Title:
Letter from [John Muir] to Morgan Shepard, [1903 Jan ?].
Creator:
[John Muir]
Publisher:
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies
of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Contributor:
Morgan Shepard
Date:
[1903 Jan ?]
2008
Type:
Text
Format:
Image/jpeg2000
Identifier:
muir13_0149-md-1
Source:
Original letter dimensions: 21 x 17 cm.
Language:
eng
Coverage:
[Martinez, Calif.]
Rights:
Copyrighted
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission
to publish or exhibit them, see
http://library.pacific.edu/ha/forms
Muir-Hanna Trust
1984
Transcription:
First draft of letter,in note-book January,1903 . Mr.Morgan Shepard, San Francisco. Dear Mr.Shepard: I have never
seen or heard of a large photograph of Mt. Whitney, nor of good telling ones of any size. Whitney is a difficult subject,
because it has comparatively little individuality, being only one of the many lofty fragmentary residual masses into which
the southern Sierra has been carved - the highest tooth of California's great white mountain saw. From the north it presents
a well-marked helmet-shaped summit with the sheer front facing eastward. From Owens Valley at the base of the Range it is
scarce at all recognizable. From the head of Crab Tree Creek, on the west side, it presents a rounded,massive,well-segregated
form about 3000 feet in height above the base, and picturesquely streaked with lines of bristling pinnacles.This,I think,is
far the best view,though difficult to photograph effectively.Of course you have seen Miss Hooker's photographs made last summer.J.N.LeConte
makes good pictures, and probably has made some of Whitney.Next time I'm in the City I'll try to call on you and explain farther.
Sincerely sympathizing with Miss Whitney in trying to get a good picture of her brother's noble monument, I am, Faithfully
yours, John Muir P.s. Miss Hooker writes me she is going to Europe next month.