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Works
Benjamin A. Watson, Gold Rush Letters, 1849-1851
This collection consists of letters written between Benjamin and his wife, Emily while Benjamin was in California mining for gold. Please note that historical materials in the Gold Rush Collections may include viewpoints and values that are not consistent with the values of the California...
Francis Hanford Russel Collection
The Francis Hanford Russel Collection consists of four letters and a diary-type notebook. One of the letters is a letter of introduction to General Persifor F. Smith and signed by then ex-president, James Buchanan. The other letters are dated from 1849, and describe Russel’s journey to California...
Gold Rush Letters of Henry A. Parker
Henry A. Parker (1832-1916) was just twenty when he came to California seeking wealth. From February 1852 through March 1856, he wrote 100 letters to his family in Pepperell, Massachusetts. During most of this period, Henry tried to send a letter on each mail steamer that left San Francisco,...
John Cornock, Gold Rush Letters, 1850-1855
This collection consists of 18 letters written by John Cornock to his sister in Albany, NY. The letters were written from California, or while enroute to California, during the Gold Rush era. Please note that historical materials in the Gold Rush Collections may include viewpoints and values...
Joseph A. Benton Collection
Joseph A. Benton came to California in 1849, during the gold rush. He first settled in Sacramento, where he founded the First Congregation Church in 1851. He was a pastor for many years as well as a professor of Biblical literature at Pacific Theological Seminary. This collection consists of...
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Journal Palmetto Mining Company Voyage
This journal is a record of the journey from Charleston, South Carolina to Coloma, California, and covers the period of March 3, 1849 to October 12, 1849. The journal belonged to Edward Keegan, but it is not known if Keegan is the actual author. The Palmetto Mining Company members traveled...
R. J. Boylan, Gold Rush Letters, 1850-1853
This collection consists letters written by RJ Boylan to his family back in Illinois, and document his stay in California during the gold rush period, 1850-1853. Boylan describes his attempts at gold mining, life as a miner, and the relations between miners and early residents of California. A...