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.

Scope and Contents This collection consists of three letters (1850-1852) written by Edward Hubbard to his wife Harriet Woolcott Hubbard, relating his experiences in the California gold rush. There is also one letter from J.N. Woolcott to his parents, possibly relations of Harriet Woolcott Hubbard's, describing life in the Nevada gold fields (1859). Also included is the Hubbards' marriage certificate (1842) and ambrotype wedding photographs of Edwin and Harriet.Photographs in glass negatives...

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...

Scope and Contents The Lyman family papers include correspondence, diaries, property deeds, newspapers, photographs, and other materials for the family of Liberty Lyman and Lucinda Sikes Lyman covering the years 1812-1910.The bulk of the family correspondence consists of letters to Lucinda Lyman from her sons and daughters, as well as letters from friends and relatives in Massachusetts. Especially interesting are the letters of the Lyman sons in California. Many vivid details are given on life in California...