Manuscripts

Theodore S. McLellan letters

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Description: The letters, which are written to McLellan's wife, Mary, discuss McLellan's voyage to and life in California. He tried mining when he first got to California, but he eventually gave it up and took a job in a printing press. His letters also describe both the people and scenes of Sacramento and San Francisco. Two of the letters include pictorial lettersheets including "View of Sacramento City, From Washington Published by The Placer Times." Also included with the letters are five documents: three land deeds, a draft, and a bill of sale for the bark America
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1846-1852.
Call number: mssMcLellan
Creator: McLellan, Theodore S(Opens in new tab)

S. S. Haws letter to his family

Manuscripts

In this letter addressed "Dear Wife & Children," S.S. Haws describes his five-month journey. He stops at the Bay of All Saints on his way around Cape Horn, breaking up a potentially deadly quarrel between the ship captain and mate along the way. He arrives in California on September 15, 1852, and makes his way to Sacramento, where he began mining, and then on to San Francisco. Of the current condition of mining, he writes, "It is true much gold has been and is still being dug but when you take into consideration the numbers engaged and the vast amount of toil privation and suffering performed and endured to obtain it dwindles down into mere nothingness." He writes of the fire that very nearly consumed Sacramento in its entirety, and the ensuing effect on prices of goods. He also gives news of mutual acquaintences who have also made the journey from New York to California, and reports he has "become quite a practitioner in various diseases," owing in no small part to the continuing growth of the California cities.

mssHM 17476

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Theodore Johnson letter to "Dear Sir,"

Manuscripts

Johnson requests the carte de visite of the unnamed recipient and his fellow office workers, and describes an intended office Photograph Album. He also describes the schooner Sacramento and asks after mutual acquaintances.

mssHM 72268

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Daniel S. Hayden journal

Manuscripts

The journal covers Hayden's voyage from Maine to California onboard the Brig Siroc, as well as his time living in California. Hayden recorded the voyage to California in detail. Because he had some previous knowledge of nautical science, he was asked by the captain to assist in keeping the ship's official log and records; his own table of longitude and latitude are recorded at the end of the journal. Hayden recorded in detail the everyday activities of everyone on board including his duties to care for the pigs and chickens on board, and the passengers' attempts to catch various sea animals such as porpoises, dolphins, and sharks. After he arrived in San Francisco, Hayden briefly tried his hand at mining, but his main pursuit is to sell the lumber he had brought along with him on the ship. Hayden also talked about the activities of the Vigilance Committee of San Francisco, and provided details about mining methods, tools and equipment. Hayden also gave descriptions of the places he visits including Rio de Janeiro, and Coloma, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Stockton, California.

mssHM 65753

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Dunham, Theodore, 1897-. 4 letters (1931) to S. E. (Samuel Edward) Sheppard. 4 items

Manuscripts

The majority of the collection is made up of correspondence (364 items) between Theodore Dunham and various astronomers throughout the United States and England (and a couple other countries). Dunham and the other astronomers' research and work are the main topics of the letters. These subjects include: Dunham's work on stars (including our sun) and planets (Jupiter, Venus); biophysics; telescopes and lenses; and the Fund for Astrophysical Research. There is a folder with correspondence between Dunham, Harry Plaskett (Dunham's closest friend and astronomer at Oxford), and others regarding Dunham's attempt at doing his part during World War II. He contacts several people and institutions in England and Canada including the National Research Council in Ottawa looking for a position somewhere. This folder includes a copy of a letter by Dunham to Winston Churchill offering any assistance he can give to the war effort as well as copies of Dunham's "Summary of Scientific Work" (resume). The majority of the letters by Dunham are copies that he kept for his own records.

mssDunham papers

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George S. Patton letters

Manuscripts

A small group of letters consisting of two letters by General George S. Patton to Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Codman, and one to General Fox Conner, discussing military progress in Europe. The letter to Conner is dated Dec. 17, 1944, and the letters to Codman July 21, 1945 and August 18, 1945. In his letter to General Conner, Patton discusses, in general terms, the launching of the Ardennes Offensive and the opening of what eventually became known as the Battle of Ardennes or the Battle of the Bulge.

mssHM 70174-70176

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Albion C. Sweetser letter to Alvah Littlefield and A. Blood

Manuscripts

Albion Sweetser writes to his colleagues of planking being done in the city of Sacramento. He had thought of submitting a plan himself, but someone else got the job first. He has not yet sold the house, but there is someone interested. There will be an election for a new mayor on the 14th, as the previous one has passed away. Sweetser wishes to know if his colleagues would like him to sell out his store, but either way, he plans to stay in California.

mssHM 4183

Theodore S. McLellan letters

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S. S. Haws letter to his family

Theodore Johnson letter to "Dear Sir,"

Daniel S. Hayden journal

Dunham, Theodore, 1897-. 4 letters (1931) to S. E. (Samuel Edward) Sheppard. 4 items

George S. Patton letters

Albion C. Sweetser letter to Alvah Littlefield and A. Blood