Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Relatione d'Inghilterra dell'Illmo. sig. Nicolo Molino: Cavagliere dell' anno 1607: manuscript
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Manuscripts
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
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Manuscripts
This is a 19th century copy of Sir North's diary of a journey he took to Rome in 1555 as an ambassador of England to Pope Julius III. Accompanying him on his journey was Thomas Thirlby, Bishop of Ely and Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu. With manuscript note inserted.
mssHM 81033
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Manuscripts
The first 13 pages of Clymer's manuscript contain notes from his journals, with random observations, about his time in Southern California, including Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Monterey. Clymer talks about the people he sees, their clothes, customs, dwellings, etc. He also describes California's weather, landscape, agriculture and crops. The remaining 83 pages are written in a narrative style and concern Clymer's time in South America, including Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Clymer also briefly discusses the political history of the area, touching on the Peru-Bolivian Confederation in the late 1830s, and mentioning the lengthy string of wars fought in Peru and elsewhere since independence from Spain; as well as, the effects of civil war in Bolivia. He also talks about his voyage in the Pacific, the sea creatures he sees, the calmness of the Pacific Ocean, etc. The manuscript has numerous corrections and additions, indicating that Clymer perhaps intended it for publication, or at least for a more personal public audience.
mssHM 72090
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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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Manuscripts
This 6-page letter details the experiences and adventures of an unidentified British former naval surgeon who was in Oahu in 1845 after several years of traveling (apparently it had been many years since he had written home). The author starts with his time in Peru where he served in the Peruvian Army under President Augustin Gamarra in his offensive against the armies of Chile and Bolivia; he also talks about Antonio de la Fuente. He details his experience in the army, battles fought, the harsh conditions, famine, bad weather, treating wounded soldiers, etc. He also describes in some detail the cities of Lima, Arequipa and Callao, Peru. The author left Callao on a ship for Monterey, California where he was appointed "Physician General" of the army by Juan Bautista Alvarado. After four years in California, the author joined a French vessel on a journey to Kamchatka and Siberia; he describes in detail his experiences there as well as the harsh conditions met by the crew. The author then went to Oahu and most recently had been appointed surgeon to the British ship Emma. The letter ends with a list of greetings to family and friends back in England. The letter is incomplete and unsigned.
mssHM 70392
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Manuscripts
The manuscript relates Backus' experiences with the First Infantry Regiment during the Mexican War, from his departure from Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in May 1846, until he left Vera Cruz in July 1848 to return home to the United States. Backus describes in detail his regiment's march; their occupations of Burita, Reinoso, Veracruz and Mexico City; the Battle of Monterrey; his time in charge of the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa; and the violence which continued after the official end of the war. Backus specifically mentions Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor, Mariano Arista, Antonio Canales, and Antonio López de Santa Anna. At the end of the manuscript are several newspaper clippings regarding Electus Backus and the Mexican War. Accompanying the manuscript are two letters written by Backus further describing his experience in the Mexican War. The letters are addressed to Senator Alpheus Felch and to Backus' father-in-law, General Hugh Brady. The manuscript and letters may have been written by Backus to support his request for a promotion. There are also several sketches of Monterrey, which are drawn by Backus.
mssHM 66663-66666
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Manuscripts
This group of items consists of four manuscripts written by George H. Pettis regarding his experiences in the 1st Regiment of Infantry, California Volunteers in the American Southwest in the 1860s and 1870s. Two of the manuscripts are about the Civil War in New Mexico, and mention specifically Confederate Captain John Baylor, and the Union General H. H. Sibley, Captain Isaac Lynde, and General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby. The other two manuscripts discuss Pettis' experiences in the Indian Wars in New Mexico and Texas including the Battle of Adobe Walls in 1874. He talks about Kit Carson, Colonel James H. Carleton, Fort Bascom, Fort Craig, and Fort Fillmore. He also talks in detail about the Navajo, Apache, Jicarilla, Kiowa and Ute Indians.
mssHM 68406-68409