Manuscripts

1903 March - November

Description: A collection of 233 items from 1901 to 1904, it consists of letters written by William Sampson to his fiancée, Edna Dahl, who was then working in San Francisco. The letters were written during the period of their courtship, 1901 to 1904, and cease after their marriage in 1904. Sampson describes events in Grass Valley, California, and the social life typical of mining towns of that period. Sampson's letters also describe his work at the North Star Mine and frequently mention the mine superintendent, Arthur DeWint Foote, as well as various members of the Foote family, including his wife, Mary Hallock Foote, a writer and artist, and James D. Hague, president of the company that owned the North Star Mine.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1901-1904.
Call number: mssSampson
Creator: Sampson, William (1878-)

1903 December-1904 March

Manuscripts

A collection of 233 items from 1901 to 1904, it consists of letters written by William Sampson to his fiancée, Edna Dahl, who was then working in San Francisco. The letters were written during the period of their courtship, 1901 to 1904, and cease after their marriage in 1904. Sampson describes events in Grass Valley, California, and the social life typical of mining towns of that period. Sampson's letters also describe his work at the North Star Mine and frequently mention the mine superintendent, Arthur DeWint Foote, as well as various members of the Foote family, including his wife, Mary Hallock Foote, a writer and artist, and James D. Hague, president of the company that owned the North Star Mine.

mssSampson

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1901-1903 February

Manuscripts

mssSampson

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William Sampson letters

Manuscripts

A collection of 233 items from 1901 to 1904, it consists of letters written by William Sampson to his fianc√©e, Edna Dahl, who was then working in San Francisco. The letters were written during the period of their courtship, 1901 to 1904, and cease after their marriage in 1904. Sampson describes events in Grass Valley, California, and the social life typical of mining towns of that period. Sampson's letters also describe his work at the North Star Mine and frequently mention the mine superintendent, Arthur DeWint Foote, as well as various members of the Foote family, including his wife, Mary Hallock Foote, a writer and artist, and James D. Hague, president of the company that owned the North Star Mine.

mssSampson

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1904 April-July

Manuscripts

mssSampson

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Sampson & Tappan letter to Captain George Sweetlin

Manuscripts

Interesting letter showing trade and commerce of the Gold Rush era. Sampson & Tappan write to the captain of their ship "Fanny Forester" (no doubt a nod to the nom de plume of the then popular author Emily C. Judson), stating that they had received the news of his charter party who had promised to send a fee of $1500. The charter party was Alfred Robinson (1806-1895), a businessman from Boston, who sailed to California in 1829 in the employ of Bryant, Sturgis and Company, a firm in the hide and tallow trade. Robinson was the author of Life in California (1846), an influential early description of the politics of the region under the Mexican Republic. Sampson & Tappan also write: "We are much pleased to hear that the ship is in such good order & That the leak is not so troublesome. We notice what you propose doing with the provisions & doubt not that you will manage them to best advantage." They note that they will soon be boarding the Carthage for San Francisco and "she will get away about 15 to 20 September."

mssHM 82559

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The moving target

Rare Books

"The Sampson family made their money in the Texas oil fields and spent it on the California coast. There was still plenty of it left when Ralph Sampson disappeared. Which is why Arless was called in by Mrs. Sampson, a paralysed blonde who had bad dreams, and by Albert Graves who held Sampson's power of attorney. The trail that Arless followed took him down through the seven circles of California society. For Sampson had mixed with thieves and murderers, a cult of "sun-worshippers", a silent-movie star in the last stages of degradation and a boogie pianist who had served her time. In company like that, kidnapping could be the least of anyone's troubles, and so Arless believed until he actually found Sampson and realised who was guilty. But this was not before he had seen some plain and fancy evil, solved a series of violent crimes, and handed out some rough poetic justice"--Dust jacket.

636028

1903 March - November

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