Recollections of Sixty Years of Engineering by John H. Quinton | Collections | The Huntington

Recollections of Sixty Years of Engineering by John H. Quinton | Collections | The Huntington

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Joseph Heller letter to Paul Hardacre
Manuscripts
This typewritten letter, written to Professor Paul Hardacre (who taught at Vanderbilt University) is as follows: Dear Professor Hardacre: Many thanks to you for sending me the photograph from The Times. I envy that man lying on the grass in Cornwall, not merely because he is reading Catch-22, but because he appears to be having a much better time doing it than I had all summer traipsing about all through Europe for Holiday magazine, which is why it has taken me so long to acknowledge your kindness in sending me the clipping. Thank you again. Cordially, Joseph Heller [signed]." With the letter is a newspaper clipping of an article entitled "Writing novels slowly but with hardly a catch," about Joseph Heller, from The Times, October 17, 1975.
mssHM 78362
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William H. Taft, Hot Springs, Virginia, letter to Hamilton Holt, New York :
Manuscripts
Taft writes to the managing editor of The Independent magazine that he would like to assist Holt but is not able to do anything until August, asks him to write again later in the month. Taft states that "The Independent has been very good to me and has supported me, especially with respect to the colored disaffection, and I am anxious to respond if I can, but you know human energy has its limitations."
mssHM 23528
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Andrew McKinley letter to John McKinley
Manuscripts
In this letter addressed to "my dear father," Andrew McKinley writes he is stricken with illness which "has somewhat increased my expenses....I would be obliged if you would send me some money." He also says he is thinking over his father's suggestion to move his business to the Eastern cities.
mssHM 29252
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William Lawrence Austin letter to Joseph Burn Austin
Manuscripts
William Lawrence Austin wrote this letter to his father, Joseph Burn Austin, in the midst of the Leadville silver boom. Leadville had been founded only two years earlier, but not all is well. Lawrie writes to his father in South America from a smelting works in Leadville, Colorado, seeking financial help. "My dear Papa, Can't you borrow the money to keep Cecil at Yale under a guarantee from me to pay it back with interest? It is really too bad for me to be taking all these chances...I am overworked, under paid, & tied up in such a way, than a human being can't be expected to stand it." One of his co-workers, Abarci, left some time ago and two more are going to leave the smelting works soon. He suggests, "Now I'll give you the boys' plan & you can see what a temptation it is to me. They intend to start an assay office up town, then add on a store, to consist of simply miner supplies, then do a general professional business besides. We will be working for ourselves..." He is confident that "...we will make the strongest team in the country." Lawrie is in despair because he must endure the dangers of the smelting works and shortchange his own future by attending to his brother's needs first, a brother who spends his time reading novels and his money on "pleasure seeking." He states, "You don't know how interesting life has been becoming for me, & I must stay in the poisonous fumes of furnaces, & give up every thing...I have to look far enough into the future, anyhow, in order to see a blue sky, but to think that I must give up my Leadville, & start again at some future day, possibly in some camp, & certainly without one cent to back me is very hard Papa." He concludes, "You must pay some attention to my case, as well at Cecil's. You could not keep one man in a hundred as you are keeping me, & there will be a final blow up, if you keep on, & that I want to avoid if possible." The letter is simply signed "Lawrie."
mssHM 80808
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John Q. Adams Recollection of Early Theatricals in San Francisco
Manuscripts
This essay was read by Adams before the California Historical Society on April 8, 1890. Adams states that "the Stage is the mirror of mankind; the reflex of society." He begins with a poetic description of California, then relates the first days of paying entertainment in San Francisco, in the form of "Mr. Rowe's the first Circus." He describes the early city of San Francisco as he remembers it, and reports that the first concert in the city's history was given on June 22, 1849 by Stephen C. Massett. The first theater was The Eagle Theater, which opened in late 1849 as a covered tent, and the first performance was of "The Wife, or A Tale of Mantua" given on January 16, 1850, given by the Eagle Theater Company. Adams reminisces of theater manager Tom Maguire and the various theaters under his management, and of the Adelphi Theater, built in 1851. Adams reports that the French, Chinese, and Germans had their own performances as well, and that there was Spanish bullfighting and horse racing near the Mission Dolores. He writes of many performers, including Adelaide Neilson and Edwin Forrest. When the Metropolitan Theatre opened in 1853, it was lauded as "the most magnificent temple of histrionic art in America," according to Adams.
mssHM 19063
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Recollections of a Quartermaster
Manuscripts
Memoirs of William G. LeDuc finished in February 1911. The narrative covers the childhood and youth in Ohio and Northern Mississippi, Kenyon College, travels in Kentucky, Tennessee, Boston (where he attended the trial of John W. Webster); his life in Minnesota, Civil War experience, and post-war career up through end of 1910, including his business interests in California and Mexico and connections with the Banning Company. The memoir ends with an account of LeDuc's spiritualist experiences.
mssHM 20723