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David Woodman papers

 Collection
Identifier: c-00128
Scope and Contents

This collection includes letters written by David Woodman to his wife Jane while he was in California in 1852-1853. His early letters describe the trip from Paw Paw, Michigan to the Sacramento area by riverboat and wagon train. Later letters tell of living conditions, social life and gold mining. Woodman became very disillusioned with California and especially with the prospects of becoming rich through gold mining. The collection also includes home remedies for diphtheria and catarrh.

Dates: 1852-1853, undated

George Wilson collection

 Collection
Identifier: c-00154
Scope and Contents This collection contains scattered correspondence from members of the Wickim, Briggs, Sanford, and Mudgett families. A letter from H. G. Wickim to his family (1854) describes preparations for an overland trip to California. Two letters from H. F. Briggs (1857, 1860) discuss land prices and agriculture in Illinois. In two letters to his father (1860, 1861), E. P. Sanford describes life in the California mines. Another California pioneer, C. N. Mudgett, writing to her sister, declares that she...
Dates: 1854 - 1900

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  • Subject: California -- Description and travel X
  • Subject: Gold mines and mining -- California X
  • Subject: Letters (correspondence) X

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Agriculture -- Illinois 1
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China -- History -- Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901. 1
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