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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Thomas Robinson account of sea voyage from Boston to San Francisco
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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
Three letters written by G. Cleveland to his sister Mary Cleveland in Canton, New York, between October 1849 and May 1850. In the first letter, dated October 28, 1849, Cleveland writes of his intentions to leave school and sail to California aboard the bark Orion. He describes his expectations of the wonders and dangers of the voyage and his hopes for success as well as his belief that "California is much like a lottery." The second letter, in three parts beginning February 5, 1850, was written while Cleveland was sailing around Cape Horn and during visits to Staten Land (now Isla de los Estados, Argentina) and Robinson Crusoe Island (part of the Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile). Cleveland writes of storms at sea, catching an albatross, and extensive descriptions of Robinson Crusoe Island (including the note that "we had the pleasure of seeing Crusoe's canoe...in a cove"). The final letter, dated May 1850, was written at the time of the Orion's arrival in California and further describes Cleveland's travels in the South Pacific and debates the total distance covered on the voyage.
mssHM 73682-73684
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Manuscripts
Sea journal kept by Latham A. Brown aboard the schooner Odd Fellow during the ship's 1849 voyage to San Francisco. Some notable entries include an encounter with the the bark Flora, which reported "joyful news from the gold diggings, which revived our company very much" (March 22), and going ashore in "Patigonia [sic] called the Peninsula of St. Joseph...this day being the most pleasant of any day since I left home we ar[e] surrounded by Penguins and varios [sic] other Birds" (April 12). Also included is a journal entitled "Latham A. Brown's Book, 1847," which is a seaman's exercise book assembled by Brown and which includes rules of traverse sailing, mercator sailing, how to find longitude and latitude, predicting tides, star declination, and finding latitudes by the moon, each with tables, problems, examples, and sketches of ships. Other items include an American Ship Masters' Association certificate naming Brown an approved shipmaster (1865) and several abstract logs for the schooner Restless from travels in the South Pacific, including Honolulu, Tahiti, and Sydney, from the mid-1850s.
mssHM 74816-74819
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Manuscripts
This document records the ocean journey of the barque, Golden Fleece, which left Boston, MA, for San Francisco, CA, on January 27, 1864. The author, identified by the initials W.A.H. at the end of the text on the fourth page, records the ship's journey around Cape Horn and various events which transpired onboard. The author describes the city of San Francisco upon their arrival on May 3rd and notes "the sad news of the assassination of President Lincoln." This statement may indicate that manuscript is inaccurately dated, as Lincoln died in 1865, and the manuscript may in fact be a reminiscence rather than a contemporary account
mssHM 60313
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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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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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Manuscripts
List of the company passengers and crew of the Bay State and California Trading and Mining Company, sailing from Boston to San Francisco on April 4, 1849 and arriving on September 23, 1849 on the ship Areatus. This list was made for Benjamin Warren who was listed as one of the directors. Twelve officers and directors are listed first and then the other members listed in alphabetical order giving their town of origin, occupation and age. Signed on page [4] by R.A. Sayles. There were two Bay State and California companies: this one on the Areatus and the other on the Almena. Jas. Woolley (sometimes Whooley, aka James Warner Woolsey) is listed as captain of the Areatus. She was built in 1839 and weighed in at 538 tons. The Areatus was abandoned at sea after being caught in a typhoon at Laguimanoc (Luzon, Philippines) "in sinking condition" on June 29, 1850 while returning from Singapore.
mssHM 28671