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Dane Family Papers
mssDane  
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Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Provenance
  • Biographical Note
  • Scope and Content
  • Arrangement
  • General
    • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: Dane Family Papers
    Identifier/Call Number: mssDane
    Physical Description: 20.42 Linear Feet (17 boxes)
    Date (inclusive): 1849-1934
    Abstract: This collection contains the papers of the family of Ezra Dane (1828-1921) and Lois Anna Nutting, who settled in California during the Gold Rush period. The bulk of the papers consist of personal Dane family correspondence; some letters discuss the Civil War, and the largest group of letters was written by Ada Nutting Baker in Decatur, Michigan, between 1854 and 1902. The collection also includes business papers, as well as notes and source material used by writer George Ezra Dane (1904-1941).
    Language of Material: English.

    Access

    Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

    Publication Rights

    The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item]. Dane family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Provenance

    Gift of George E. Dane, 1934-1939.

    Biographical Note

    Ezra Dane (1828-1921) was born in Shutesbury, Massachusetts, on April 12, 1828. He crossed the plains to California in 1852 and engaged in mining in the Tuolomne region. During a visit home to Massachusetts in 1859, he married Lois Anna Nutting, and on their return established a home in Sonora, California, and in 1884 acquired a fruit ranch, "Sunny Ridge," near Pasadena, California. His grandson, George Ezra Dane (1904-1941), born in Pasadena on December 21, 1904, was the son of Beatrice (Jodon) and George Bryant Dane. He was a lawyer and a writer of folklore, western history, and humor.

    Scope and Content

    This collection contains the papers of the Dane family who settled in California during the Gold Rush period. The bulk of the papers consist primarily of personal correspondence written by and to members of the Dane family. Many of the letters discuss family matters, and the largest group of letters were written by Ada Nutting Baker, the sister of Lois Nutting Dane, in Decatur, Michigan. There are also letters (1863-64) by James W. Nutting which discuss the Civil War. The collection also includes business papers, as well as notes and source material used by George Ezra Dane in editing A Sojourn with Royalty and Other Sketches by "Old Block" (San Francisco: G. Fields, 1936).
    Some notable items include:
    1. Champney, Jessie. Letter to Beatrice J. Dane ref erring to experiences of A. D. Champney with Pres. James K. Polk. December 12, 1935.
    2. Dane, R. M.Letter concerning his opinion of President Lincoln. March 30, 1861.
    3. Nutting, James W. Letters to members of his family written during the Civil War period. May 15, 1861 to November 1, 1864.
    List of Correspondents
    1. Adams, A. (1 pieces), 1889
    2. Adams, Alden (1 piece), 1866
    3. Backus, Mrs. E. (1 piece), 1884
    4. Baker, Ada (Nutting) (414 pieces), 1854-1902
    5. Baker, Charles T. (4 pieces), 1858-1887
    6. Bardwell, J. L. (1 piece), 1893
    7. Barmenter, Ann R. (1 piece), 1856
    8. Barnum, Mary (1 piece), 1897
    9. Bartle, W. T. (1 piece), 1893
    10. Bell, James (15 pieces), 1893-1896
    11. Bell, Lucy (Nutting) (21 pieces), 1859-1894
    12. Berger, Dollie (2 pieces), 1890-1891
    13. Berlin, Joseph F. (3 pieces), 1894-1901
    14. Beushoff, Claudine (Stevens) (2 pieces), 1895
    15. Bidwell, Jennie H. (2 pieces), 1881-1900
    16. Blackface, Josephine H. (1 piece), 1896
    17. Brodrick, H. M. (1 piece), 1897
    18. Burke, Nell (Nutting) (22 pieces), 1859-1883
    19. Chadwick, Marie (1 piece), 1898
    20. Champney, Jessie (11 pieces), 1876-1935
    21. Champney, Mary E. (2 pieces), 1890-1891
    22. Champney, Ruth E. (11 pieces), 1885-1889
    23. Crook, Enola L. (1 piece), 1869
    24. Dane, Alice Bell (3 pieces), 1880-1881
    25. Dane, Ezra (10 pieces), 1872-1884
    26. Dane, George (1 piece), 1854
    27. Dane, James Rufus (16 pieces), 1884-1885
    28. Dane, Lois (Nutting) (26 pieces), 1864-1884
    29. Dane, Lucius Nutting (17 pieces), 1883-1885
    30. Dane, Lucy A. (1 piece), 1866
    31. Dane, Myron Ben (4 pieces), 1860-1870
    32. Dane, R. M. [Roxanne, wife of Rufus Dane] (4 pieces), 1861-1896
    33. Dane, Rufus (3 pieces), 1861-1876
    34. Dawson, Lucy (2 pieces), 1882-1883
    35. Day, Marion W. (1 piece), 1893
    36. Dibble, Bessie (2 pieces), 1898-1899
    37. Dodge (2 pieces), 1866
    38. Dryer, W. H. (1 piece), 1884
    39. Eastman, E. P. (1 piece), 1864
    40. Elsbree, Susie (1 piece), 1898
    41. Field, Anna M. (2 pieces), 1869-1870
    42. Field, Mrs. Ralph A. (1 piece), 1880
    43. Fitts, Carrie L. (1 piece), 1873
    44. Frary?, F. (1 piece), 1859
    45. Grantz, Mary J. N. (3 pieces), 1898-1900
    46. Graves, Lille (2 pieces), 1898-1933
    47. Graves, Lizzie A. (1 piece), 1901
    48. Harmon, F. W. (1 piece), 1863
    49. Harmon, MRs. F. W. (2 pieces), 1882
    50. Holton, Cornelia (15 pieces), 1876-1891
    51. Holton, Elcy C. (3 pieces), 1890-1896
    52. Holton, George M. (9 pieces), 1883-1899
    53. Howard, M. Louise (1 piece),
    54. Hubbard, Lou (1 piece), 1894
    55. Hutchins, George Edward (1 piece), 1894
    56. Inch, Carrie E. (1 piece),
    57. Ingraham, Irving E. (1 piece), 1899
    58. Jane, C. D. (1 piece), 1888
    59. Jefferds, Bessie A. (1 piece), 1896
    60. Jodon, Robert and Anna (1 piece), 1901
    61. Johnson, Julia E. (1 piece), 1901
    62. Johnson, L. A. (1 piece), 1880
    63. Kennan, ? Jean McCormick (1 piece),
    64. Keyes, Julia M. (1 piece), 1877
    65. Kingsley, Etta L. (9 pieces), 1866-1875
    66. Kirkwood, Anna (Dane) (68 pieces), 1876-1934
    67. Lawton, J. L. (1 piece), 1896
    68. Loomis (1 piece),
    69. Ludovici, Julius (1 piece), 1900
    70. McGilvray, Dotte (2 pieces), 1899
    71. Maclean, Dollie (1 piece), 1886
    72. Mapes, Fanny? (2 pieces), 1889
    73. Marriner, Maude M. (1 piece), 1890
    74. Mayberry, Emily G. (1 piece),
    75. Meeker, Anna L. (1 piece), 1894
    76. Morgan, Lulu V. (1 piece), 1897
    77. Morgan, Rose E. (1 piece),
    78. Moss, Olivia H. (2 pieces), 1886
    79. Moss, Ora (3 pieces), 1886-1893
    80. Nutting, Carrie L. (2 pieces), 1887-1896
    81. Nutting E. F. (2 pieces), 1881-1894
    82. Nutting, Eliza B. (2 pieces), 1872-1873
    83. Nutting F. A. (1 piece), 1898
    84. Nutting, James W. (17 pieces), 1856-1874
    85. Nutting, Nell (Warner)? (4 pieces), 1871-1872
    86. Nutting, Lucius (1 piece), 1863
    87. Overacker, H. (1 piece), 1880
    88. Phelps, D. S. (2 pieces), 1887-1888
    89. Preston, Lizzie M. (1 piece), 1873
    90. Rawson, Cynthia (Nutting) (5 pieces), 1858-1876
    91. Rust, Carrie Stuart (4 pieces), 1855-1856
    92. Rust, Edawrd P. (1 piece), 1880
    93. Rust, Mollie E. (1 piece), 1889
    94. Sawyer, Harriet A. (6 pieces), 1896-1901
    95. Sawyer, Harriet P. (3 pieces), 1899-1901
    96. Seliax?, Ella C. (1 piece), 1898
    97. Sewell, Eldora (3 pieces), 1895
    98. Slocum, Fannie B. (1 piece), 1895
    99. Slocum, Ida B. (3 pieces), 1876-1893
    100. Stickney, Carrie F. (2 pieces), 1864-1870
    101. Washington College (Alameda County, California) Principal (2 pieces), 1878-1880
    102. Webb, Mida F. (1 piece), 1900
    103. Wickson, E. J. (1 piece), 1884
    104. Winter, Maude J. (3 pieces), 1895-1896
    Miscellaneous items include:
    1. Envelopes. 102 pieces. (In Box 15)
    2. E Clampus Vitus. Certificate of membership of Henry E. Huntington Library. 1937 January 27. (Box 17)
    3. Journal (1854-1857). (Diary of a lawyer in Sacramento and San Francisco who was interested in politics, church services, and temperance.) (Box 17)
    4. Materials in Box 16:
    5. Dane, Ezra. Narrative of Journey Across the Plains to Calif., 1849-1852. August 8, 1919
    6. Dane, Ezra. Indenture for part of San Pasqual Rancho. 1889 February 12.
    7. Dane, George Ezra. Letters, notes, photostats, clippings etc. used in preparation of "Sojourn with Royalty" and. "Sketches of Old Block." About 65 pieces.
    8. Dane, George Ezra. Notes for dissertation on E Clampus Vitus.
    9. Dane, George Ezra. Letters, notes and photostats assembled by G.E. Dane and used in editing Mark Twain's Letters from the Sandwich Islands.
    10. Delano, Alonzo. Last will and testament. 1874 January 13. (photostat).
    11. E Clampus Vitus. Constitution, rules, roll of members etc., and clippings.
    12. E Clampus Vitus. Papers of E Clampus Vitus, Le Broke Lodge No. 107, 303. 1886-1894. 4 pieces.
    13. Meek, William Bull. Reminiscences of Camptonville, Calif (Book 3)
    14. Business letters and telegraa1s. 1875-1897. 17 pieces.
    15. Bills and receipts. 1875-1897. 32 pieces.
    16. Poems, clippings, etc. About 19 pieces.
    17. Unsigned and unidentified letters. 31 pieces.

    Arrangement

    Correspondence arranged in alphabetical order in Boxes 1-15, followed by miscellaneous materials in Box 15-17.

    General

    Former call number: mssDane family papers

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Frontier and pioneer life -- California
    Frontier and pioneer life -- Michigan -- Decatur.
    Gold mines and mining -- California
    California -- Gold discoveries -- Personal narratives
    California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
    Decatur (Mich.) -- History -- Sources
    Pasadena (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
    United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
    Family papers -- California
    Letters (correspondence) -- California
    Collection Contents
    Correspondence
    Miscellaneous
    Journal
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