Manuscripts

Bonanza and Borrasca: the life story of Chester Loomis North

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Description: The autobiography covers North's life from his birth in San Francisco in 1889 to his life as a silversmith in Pasadena, California in the 1950s. In it, he talks about his life in San Francisco, his friendship with Timothy Hopkins, a voyage he took to Hawaii and Japan in 1903, his living abroad in Europe for several years, World War I, the Great Depression, and his work with Clarke Aero-Hydraulics, Inc. during World War II. Throughout the manuscript, North talks about his grandfather John Wesley North. The manuscript includes a 3-page index at the beginning listing subjects and their pages.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1973.
Call number: mssHM 75109
Creator: North, Chester Loomis(Opens in new tab)

A.W. Loomis diary

Manuscripts

Personal diary of A.W. Loomis consisting of three major sections; Overland trip and missions to the Creek Nation in 1852, a series of sermons on death, and life as missionary in Chusan, China.

mssHM 80809

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Experiences and reminiscences of Raymond William Milnor

Manuscripts

In this manuscript, Milnor reminiscences about his life. He talks about his childhood in Iowa where he played around railroad tracks and attended a school with a graduating class of 14 students. He talks about his work with the railroads and trips he took. He talks briefly about his time in the war and time spent at Yellowstone Park on his journey to California. Milnor ends his reminiscences with several pages covering his life in southern California - his varying jobs, the many times his family moved around, his daughters' education, family vacations, his retirement, etc.

mssHM 73895

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Danforth H. Medbery memoir

Manuscripts

Medbery wrote this memoir of his time in California in 1919 at the age of 80. It begins with his voyage to California on the "Northern Star." He arrives in San Francisco 24 days later. He talks about his work in a mill, the machinery he uses there, looking for gold and the equipment he builds; he also talks about his other jobs selling fruit and vegetables and copper mining in Copperopolis, California. He also talks about politics, violence, attending church and teaching Sunday school, and social life in general. While in California, his wife, Mary, was often in California too, but she would eventually move back East before him.

mssHM 82465

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Boston to San Francisco

Manuscripts

Briggs handwritten manuscript covers the first half of his trip from Boston to San Francisco in 1886. He talks about his visits to Niagara Falls, Omaha, Denver, Cheyenne, Reno, and Salt Lake City. He specifically describes the hanging of a man in Denver, and the climate in California. The manuscript might be the source for some of Chapter Eight "A Trip to California, 1886," in Briggs' book entitled Arizona and New Mexico 1882, California 1886, Mexico 1891 (1932); however, Chapter Eight covers the entire trip to San Francisco and back to Boston.

mssHM 68057

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Abbott Lawrence Whitney letter to Katherine Whitney Crandall

Manuscripts

In this letter, insurance broker A. L. Whitney talks about his father William Whitney, who moved to San Francisco from New York in 1849. He also talks about several other family members as well as his life in San Francisco. With the letter are copies of 4 photogarphs of Whitney family members including: Katherine Whitney Wakelee, Abbott Larwrence Whitney, William Whitney and Matilde Whitney.

mssHM 75108

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August Wilhelm Wern reminiscences

Manuscripts

Wern's manuscript covers his entire life form his birth and childhood in Prussia to his life in Los Angeles in 1914. In it Wern describes in detail his move to the United States, training as a shoemaker, his decision to move to California and his journey there, the miners he served in his store, his financial struggles, his yearlong trip to Europe, and life in San Francisco and the mining camp of Susanville. After the description of his move to Los Angeles, Wern talks about the 1885 real estate boom and other ventures such as growing walnuts in Orange County.

mssHM 68166

Bonanza and Borrasca: the life story of Chester Loomis North

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A.W. Loomis diary

Experiences and reminiscences of Raymond William Milnor

Danforth H. Medbery memoir

Boston to San Francisco

Abbott Lawrence Whitney letter to Katherine Whitney Crandall

August Wilhelm Wern reminiscences