Manuscripts

Edward W. Syle letter to "My dear Aunt,"

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Description: Edward W. Syle wrote this letter from "Oakland, near San Francisco," which was where his family settled as he did missionary work with the Chinese community in San Francisco in 1855. In his letter, Syle mentions the S.S. George Law which took him and his family from Shanghai to California. The California weather was "very pleasant" and healthy for the children, but his missionary work was "trying" and "perplexing," unlike his rewarding efforts in China. Syle described Oakland as "peaceful & retired." Once a week, Syle crossed the Bay in a Ferry Boat to teach an evening class to the Chinese, but he spent his Sundays in a "little parish" he had just organized, the Oakland Parish of St. John's Episcopal Church.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1855, March 13.
Call number: mssHM 83406
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Edward W. Syle diary

Manuscripts

Edward W. Syle began writing this diary in April 1851 after six years of missionary work in China, though he still expressed shock at cultural differences. When he moved to San Francisco, he seemed distressed to find the Chinese so ragged and impoverished, and disappointed by the widespread discrimination they faced. He also commented on the circumstances of various Gold Rush mining camps. After he left San Francisco, the closing months of this diary were written back in Shanghai in October 1856.

mssHM 83407

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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

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Arthur H. Taylor letter to my dear Terrill

Manuscripts

Letter from Arthur Taylor in Santa Cruz, California, in which he writes of his legal actions against an anti-Chinese labor boycott. Taylor concludes that despite winning the case "I never tried to collect...I only sought to establish...that the boycott was illegal."

mssHM 74644

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J.W. Towne letter to "my dear Cox,"

Manuscripts

In these two letters written to the otherwise unidentified "Cox," Towne says there is opportunity for investing in Victoria, British Columbia, where Towne is currently stationed. He reports that real estate has doubled since his arrival. "Cox" appears to be in San Francisco, and has apparently access to goods for shipment to Towne. This manuscript consists of two letters, 1 and 2, dated 1858, July 27 and July 30 respectively.

mssHM 27991 (1-2)

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Edward S. Swan letter to Fanny P. Clark

Manuscripts

In this letter to his cousin, Edward Swan describes his journey to San Francisco. He endured "a very unpleasant passage" and was "detained in Panama for 12 days waiting for a steamer." Once he finally arrives in San Francisco, he finds it "a much nicer place here than expected."

mssHM 19296

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Letter to "My Dear Harold,"

Manuscripts

This incomplete letter was written by an unknown person from the Hotel Arcadia in Santa Monica, California. The author was on vacation in southern California and talks about touring in California, the weather, and plans to go home via San Francisco.

mssHM 68325

Edward W. Syle letter to "My dear Aunt,"

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Edward W. Syle diary

"John" letter to "my dear aunt,"

Arthur H. Taylor letter to my dear Terrill

J.W. Towne letter to "my dear Cox,"

Edward S. Swan letter to Fanny P. Clark

Letter to "My Dear Harold,"