Gold Rush Era Letters

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Gold Rush Era Letters
Letters written by various people during the Gold Rush era 1848-1855. 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 State Library or the State of California and may be considered offensive. Materials must be viewed in the context of the relevant time period but views are in no way endorsed by the State Library. The California State Library’s mission is to provide credible information services to all Californians and, as such, the content of historical materials should be transcribed as it appears in the original document.
H. M. Hayward

H. M. Hayward

This collection consists of a four-page letter, dated December 3, 1849, from H. M. Hayward to Capitan G. W. Hayward. H. M. Hayward was living in San Francisco at the time. ** Please note that historical materials in the Gold Rush Collections may include viewpoints and values that are not...

4 pages: 100% complete (75% indexed, 100% transcribed)
Henry David Cooke

Henry David Cooke

This collection contains a two-page letter, dated November 29, 1848, from Henry D. to his brother Henry C. while in Valparaiso, Chile. Henry is catching up with his correspondence, having recently returned to Valparaiso, where he is staying with his sister, Sarah, and her husband, William G....

4 pages: 100% complete (75% indexed, 100% transcribed)
Hiram B. Flagg

Hiram B. Flagg

This is a four-page letter from H. B. (Hiram B.) Flagg to Harriette A, and Ellen Flagg, sent from Sacramento City to Lawrence, Massachusetts, dated April 4, 1850. Hiram came to California as a member of the first organized company to leave Massachusetts for the gold country, the Boston and...

4 pages: 100% complete (75% indexed, 100% transcribed)
Jared Comstock Brown

Jared Comstock Brown

Letters describing voyage around South America, life in Coloma, and in California. Also mentions the violence, politics, Know-Nothing party, 2nd Vigilance Committee's activities; mentions General Richardson, Senator Welles, James King of William, James Casey, Yankee Sullivan. **Please note that...

28 pages: 100% complete (89% indexed, 100% transcribed)
Jerubial Gideon Dorman

Jerubial Gideon Dorman

Letter is written to his brother, Peter Dorman, from Weber's Creek. Describes life among gold miners. **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 State Library or the State of...

4 pages: 100% complete (75% indexed, 100% transcribed)
John Cornock, Gold Rush Letters, 1850-1855

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...

64 pages: 100% complete (69% indexed, 100% transcribed)
John Ryerson

John Ryerson

Correspondence discusses family matters and details of Sacramento business. In addition, there is a letter, unsigned, dated Jan. 7, 1849, from Panama, describing a voyage to California. **Please note that historical materials in the Gold Rush Collections may include viewpoints and values that...

Collaboration is restricted.

120 pages: 30% complete (25% indexed, 61% transcribed, 31% needs review)
John S. Lamb

John S. Lamb

Four-page letter sent from "Murders Barr California, Dec. 24th 1850" to "Mr. James Ewing" and signed by John S. Lamb. Lamb was 35 years old when he left Burgettstown, Washington County, Pennsylvania, to follow the overland trail to California. In July of 1850 he was mining at Murderers Bar, near...

4 pages: 100% complete (75% indexed, 100% transcribed)
John S. Lester

John S. Lester

This collection contains a four-page letter dated August 26, 1849 from John S. Lester to William Larabee, in Gales Ferry, Connecticut. On January 24, 1849, John Lester and partners in the Groton California Company sailed from New London, Connecticut, on the schooner Velasco bound for California....

5 pages: 100% complete (100% indexed, 100% transcribed)
Joseph A. Benton Collection

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...

864 pages: 100% complete (7% indexed, 100% transcribed)
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