Manuscripts
George T. Cline, Ethan H. Cowles, and John Scott letters to Charles Scott
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John Torrey letter to Matthew H. Webster
Manuscripts
In this letter, written to a friend and fellow naturalist in Albany, Torrey talks about his book Flora of the northern and middle sections of the United States, which at this time was being issued in parts. He also asks his friend for botanical samples and mentions Lewis David von Schweinitz's book Monograph of the North American species of the genus Carex (1825).
mssHM 71896
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H. B. Lansing diaries
Manuscripts
Lansing's diaries give a detailed account of his life in California as a gold miner. He talks about his life in the mining camp, his friends and business partners, his home sickness, his desire to "sell out" and go home, as well as the specifics of mining for gold (buying and selling of claims, equipment problems, bad weather, boils on his hands, etc.). Lansing also describes in detail how he and his friends spend their leisure time: gambling, bowling, drinking and going to dances. Lansing mentions the Chinese he works with in the mines, Joaquin Murieta and the hanging of several Mexicans for murder. Lansing works in and travels to several different places in California including San Andreas, Sonora, Chinese Camp, Murphy's Camp and Yackee (Yaqui) Camp. Lansing also gives a daily tally of the gold he finds in his diggings by dollar amount. The first volume covers all of 1853 and second volume only covers January to May 1855.
mssHM 70409-70410
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George Lawson letters
Manuscripts
The letters, most of which were written by George Lawson to his parents back home in Illinois, are about Lawson's experience mining for gold and living in the mining town of Ophir, California; there are several letters written from Sacramento, as Lawson spent some time in that city as well. His letters include details regarding gold discoveries, prices for supplies, the gold specimens he was sending home, and the machinery he was using for gold mining. There are two letters, probably written in 1864 and 1865, by L. L. Thaxter, that describe his experience with the Sanitary Commission, his visits to Civil War hospitals, and his encounters with wounded soldiers. Thaxter also discusses Ulysses S. Grant and the approaching end of the war. There are also two photographs included with the letters
mssHM 63927-63938
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John Gorham Palfrey letter to George Washington Greene
Manuscripts
An autograph letter written from Boston, Mass., from John G. Palfrey to George W. Greene, who was serving as U.S. Consul to Rome. The letter details a list of written works ordered by Palfrey but not yet paid for; he also mentions their mutual friend H.W. Longfellow. The letter has a red wax seal and was originally window-mounted; it has been removed but the old cloth hinges remain.
mssHM 83573
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Charles H. Hayden letters
Manuscripts
The letters are written to Hayden's brothers and discuss his experience in the mining camp of Fox Creek, California including his attempts at mining and running a butchering business. He also includes details about the bad weather and its effects on the mines in the area. One of the letters is written by friends of Hayden, who also lived in California
mssHM 63723-63727
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N.S. Bowen letter to H. Mills
Manuscripts
In this letter, Bowen discusses the following subjects in detail: several mines in Jamestown, California; gold, iron, copper and quartz mining in California; gold discoveries; and his plan to build a stamp mill to make the mining process easier.
mssHM 68278