces about his youth and childhood days, talks about religion and his religious beliefs. He makes a few comments about his experience in Havana. Parts of the journal are written to Beal's wife; he often talks about their marriage, the prospect of having children and relationships and love in general. The second half of his journal is a daily log of the voyage starting March 31 and ending August 26 after their arrival in Sydney. Beal gives the ship's position, wind conditions, etc.

mssHM 72868

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Journal of a voyage up the Elbe on the frigate Proserpine accompanying Thomas Grenville to Berlin as British Ambassador: manuscript

Manuscripts

This is a journal kept by Edward Fisher during his trip on board the HMS Proserpine. He talks about the voyage, the shipwreck, and the crew and passengers' walk across the ice to safety.

mssHM 30305

Lyman Belding autobiography

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Lyman H. Howland letters to his son

Peter Andrew Clapsaddle diary

Day before yesterday : the search for gold beginning 1849

F. Lyle Lyman correspondence

Jairus Beal diary

Journal of a voyage up the Elbe on the frigate Proserpine accompanying Thomas Grenville to Berlin as British Ambassador: manuscript