Title:

Autobiography and Reminiscence of James Mason Hutchings, San Francisco, 1901.

[Institutional Records Digitization Project: Reminiscences of Early Pioneers: 1900-1904]

Creator/Contributor:

Hutchings, J.M. (James Mason), 1820-1902, creator

Autobiographies and Reminiscences of California Pioneers, p.5-11, Vol. 2. This is a typed transcript, bound into a volume, of the member's autobiographical reminiscence created as an institutional record for the Society of California Pioneers. The transcription includes a reference to a photograph of the member in a set of bound volumes. This reminiscence begins with some background information regarding Hutchings' childhood in England. It then describes his motivation for moving to New Orleans and his passion for adventure, which inspired his overland journey to California. The reminiscence provides details concerning Hutchings life as a miner as well as his early business pursuits. It also describes how he came to write the famous "Miners Ten Commandments", a letter sheet of which more than 97 thousand copies were sold. Some mention is made of Hutchings' conflict with the U.S. Government over his right to settle in land that became part of Yosemite National Park. The years covered by this reminiscence are roughly 1840 to 1880.

Date:

1901 (issued)

Subject:

Hutchings, J.M. (James Mason) -- 1820-1902

Pioneers -- California -- Biography

Frontier and pioneer life

Gold mines and mining

Pictorial lettersheets

California -- History -- 19th century.

California, Northern.

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader

Autobiography & Reminiscence of James Mason Hutchings, San Francisco, 1901. The Society of California Pioneers

James Mason Hutchings was born in 1824 in England. At sixteen years old he traveled to New Orleans and worked as a clerk in a business house there. When he heard about the gold discovery, he left New Orleans in April of 1849, determined to satisfy his craving for adventure by taking the overland route. He arrived at the "gold-diggings" on October 9, 1849. He mined, made his fortune, and lost it all when the San Francisco bank, Frank Ward & Co., failed. He then returned to mining. In 1853, Hutchings published a letter sheet called "The Miner's Ten Commandments" which became wildly popular among California's early settlers. In 1856, aided by his newfound wealth, Hutchings began publishing "Hutching's Illustrated California Magazine", a monthly magazine dedicated to promoting the natural wonders and beauty of California. The magazine was published until June 1861, when it merged with the "California Mountaineer". After relinquishing his role as editor and proprietor of his magazine, Hutchings settled in the Yosemite and opened the hotel known as the "Hutchings House". In 1880, Hutchings was elected "Guardian of the Valley"

Type:

Autobiographies.

[7] p. ; 35 x 21 cm.

English

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Origin:

California

Copyright has not been assigned to The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Society of California Pioneers as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader.

Collection:

The Society of California Pioneers collection of autobiographies and reminiscences of early pioneers