Manuscripts

J. Call letter to "Dear parents, brothers and sisters,"

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Description: This letter was written by J. Call from San Francisco. In it, he describes his overland journey from the East coast to California. He details a cholera break out that killed many, a buffalo hunt, trading with Native Americans, and his arrival to California. He also describes life in California and the mines.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1850, February 8.
Call number: mssHM 83170
Creator: Call, J(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from Kenneth Karmiole, Bookseller, Inc., November 2016
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George Schuknecht letter to "Dear Brother Julian,"

Manuscripts

In this 8-page letter, George Schuknecht is describing his trip from Buffalo to Dyea, Alaska (with a stop in Seattle). He also talks briefly about his camp at Dyea near the Chilkoot Pass, the Alaskan landscape and his preparation to "start down the river" to begin mining for gold. Schuknecht and three friends were in Dyea, awaiting the arrival of some of their equipment and provisions, which had to be shipped separately from Seattle.

mssHM 70413

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S. P. Rickard letter to "Dear Sister"

Manuscripts

Letter from S. P. Rickard to his sister in which he describes the scenery, climate, and expenses in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

mssHM 72271

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Letter from an unknown British naval surgeon to "My Dear Parents & Brothers,"

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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I. Brearley letter to "my dear wife,"

Manuscripts

Letter from I. Brearley to his wife in Fullerton, California, written shortly after Brearley's arrival in Denver, Colorado. He writes of his ill health, describes the scenery of Denver, and alludes to the uncertainty of his finances.

mssHM 73693

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Henry T. Huggins letter to Mrs. Henry T. Huggins

Manuscripts

In his letter to his wife, Huggins describes an excursion in Iowa Territory he and some companions take to accompany the Fox and Sauk Indians on a buffalo hunt. He also discusses the town of Burlington, Iowa, and his legal dealings there.

mssHM 60699

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"John" letter to "my dear aunt,"

Manuscripts

Typescript of a letter sent from "John" to "my dear Aunt," written while he was at sea heading to San Francisco on board the steamer Tennessee. He writes of leaving New York on the steamer Cherokee, canoing across the Isthmus of Panama, the scenery and native people of the area, and conditions on board the Tennessee. He concludes the letter on April 16 after his arrival in San Francisco, and briefly describes lumber and mining prospects.

mssHM 73059

J. Call letter to "Dear parents, brothers and sisters,"

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George Schuknecht letter to "Dear Brother Julian,"

S. P. Rickard letter to "Dear Sister"

Letter from an unknown British naval surgeon to "My Dear Parents & Brothers,"

I. Brearley letter to "my dear wife,"

Henry T. Huggins letter to Mrs. Henry T. Huggins

"John" letter to "my dear aunt,"