Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt postcard to Fred Lockley

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  Herbert Hoover letter to Fred Lockley

  Manuscripts

  Letter is written to American historian, writer, and editor Fred Lockley. It reads: "My dear Fred: I received the 'Book of Discipline' which you sent me and I am indeed glad to have. With kind regards, Yours faithfully," and is signed "Herbert Hoover," on his letterhead. Return address is "The Towers, The Waldorf Astoria."

  mssHM 84212

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  Sir George Howard Darwin letter to Frederick Pollock

  Manuscripts

  This letter was written by George H. Darwin to the English jurist Frederick Pollack. The letter is simply dated "Tuesday;" the cataloger obtained the date from the postmark on the envelope.The letter reads as follows: "I enclose a cheque for £10 from my Father, and one of £5 from myself. My Father says he will be glad to increase his subscription if necessary, + I shall be proud to help so worthy a subscription by another £5 if there is any kind of need of it - So will you let me know how the total gets on. Yours G. H. Darwin." The letter was written from Beckenham, London, England.

  mssHM 80279

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  S. P. (Samuel Pierpont) Langley letter to Henry S. Mackintosh

  Manuscripts

  This letter was written by Langley to Henry S. Mackintosh, an American teacher and author. It is on Smithsonian Institution letterhead. The letter reads as follows: "I am very glad to see your hand again, and perhaps I can best answer your inquiry by enclosing you a copy of a report from the Administrative Assistant in the National Museum, in reference to the feathered cloak. If you wish anything more done through the Museum, let me know, though I rather think you would do quite as well with private parties. Very sincerely yours, S. P. Langley."

  mssHM 80278

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  Chauncey Edgar Stearns letters to friends and family

  Manuscripts

  This is a series of letters written by Chauncey Edgar Stearns, describing his experiences during his journey from Illinois to California. The letters are written to friends and family at his home in Vermont, but many are written to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Stearns. The first letter, HM 21283, is dated 1855, October 19, and Chauncey Stearns writes that he has traveled by boat up the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario. He became seasick during the voyage, particularly upon reaching the lake. He has gotten work as a clerk at a local store in Lockport, Illinois, but does not know how long he will stay. Of the town, he writes: "although it is a good country it is to sickly I say sickly it is not so with folks that live hear." He urges his brother Henry to stay at home. In HM 21285, dated 1855, December 6, he writes of homesickness: "If I had thirty Dollars and was back to Vermont I would never say any thing more about the West." He begs his parents "do not tell anyone that I want to come home for they would laugh at me when I get home." Stearns was in Iowa in early 1856, and stayed with various friends and relatives in Wisconsin during the spring and summer of 1856, where he worked at farms to save money to finance his travels to California. He writes that he prefers Wisconsin to Illinois (HM 21294, 1856, June 1), and says "I could make up my mind to go home but I shall not at present for the reason I can do better out here than in old Vermont & for that reason I shall stay." By 1858, Stearns has earned enough to buy his own land (HM 21295, dated 1858, November), and by early 1859, he is on his way to Pike's Peak in Colorado (HM 21296, dated 1859, March) before finally heading for California. Stearns seems almost resigned of going to what he calls "the new El Dorado", for as he writes, "there is Gold there without a doubt but not of a sufficient quantity to pay a man for going." By late 1859, he is in Sacramento (HM 21298, written 1859, September 30), and writes that wages are fine, when work can be found. He is very impressed with the bounty of California and its "fertile vallies." However, as he writes in April, 1860, "the society I am mingling with does not harmonize with my feelings" as "gambling and rowdyisms are the principal productions of the mining towns in California & thus it is why so many young men are ruined for life from character as well as health." Of the money made from mining, Stearns remarks, "it is very easy to spend it as fast as it is dug out," but he has not succumbed to the temptations offered in Sacramento. By late 1861 (HM 21303) Stearns declares that California will be his home for the rest of his life, and relocates to San Francisco, where he enlists for three years as a soldier because he believes "it would be better for my health" (HM 21302, dated 1864, August 23). He has had a change of heart, as he writes "should I be fortunate enough to out live the term of my enlistment I shall come home never to leave the Atlantic States again while I live." Regarding his enlistment, he tells his mother not to worry, as "Soldiers here have no fighting to do." In 1866 (HM 21306, written April 17), Stearns writes to his brother "exsposure & hard work has made an old man of me in some respects." The final letter is dated 1867, October 7, and Stearns writes from San Francisco that "I think my health will never be very good again California has been a very hard country with me at times." He laments, one last time, the separation from his family.

  mssHM 21282-21308