Correspondence (incoming) - W-Z

Houston Texas June 3th 1889

Leland Stanford, Esq San Francisco, Cal

Dear Sir! Sometime ago I read an article circulated in the German Press here and abroad, in regard of your founding Stanford University, a school of learning, in Memorial of your son. I am Prof. of Aesthetics and Fine Art and it was at that time my intention to make an application for a professorship, but was persuaded to come to Texas, in order to write up the State with illustrations, etc. etc. for [R.R.?] Cas; which I did with success and the inducement of permanent engagements. Besides writing and sketching for the R.R. Cas., I expected to complete other literary and artistic works, as described and [planned?] in enclosed articles, but the [R.R.s?] [over?]

became turned over to the Receiver and I was obliged to open an Art School, in order to support my family. During my forced confinement to a place where malaria fever attacked my robust health, I have made up my mind to settle in California with my whole family, and to finish and complete there my Great Western Album, and if possible, to get in future a professorship, to teach Aesthetics in Stanford University. I have educated in my profession many teachers with success, but did not succeed to [get?] me a little fortune for my family. I have three bright boys, one daughter, wife and sister, but I have a large material on hand of sketches and M.S.S. for the Great Western Album, etc, with which I hope to realize [renumeration?] by giving the art loving world here and abroad, the picturesque scnery of the Great West and South West [bet.?] the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific Ocean. To complete the object in view

I have to make a sketching trip along the Pacific Coast, from San Diego to San Francisco, up to Columbia River, returning the Coast Division to take in the most interesting points; winding up with Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove, etc etc. I am also special artist for the world renowned [several?] [for?], Art Science and Literature [Ueber?] Land and [Meer?] which desire a series of sketches from the Pacific Coast and Interior of California's wonders, for several sessions to be continued, which bring to the civilized world in a systematic order the gems of this Golden Country. I have the courtesy of almost all other R.R. Cos, especially of [the?] U.P. and ask the patronage of you and your people for my purposes to go over your Lines between points, in order to secure all the views for the Great Western Album, [hoping?] to receive by your influence [also?] [some?] orders for your pamphlet, to assist, to meet my expenses, while on [route?]

I will make my first headquarters at Monterey in order to commence the series of sketches for [Ueber?] Land and [Sea?] [Journal?] and to take some views of the Santa Clara Valley, and as soon I have some of my sketches of these localities finished, I will bring them to you for inspections. I appreciate your views in regard to the aesthetic wants, and culture of [same?] for all of [us?] very much and desire to dedicate the Great Western Album to you. As soon I hear from you regard to my requests, chiefly of transportation between El Paso and the Coast Division of California and its connections I am ready to depart for my sketching trip. As soon I have the pleasure of meeting you in San Francisco, I will show you my portfolio. Yours, Very Respectfully Carl C. [Zeus?]

Note to File Call NUmber: SC 33a Collection: Leland Stanford Papers Date: March 1996 Note: Please see oversize boxes for samples of woodcuts by Carl Zeus that accompanied his letter of June 3, 1889

By: Patricia White

Department of Special Collections Stanford University Libraries