Manuscripts

Frederick P. Kehrer letter to "Dear Friend,"

Image not available

Description: A letter from Frederick P. Kehrer, a recent émigré to the newly established Washington State, written on Spokane Falls pictorial lettersheets. Kehrer wrote to his friend about how he was looking for work. He also relayed the news of the death of his brother-in-law, and described how he had befriended a man named "Dr. Warden." The pictorial lettersheets depict a bird's-eye view of the town, "Spokane Falls," and the like-named large waterfall on Spokane River. The town Spokane Falls would be reincorporated as "Spokane" one year after this letter, in 1891, shortly after the disastrous fire of August 4, 1889.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1890, January 27.
Call number: mssHM 82589
Creator: Kehrer, Frederick P (1869-1909)

Charles Frederick Holder letter to John Vance Chaney

Manuscripts

Letter written from Charles F. Holder in Pasadena to John Vance Chaney, the head of the San Francisco Public Library. Holder writes that he has been delayed in getting back to San Francisco because of the "Tournament of Roses" given by his Hunt Club. He also asks Chaney if he has heard anything about "the Overland" (probably The Overland Monthly magazine), which he had been trying to acquire, and praises a newspaper man named Field of the San Francisco Chronicle.

mssHM 75639

Image not available

Letter book of Cleophas J. Moross

Manuscripts

The letter book contains typescripts of Cleophas' letters to his parents from 1904 to 1907 (the letters are bound out of order). He writes from Denver, Colorado; Spokane, and Rosalia, Washington; Post Falls, Idaho; Ogden, Utah; Portland and Pendleton, Oregon; San Francisco (after the earthquake), San Jose, Los Angeles and Fullerton, California; Hot Springs, Arkansas; Fort Worth, and San Antonio, Texas; and Monterrey, Mexico. In his letters he talks about the activities he does in each city; the work he does to earn money (he spends some time working with the Coeur D'Alene and Spokane Railroad and at a grocery store in Fullerton); relatives he visits; and the weather and geography of each location. He also talks more specifically about the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City; the Sidney Sloane murder case in Spokane as well as Indians he sees in Washington; the conditions of San Francisco since the 1906 earthquake; and his visit to the Alamo. In a letter dated 1906, August 18, Cleophas writes "I have fallen in love with the West since I have been here and I think it is the only place." He urges his parents to sell their property in Michigan and come West as well. With the letter book is a letter written by his brother Harry to their parents, Christmas 1896, and newspaper clippings about the drowning of both Harry and Cleophas.

mssHM 75102

Image not available

Peter Frederick Hummel letter to "Dear Wife & Children,"

Manuscripts

In this 3-page letter, Hummel describes his overland journey to California from Illnois. He talks about arriving in Fort Laramie and describes in detail the bad weather he encountered, the deaths of mules, cattle and horses along the way, and the physical landscape of the desert and the Sierra Nevadas. He also talks about his life in Sacramento, the gold he has found at Sutter's Mill and the difficulty of gold mining. Hummel gives prices for items and suggests that his wife and children come to California to be with him and states that they "could get rich in 2 years time." The letters is on letterhead from "J. M. Hummel Wholesale and Retail" in Sandwich, Illinois.

mssHM 70759

Image not available

Frederick Billings letter to John Townsend

Manuscripts

In this brief letter, Billings notifies Townsend that Townsend has been elected to the town council of San Francisco. Also signed by Samuel Fletcher.

mssHM 35191

Image not available

Eli Fay letter to "Dear Friends,"

Manuscripts

In this letter to unidentified individuals who appear to live in Sheffield, England, Eli Fay writes of his arrival to California from England. He arrived in New York and "took the cars" to Chicago, a journey that he reports took 26 1/2 hours. He is amazed at the growth of Chicago. Leaving Chicago, again "on the cars," Fay continued west, describing the landscape in general detail. Once arriving in Los Angeles, he describes the city and its inhabitants in greater detail. Of southern California, he writes that "as a whole is but little more than a vast Sanitorium," a refuge for "people who suffer from throat and lung troubles." Fay himself is ill, and has come to California for relief, for his doctors have told him that "my only chance of recovery was in a total suspension for the time being of my pulpit labor." He reports his health has improved, and his daily horseback rides in the open country have been of vital help. He laments that he left England "before I had finished the work that I had laid out for myself" and hopes to return once he has fully recovered. He asks for details of the church he has left, and hopes all is well.

mssHM 16550

Image not available

B.C. Drey letter to "Dear Dode,"

Manuscripts

In this letter, written from New Orleans, Drey describes a trip he took to Yosemite National Park when he lived in California. He also comments on his social life in New Orleans as well as the African Americans he sees in town. Drey also describes a religious service he observed at an African American church in New Orleans.

mssHM 67918

Frederick P. Kehrer letter to "Dear Friend,"

Opening Hours

Admission Info and Tickets

You might also be interested in

Charles Frederick Holder letter to John Vance Chaney

Letter book of Cleophas J. Moross

Peter Frederick Hummel letter to "Dear Wife & Children,"

Frederick Billings letter to John Townsend

Eli Fay letter to "Dear Friends,"

B.C. Drey letter to "Dear Dode,"