Manuscripts

Edith M. Place letters

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Description: Five letters written by Edith Place to her cousin, Hattie, about her life on a ranch in Monterey County, California. In these letters, she writes in detail about her life on the ranch; harvests and crops planted; the migrant harvesting crews and their appearance during harvest; weather; her education (she did not like her teacher); childbirth and death; family matters; religious life; and leisure activities including trips to the beach. The manuscript with the letters is a short story entitled "Thanksgiving Day in the Far West," also written by Place.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1897-1898.
Call number: mssHM 83489-83494
Creator: Place, Edith M(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from McBride Rare Books, February 2019.
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Rachel Taylor Whittaker biography

Manuscripts

This typescript was written by the granddaughters of Rachel Taylor Whittaker, Charlotte Chatterley Perkins Jones and Hattie Maria Thorton Snow. They provide a biographical sketch of their grandmother, describing her emigration to the United States, her involvement in the Relief Society, and the manner in which she lived her life.

mssHM 66675

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Mary Ann Standlee's reminiscences of life in Southern California

Manuscripts

The author's recalls life in Southern California where she first lived on the Ballona or Malaga Ranch where her father was a sheep and cattle rancher. When she was four years old, they moved to San Gabriel and lived on the estate of De Barth Shorb when her father was appointed overseer of the Benjamin D. Wilson Ranch. She describes the ranch, its inhabitants and the San Gabriel Valley. In 1868 her parents bought land from John G. Downey in Los Nietos Valley near what is now Pico Rivera. Their ranch home was on the banks of the Rio Hondo River across the river from one of the Able Sterns ranchos. Standlee describes pioneer life; agriculture including orange, lemon and walnut orchards; dairy farming; stock ranching, schools and the coming of the railroads. Mrs. Standlee documents her marriage to Joel W. Standlee and the birth of her children. Some place names mentioned are: Los Angeles, Wilmington, San Gabriel, [Pico] Rivera, El Monte, Pasadena, Montebello and Downey.

mssHM 27978

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Dame Edith Sitwell papers

Manuscripts

The collection contains a series of manuscript poems (both typewritten and handwritten items) by Edith Sitwell as well as some letters and miscellaneous items. Many of the manuscript poems in the collection are various drafts of poems, and several of them were published in Sitwell's first book, The Mother and Other Poems (1915). The letters in the collection are from Sitwell to her cousin, and fellow writer, Joan Wake, and chiefly address Sitwell's writing. The miscellaneous items include pieces written by Wake on modern poetry and on her cousin's poetic stylings.

mssHM 32068-32122

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Dame Edith Sitwell papers

Manuscripts

mssHM 32068-32122

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A trip from England to California

Manuscripts

The journal, which is made up of letters Cowan wrote back to friends in England, covers her voyage from Liverpool to New York City on the ship Etruria, and her train trip across the country to Loomis and Monterey, California. Cowan writes in great detail about her fellow passengers and the scenery around her. She also describes the ship Etruria and the train on which she travels and often makes comments regarding the odd cultural behavior of Americans. Cowan also gives detailed descriptions of the events that take place around her including a fire that stopped her train near Truckee, California; Cowan and her fellow passengers eventually had to hike to another train. The handwritten journal is illustrated with clippings from magazines and Cowan's hand-drawn sketches.

mssHM 66797

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Caroline C. Briggs papers

Manuscripts

Caroline Crane Briggs wrote the majority of the 47 letters to her children, Sophia Crane Ristine and Benjamin Crane. The first few letters (1878) give a detailed description of the Briggs' journey to California through New Mexico and Arizona; these letters include comments upon the New Mexico and Arizona deserts and the Pima Indians. Her other letters are chiefly about her life in the new-founded city of La Crescenta. She talks about her personal activities and her travels through the Los Angeles area including Pasadena and Long Beach. She also talks about her friends and neighbors as well as her husband's business and property dealings. There is one letter by Caroline Crane Briggs to her husband and one letter by him to her. Also included in the collection are two poems by Caroline Crane Briggs about life in southern California, an essay she wrote entitled "Thanksgiving Day 1888," and eight pieces of ephemera including an obituary for Dr. Benjamin B. Briggs.

mssHM 66250-66299

Edith M. Place letters

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