Dane Family Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Huntington staff; encoding and revision by Diann Benti in August 2017.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2017
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Overview of the Collection

Title: Dane Family Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1849-1934
Collection Number: mssDane family papers
Creator: Dane family.
Extent: Approximately 1,030 pieces in 16 boxes plus 1 folder, 1 envelope, and 1 volume.
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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: English.

Access

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

Administrative Information

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:
  • Champney, Jessie. Letter to Beatrice J. Dane ref erring to experiences of A. D. Champney with Pres. James K. Polk. December 12, 1935.
  • Dane, R. M.Letter concerning his opinion of President Lincoln. March 30, 1861.
  • 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
  • Adams, A. (1 pieces), 1889
  • Adams, Alden (1 piece), 1866
  • Backus, Mrs. E. (1 piece), 1884
  • Baker, Ada (Nutting) (414 pieces), 1854-1902
  • Baker, Charles T. (4 pieces), 1858-1887
  • Bardwell, J. L. (1 piece), 1893
  • Barmenter, Ann R. (1 piece), 1856
  • Barnum, Mary (1 piece), 1897
  • Bartle, W. T. (1 piece), 1893
  • Bell, James (15 pieces), 1893-1896
  • Bell, Lucy (Nutting) (21 pieces), 1859-1894
  • Berger, Dollie (2 pieces), 1890-1891
  • Berlin, Joseph F. (3 pieces), 1894-1901
  • Beushoff, Claudine (Stevens) (2 pieces), 1895
  • Bidwell, Jennie H. (2 pieces), 1881-1900
  • Blackface, Josephine H. (1 piece), 1896
  • Brodrick, H. M. (1 piece), 1897
  • Burke, Nell (Nutting) (22 pieces), 1859-1883
  • Chadwick, Marie (1 piece), 1898
  • Champney, Jessie (11 pieces), 1876-1935
  • Champney, Mary E. (2 pieces), 1890-1891
  • Champney, Ruth E. (11 pieces), 1885-1889
  • Crook, Enola L. (1 piece), 1869
  • Dane, Alice Bell (3 pieces), 1880-1881
  • Dane, Ezra (10 pieces), 1872-1884
  • Dane, George (1 piece), 1854
  • Dane, James Rufus (16 pieces), 1884-1885
  • Dane, Lois (Nutting) (26 pieces), 1864-1884
  • Dane, Lucius Nutting (17 pieces), 1883-1885
  • Dane, Lucy A. (1 piece), 1866
  • Dane, Myron Ben (4 pieces), 1860-1870
  • Dane, R. M. [Roxanne, wife of Rufus Dane] (4 pieces), 1861-1896
  • Dane, Rufus (3 pieces), 1861-1876
  • Dawson, Lucy (2 pieces), 1882-1883
  • Day, Marion W. (1 piece), 1893
  • Dibble, Bessie (2 pieces), 1898-1899
  • Dodge (2 pieces), 1866
  • Dryer, W. H. (1 piece), 1884
  • Eastman, E. P. (1 piece), 1864
  • Elsbree, Susie (1 piece), 1898
  • Field, Anna M. (2 pieces), 1869-1870
  • Field, Mrs. Ralph A. (1 piece), 1880
  • Fitts, Carrie L. (1 piece), 1873
  • Frary?, F. (1 piece), 1859
  • Grantz, Mary J. N. (3 pieces), 1898-1900
  • Graves, Lille (2 pieces), 1898-1933
  • Graves, Lizzie A. (1 piece), 1901
  • Harmon, F. W. (1 piece), 1863
  • Harmon, MRs. F. W. (2 pieces), 1882
  • Holton, Cornelia (15 pieces), 1876-1891
  • Holton, Elcy C. (3 pieces), 1890-1896
  • Holton, George M. (9 pieces), 1883-1899
  • Howard, M. Louise (1 piece),
  • Hubbard, Lou (1 piece), 1894
  • Hutchins, George Edward (1 piece), 1894
  • Inch, Carrie E. (1 piece),
  • Ingraham, Irving E. (1 piece), 1899
  • Jane, C. D. (1 piece), 1888
  • Jefferds, Bessie A. (1 piece), 1896
  • Jodon, Robert and Anna (1 piece), 1901
  • Johnson, Julia E. (1 piece), 1901
  • Johnson, L. A. (1 piece), 1880
  • Kennan, ? Jean McCormick (1 piece),
  • Keyes, Julia M. (1 piece), 1877
  • Kingsley, Etta L. (9 pieces), 1866-1875
  • Kirkwood, Anna (Dane) (68 pieces), 1876-1934
  • Lawton, J. L. (1 piece), 1896
  • Loomis (1 piece),
  • Ludovici, Julius (1 piece), 1900
  • McGilvray, Dotte (2 pieces), 1899
  • Maclean, Dollie (1 piece), 1886
  • Mapes, Fanny? (2 pieces), 1889
  • Marriner, Maude M. (1 piece), 1890
  • Mayberry, Emily G. (1 piece),
  • Meeker, Anna L. (1 piece), 1894
  • Morgan, Lulu V. (1 piece), 1897
  • Morgan, Rose E. (1 piece),
  • Moss, Olivia H. (2 pieces), 1886
  • Moss, Ora (3 pieces), 1886-1893
  • Nutting, Carrie L. (2 pieces), 1887-1896
  • Nutting E. F. (2 pieces), 1881-1894
  • Nutting, Eliza B. (2 pieces), 1872-1873
  • Nutting F. A. (1 piece), 1898
  • Nutting, James W. (17 pieces), 1856-1874
  • Nutting, Nell (Warner)? (4 pieces), 1871-1872
  • Nutting, Lucius (1 piece), 1863
  • Overacker, H. (1 piece), 1880
  • Phelps, D. S. (2 pieces), 1887-1888
  • Preston, Lizzie M. (1 piece), 1873
  • Rawson, Cynthia (Nutting) (5 pieces), 1858-1876
  • Rust, Carrie Stuart (4 pieces), 1855-1856
  • Rust, Edawrd P. (1 piece), 1880
  • Rust, Mollie E. (1 piece), 1889
  • Sawyer, Harriet A. (6 pieces), 1896-1901
  • Sawyer, Harriet P. (3 pieces), 1899-1901
  • Seliax?, Ella C. (1 piece), 1898
  • Sewell, Eldora (3 pieces), 1895
  • Slocum, Fannie B. (1 piece), 1895
  • Slocum, Ida B. (3 pieces), 1876-1893
  • Stickney, Carrie F. (2 pieces), 1864-1870
  • Washington College (Alameda County, California) Principal (2 pieces), 1878-1880
  • Webb, Mida F. (1 piece), 1900
  • Wickson, E. J. (1 piece), 1884
  • Winter, Maude J. (3 pieces), 1895-1896
Miscellaneous items include:
  • Envelopes. 102 pieces. (In Box 15)
  • E Clampus Vitus. Certificate of membership of Henry E. Huntington Library. 1937 January 27. (In oversize folder)
  • Journal (1854-1857). (Diary of a lawyer in Sacramento and San Francisco who was interested in politics, church services, and temperance.) (Bound volume)
  • Materials in Box 16:
    • Dane, Ezra. Narrative of Journey Across the Plains to Calif., 1849-1852. August 8, 1919
    • Dane, Ezra. Indenture for part of San Pasqual Rancho. 1889 February 12.
    • Dane, George Ezra. Letters, notes, photostats, clippings etc. used in preparation of "Sojourn with Royalty" and. "Sketches of Old Block." About 65 pieces.
    • Dane, George Ezra. Notes for dissertation on E Clampus Vitus.
    • Dane, George Ezra. Letters, notes and photostats assembled by G.E. Dane and used in editing Mark Twain's Letters from the Sandwich Islands.
    • Delano, Alonzo. Last will and testament. 1874 January 13. (photostat).
    • E Clampus Vitus. Constitution, rules, roll of members etc., and clippings.
    • E Clampus Vitus. Papers of E Clampus Vitus, Le Broke Lodge No. 107, 303. 1886-1894. 4 pieces.
    • Meek, William Bull. Reminiscences of Camptonville, Calif (Book 3)
    • Business letters and telegraa1s. 1875-1897. 17 pieces.
    • Bills and receipts. 1875-1897. 32 pieces.
    • Poems, clippings, etc. About 19 pieces.
    • Unsigned and unidentified letters. 31 pieces.

Arrangement

Correspondence arranged in alphabetical order in Boxes 1-15, followed by miscellaneous materials in Box 15-16, volume, and oversize folder.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

Baker, Ada Nutting.
Dane, Ezra, 1828-1921.
Dane, G. Ezra (George Ezra), 1904-1941.
Nutting, James W.
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.

Forms/Genres

Family papers -- California.
Letters (correspondence) -- California.

Additional Contributors

Baker, Ada Nutting.
Dane, Ezra, 1828-1921.
Dane, G. Ezra (George Ezra), 1904-1941.
Nutting, James W.


 

Correspondence

Box 1

A-Br

Box 2

Baker, Ada (Nutting), 1854-1863

Box 3

Baker, Ada (Nutting), 1864-1867

Box 4

Baker, Ada (Nutting), 1868-1873

Box 5

Baker, Ada (Nutting), 1874-1881

Box 6

Baker, Ada (Nutting), 1882-1885

Box 7

Baker, Ada (Nutting), 1886-1894

Box 8

Baker, Ada (Nutting), 1895-1902

Box 9

Bu-C

Box 10

Dane, Alice Bell to Dane, Lois (Nutting)

Box 11

Dane, Lucius Nutting to G

Box 12

H-Kingsley

Box 13

Kirkwood, Anna (Dane)

Box 14

L-R

Box 15

S-W and miscellaneous envelopes

 

Miscellaneous

Box 16

Miscellaneous: Literary items, including reminiscences; Business papers; Papers re: E Clampus Vitus; Unidentified Letters

Oversize envelope

E Clampus Vitus. Certificate of membership of Henry E. Huntington Library. 1937 January 27.

 

Journal

Volume

Journal (1854-1857). (Diary of a lawyer in Sacramento and San Francisco who was interested in politics, church services, and temperance.)

Bindings

Bindings of disbound journal.