Series 1 Correspondence, 1956-1978, undated
Abajian, James de T., 1970
Ackerman, Irving C., 1961, undated
Arbuckle, Clyde, 1972
Benton, Elinor Eltinge, 1969
Bradshaw, Olive, October 29
Burkhard, Grace, 1957
Bushman, Iva M., undated
Butler, Phyllis, 1972
Caen, Herb, [1971]
Caro, Linette (Mrs. William), 1972
Clary, Raymond H., 1971
Cowan, Elbert S., Santa Barbara Historical Society, 1957
Gilbert, Helen, undated
Gold, Jacquelyn Floody, 1966
Hart, James D., Bancroft Library, 1975
Harvey, Patricia, 1961
[Jackson, George D.] to Noel R. Rubaloff, 1974
Lapp, Rudolph M., 1972
Leake, Russell, 1957-1968
Lee, C. Y., 1966
Montgomery, Richard G., 1975
Moran, Mrs. Colette M., [1972]
Parker, Joan, undated
Parmelee, Robert, 1964
Peterson, Ivan L., Jr., 1959
Robbins, Mildred "Millie", 1966-1976
Tilton, Cecil G., undated
Tyler, William B., 1967
Webber, Madeline Columbo ["daughter of Frank Columbo, the "ghost" of Mammy Pleasant's House of Mystery"--HH], 1978
Williams, David A., 1961
Wolsham, A. M., 1956
Yates, John D., 1972
Series 2 Writings, 1951-1967
Mary Ellen Pleasant book project. Notes on the provenance of Holdredge's research material, and on her meeting with researchers Muriel Wright and Stella Ingram Brown, 1951, undated
Notes regarding dramatic writing and some plot summaries, undated
"Barbary Coast Frequenters," undated
Firebelle Lillie [typescript, edited], undated
Firebelle Lillie [galley, typescript pages], December 12, 1966
Firebelle Lillie [galleys], January 31, 1967
Firebelle Lillie [galleys and typescript pages, "duplicate proof"], January 31, 1967
"From Wigwams to Castles" ( San Francisco Examiner), May 31, 1959
The House of the Strange Woman [aka "Secret House" and "Silent House"], undated
Lola Montez [typescript], undated
Mammy Pleasant. Letter from Helen Holdredge to Virginia Carrick, G. P. Putnam's, regarding the rewriting of the draft and Charlotte Dennis Downs, September 7, 1952
Mammy Pleasant's Partner [typescript], September 3, 1954
Mammy Pleasant's Partner [galley proof and typescript pages], September 16, 1954
Helen Holdredge vs. Knight Publishing Corporation, No. 840-60-K. Correspondence, exhibits, decision, and press regarding suit against Knight Publishing Company and K. Robert Howard for the invasion of copyright on Mammy Pleasant's Partner, 1962-1964
The Woman in Black [typescript "re-edited by Virginia Carrick and Ted Purdy"], 1955
Series 3 Research, 1852-1979
Files, 1852-1979
California and Nevada, 1864-1977
"Allensworth, a Proposed State Historical Park" [brochure], undated
Baldwin, Elias Jackson "Lucky" [clipping], undated
Bank of California statement [Notice of incorporation. San Francisco]. Trustees include Thos. Bell, W.C. Ralston June 18, 1864
The Barbary Coast, San Francisco--unused research, undated
Bibliographical reference cards and notes, undated
Bidwell, John, 1971
"Samuel Brannan" from Western Argonauts--Men of the West series, undated
"Joseph Lancaster Brent, Confederate General from Southern California, ca. 1864; William Tecumseh Sherman, famous Union general...From the Society's collection" [photo plate from book], undated
Broderick, David C. Summary of research--not used [notes], undated
Bulette, Julia. Clipping with portrait, "she was murdered at Virginia City," undated
Bull, Alpheus, 1970-1971
"California and the Civil War: a bibliographical essay" by Benjamin Franklin Gilbert; "Dan Showalter--California Secessionist" by Clarence C. Clendenen ( California Historical Society Quarterly, vol. 40), 1961
California resorts of the 1850s--unused research, undated
"Chinese at the Mines" illustration by George Mathis [reproduction], undated
"A Concord Stage" by Russell E. Belous (from Los Angeles County Museum Quarterly, vol. 2 (no. 3)). Includes clipping on stagecoach, Winter issue 1963-1964
Crabtree, Lotta. Clipping [mentions painting], undated
Crabtree, Lotta--unused research, undated
Crocker, Henry S. [drawing], undated
Fair, Flood, O'Brien and MacKay (The Secret of the Flood Case). Virginia City--unused research, undated
"Fisherman's Wharf at San Francisco in the early days...photo was taken around 1900" [clipping], undated
Folsom, J. L. Letter to National Institute (Washingington, D.C.) presenting the first gold nugget from Sutter's Mill race, Coloma, August 29, 1848 [copy and transcript], undated
Folsom, Joseph. Notes, undated
Folsom Lake, 1971
Gwin, William--unused research, undated
Count Agoston Haraszthy at Sonoma, Oak oval casks of fine wine in historic cellars of [photo postcard], undated
"President Hayes' home" and "President Hayes' study." [negative prints of etchings]. Caption: "Reception by President and Mrs. Hayes at their private residence in Fremont, September 14th--from a photograph by North & Oswald of Toledo" undated
Holladay, Ben. Stagecoach, 1971
Ito, Okei. And Mrs. Ed Sayre, Jr., 1971
Lake Berryessa, 1971
Laurel Hill Cemetery, San Francisco. Rules and Regulations. Notice. [cloth banner] July 1, 1868
Inez Leonard to Senator Fair [autograph letter signed] "Reproachful letter from a lady to James Graham Fair", July 17, [18]93
Locke, Sacramento County, California. "The Old West." "There's Life in the Old Town Yet" by Jack Viets ( San Francisco Chronicle) November 26, 1971
Cancelled check: J.W. MacKay, Pacific Mill & Mining Company, to David Miller, March 3, 1876
"Officer John McGreevy" from Western Argonauts--Men of the West series, undated
Mining country--unused research, undated
Montgomery Block, San Francisco--unused research from interviews with Oliver P. Stiges and article by Helen Holdredge, undated
Nevada City, California, [1971]
O'Brien. William S. "Auction lunch rooms; the Late William S. O'Brien, of the firm of Flood & O'Brien." [negative print of etching], undated
[Orizaba (ship)--clipping photo] "Long familiar on the Pacific Coast, the Orizaba was built in the East and transferred to Isthmus trade in 1855, later sailing only down to San Diego", undated
Pleasant Grove House, near Folsom, California, undated
"Point Reyes: scenic playground on our doorstep" by George Dusheck in San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle, California Living (folded) June 25, 1967
Ralston, William and Elizabeth [printed photo]; and "The Run on Ralston's Bank" [illustration], undated
Riverboats--unused research, undated
Rough and Ready (Gold Rush town)--unused research, undated
Sacramento, California, 1850-1851--unused research, undated
"Sacramento, California from the waterfront in 1849" and "Sacramento 1849" [clippings of drawings], undated
San Francisco cemeteries, summary of research--not used [notes], undated
San Francisco districts--unused research, undated
San Francisco duels--unused research, undated
San Francisco "earliest live visual record" [printed photo], undated
San Francisco expressions of the 1850s, undated
San Francisco gambling houses--unused research, undated
San Francisco hotels--unused research, undated
San Francisco houses--unused research, undated
San Francisco humor, wit--unused research, undated
San Francisco lawyers--unused research, undated
San Francisco looking to Marin County [clipping of panorama printed in California Living Magazine, pp. 16-17 ( San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle), July 24, 1977
San Francisco restaurants, undated
San Francisco society--unused research, undated
San Francisco stage, "Theatre sequence and the stage and actors 1850 through 1864" [notes, clippings], undated
"The Sharon Case" [clippings of Millie Robbins column], undated
"The Spreckelsville Plantation: A Chapter in Claus Spreckels' Hawaiian Career" by Jacob Adler ( California Historical Society Quarterly, vol. 40), 1961
Stanford, Jane Lathrop (Mrs. Leland), regarding death in 1905; and Millie's Column, June 10, 1970 1905, 1970
Stockton, 1854--unused research, undated
Vanishing Victorians: a guide to the historic homes of Sacramento by the Sacramento Branch of the American Association of University Women, 1973
Various characters--unused research, undated
Walkinshaw, Francesca (in book Mammy Pleasant's Partner) [drawing from newspaper], undated
Washington Square, San Francisco. "Stereoscopic view of California troops at Washington Square, San Francisco. July 4, 1862. From the Society's collection" [photo plate from book], undated
Woodward, Selim A.--research, some unused, undated
Coit, Lillie Hitchcock, 1863-1961
Evelyn Curro's calendar of fire engines and wagons, undated
"A hobby--Flowers and Ferns--Martha Hunter Hitchcock, mother of Lillie Coit" [pressed flowers], undated
Knickerbocker Engine Co. No. 5. Honorary membership certificate [photo of original], October 1863
Newspaper articles
Clipping on moving house [not about Coit], 1961
"Major M'Clung Dies--His Slayer in Jail" ( San Francisco Chronicle). [negative photostat of newspaper articles about the death of Major J.W. M'Clung who was shot by Alexander Garnett. M'Clung was protecting Lillie Hitchcock Coit at the time of the shooting.] November 27, 1903
General, 1953-1979
"Civil War sequence" [notes], undated
Evelyn Curro's Third Annual Americana calendar: antique auto edition, (12 color cards of antique automobiles), 1953
"Ohio Touring: Savoring a Thick Slice of Americana" by Bobbie Justice ( Los Angeles Times) [includes photo and reference to Akron, Ohio home of abolitionist John Brown] May 20, 1979
Rattle and Snap Plantation, Tennessee. Built by George Polk 1845. [reproduction of drawing], undated
Salem, Massachusetts. Witchcraft, undated
Vischer, Edward [clipping], 1974
"You Can Help Save America's Historic Treasures" by Frances P. Bolton ( This Week Magazine), September 3, 1961
Lees, Isaiah W., 1958-1976
Clipping with etching of Captain I. W. Lees by J. Kahler, undated
The Koppel Case, Koppel's Fate [notes], undated
Letter from Holdredge to A. A. Smyser, editor, Star Bulletin (Honolulu, Hawaii), regarding photograph of Mary Ellen Pleasant taken by Isaiah Lees, November 3, 1976
Library. "Photostat of Chief [Isaiah W.] Lees Library"
Lists of San Francisco Policemen, [1858]-1872 [notes], undated
"Receipt" for sale of [Lees] records to Sven Skoar, July 22, 1938?. Far-West Trading Post (San Francisco, Calif.) business card. Sam Appleman, prop. [3 photos], September 1958
Russian cutthroat case [notes], undated
Montez, Lola, 1852-1961
Card files [20 cards]. See Box 9. Research. Cards. HH 54
"Cartoon of Lola Montez" [photostat]. Caption: " 'Europe, farewell! America, I come!'--A cartoon published at the time of Lola Montez's first voyage to the United States, picturing her farewell to a group of sorrowing kings.--The Bettman Archive," undated
Clipping: "Lola Montez and her Spanish dance troupe..." [present-day imitator] ( San Francisco Chronicle) June 25, 1961
Clipping: "New Lola Montez Story--'Dirt is Ditched' Right at her Final Curtain." Includes lace, beaded trim, typewritten notes on Montez's dress with mention of Mrs. Crabtree and Lotta. Regarding death of Montez, undated
Clippings, 1852, 1960
Fabric pieces from rug, upholstery, and draperies in Lola Montez's Grass Valley home at the time of its sale in 1856
Montez, Lola--unused research, undated
Pleasant, Mary Ellen, 1865-1976
Address book, with some notes, in the pursuit of the Mary Ellen Pleasant story, undated
Bedspread and 2 pillow cases, undated
Bell (Thomas and Teresa) Family
Thomas Bell--photostat of photograph, undated
Thomas Bell family and Mary Ellen Pleasant [notes by Helen Holdredge], undated
Teresa Bell diaries,
March 18-December 31, 1899
June-July, 1899. See Box 4 / Folder 31. Mrs. Pleasant grocery book for C. Hillebrandt, grocers. 1899
April 27-August 19, 1901
September 9, 1906-September 12, 1909
Estate of Thomas Bell
Reporter's transcript. In the Matter of the Estate of Thomas Bell, Deceased. No. 3,137 N.B., N.S. In the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the City and County of San Francisco, Department No. 9, September 12, 16, 29, 1916
Estate of Teresa Bell
Teresa Bell's holographic will, page 6 [photostat, 3 copies], June 7 and 22, 1910
Deposition of F. Edward Gray, witness on behalf of the contestants. In the Matter of the Estate of Teresa Bell, Deceased. No. 34,795. In the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the City and County of San Francisco, November 23, 1922
Deposition of Kate Clingan Gray, witness on behalf of the contestants. In the Matter of the Estate of Teresa Bell, Deceased. No. 34,795. In the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the City and County of San Francisco, November 23, 1922
Transcript of testimony, volume 1, Teresa Bell Estate case No. 34,895, December 6, 1922-January 3, 1923
[Deposition of Viola Smith Bell]. Transcript of No. 34,795 Department No.9, regarding the estate of Teresa Bell, September 1923
Estate. Memo in the Bell case [10 items and 1 photocopy set], January 12, 1923, undated
Estate. "Confidential Report--Bell Estate. With Particular Reference to Viola G. Smith" sent by Eduard Bergner to Glenser, Clewe and Van Dine, June 14, 1923
William Ralston's raid on Flood and O'Brien's bank deposit. Notes on Thomas Bell's account, [10 leaves], undated
Vaughan Mine Report typescript. "Report on Thomas Bell's Aurora Mine", 1890
Beltane Ranch. Notes on "Purchases of ranches incorporated into the ranch Beltane" [2 leaves], undated
Certificate of marriage for Nicholas Gordon and Rebecca Howard, on April 24, 1879, at Old St. Mary's, San Francisco. Rebecca was the niece of Mary Ellen Pleasant's first husband, September 23, 1950
Christophe, Henri, of Haiti. Articles on Christophe and Haiti from The National Geographic Magazine, volume 38, number 6, pages 469-510. (purported to be the grandfather of John James Pleasant, Mary Ellen's husband), December 1920
The colored people of African blood in San Francisco--unused research (cites Nevada Democrat, April 19, 1854)
The condition of the Negro in Canada (cites New York Tribune, 1858; and, Sacramento Daily Union, May 8, 1858)--unused research
Dennison, James. Negro of Nantucket Island who knew Mary Ellen Pleasant. "Story told by William Willmore, Jr."--unused research, undated
Drawings
At Mammy's boarding house [pen and ink drawing], undated
Thomas Bell's bachelor home at 1107 Bush Street [small pen and ink sketch], undated
"Sarah Althea Plants Clothes in a Graveyard Under 'Mammy's' Advice" (Hill placing William Sharon's sock in grave) [Photostat], undated
Teresa Percy house on Tehama where she lived before she became Mrs. Bell, "715-1/2 Tehama St.", undated
Mary Ellen Pleasant: "In Her Last Days She Suffered Neglect" [photostat], undated
"Emma, Queen Dowager of Hawaii" (negative photostat from Harper's Weekly), August 19, 1865
Gardner, Captain Edward. Correspondence from Zelma H. Mack to Helen Holdredge regarding Gardner, September 19, 1975 and January 25, 1976
Gordon, George. Murder copied from ( Daily Alta California, October 30, 1861)--unused research, undated
Hunter, Joseph, and family. Mentions Catherine Hunter, wife of Americus Price ( History of Missouri, 1888, pages 302-303) [photostat]
Interviews
Address book of people interviewed by Helen Holdredge, undated
Bergner, Eduard, undated
Interviews in Tennessee concerning the background of Mary Ellen Pleasant when she was owned by Americus Price, who married Catherine Hunter. Interview with Mrs. Clara Whitesall, said to be Sarah Althea Hill's half sister. [22 leaves], undated
David W. Ruggles, Negro, son of David W. Ruggles, leader with Mary Ellen Pleasant in abolition activities in San Francisco, December 30, 1950; January 18, 1951
Mrs. Bertha Behler, Teresa Bell's neighbor at Beltane, together with a letter from Mrs. Behler, January 27, 1951
Benjamin Behler, who worked for Pleasant at Beltane when he was nineteen and knew her up until the time of her death, undated
Miss Muriel Wright, who assisted Stella Ingram Brown in thirteen years of research into the life of Mary Ellen Pleasant, undated
Mrs. Charlotte Dennis Downs, daughter of George Dennis, a Negro Pioneer of San Francisco, undated
Frank Colombo, who lived at the Bell mansion when it was a rooming house in its final days, June 24, 1953
Harold Camba, Negro writer who did many years of research into the Abolition activities of San Francisco Negroes which included research into Mary Ellen Pleasant's background and activities, undated
Mrs. May Carroll of Oakland, who knew Mary Ellen Pleasant after she was evicted from the Bell house in 1899. Name also listed as Mary and Mae, undated
James Diamond, who attended parties at the House of Mystery during the residence there of Calhoun Bryant, who had purchased the house from Teresa Bell, undated
Erhard Stigert, who worked for Mary Ellen Pleasant at Beltane in the 1890s, undated
Mrs. Evelyn Wells, author, who did research into the life of Mary Ellen Pleasant, February 17, 1949
Expense list for Holdredge's research trips to Los Angeles, 1951
Mrs. Agatha Fay Sabichi, who went to boarding school with Marie Bell and testified in the Teresa Bell will contest, March 1951
John Allen Francis, whose pioneer Negro father engaged in Abolition endeavors with Mary Ellen Pleasant, March 6, 1950
Letter from Mrs. Alberta Floyd, whose husband is the son of Isabella Floyd, nurse of the Bell children in the 1880s, February 2, 1951
Stella Ingram Brown's interview with Sarah Althea Hill Terry in Mrs. Brown's handwriting, undated
Arthur H. Holman, the widower of Marie Bell,
Statements of Miss Lottie Howard to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Heins, present day owners of Beltane. Miss Howard was the Glen Ellen teacher of the Bell children, undated
Josephine Hinkle, a witness in the Bell case, undated
Milford Hunter, descendant of the planter, Joseph Hunter, March 19, 1949
Mrs. Julia Jackson, daughter of Negro pioneers Isaac and Elizabeth Flood, undated
Mrs. Anna Kerns, neighbor of Teresa Bell, who knew William Willmore from 1906 onward when he worked for her husband and was given quarters in Teresa Bell's Laidley Street house, undated
Mrs. Helen Kelly, whose mother knew Mary Ellen Pleasant, undated
George S. Lane, who learned about Mary Ellen Pleasant's background from his father who knew her exceedingly well, undated
Mrs. Katherine MacDonald, neighbor of Teresa Bell on Laidley Street, undated
James Ross, who knew John Bell, Thomas Bell's so-called nephew, 1954
Harry Johnson (who knew Mary Ellen Pleasant in 1901), April 2, 1960; March 18, 1954
Some notes at random on Teresa Bell residences and Nicolas Gordon, undated
John L. McNab, attorney in the Teresa Bell will contest. Summary of interview. Also refers to drafts of "Beware of Mammy Pleasant," undated
Research on Pleasants family done by Claire P. Holdredge at the Library of Congress, undated
John Thomas Peters, son of John T. Peters, property agent for the Bells, undated
Eugene Rist, a former Negro waiter at the Palace Hotel who knew the relatives of Mary Ellen Pleasant's first husband, January 1950
Mrs. Lucy Ritzmann, playmate of the Bell children at Glen Ellen. Includes letter from Mrs. Louise Ritzmann, February 14, 1951
Samuel Johnson, whose father once owned Drummond's Station, later named Beltane Ranch, undated
Joseph Sarasini, whose father purchased Teresa Bell's 198 Laidley Street house, undated
James Spencer, who lived in the Bell mansion, 1661 Octavia, from 1920-1926, undated
Notes on Bert Schlessinger who left John L. McNab "a collection of rare volumes and papers," undated
William Willmore, Negro, the son of William Willmore who was Mary Ellen Pleasant's steward, February 27-28, 1938
Notes on Teresa Bell's attorneys, William Tomlinson, Joseph Saracini, John Bell, undated
Notes of Miss Muriel Wright and Stella Ingram Brown, undated
James Alexander Forbes, son of the Director-general of Bell's New Almaden Mine, December 30, 1953; May 8, 1954
Eduard Bergner, January 11, March 8, and June 6, 1954
"Outline of facts," undated
John S. Bell obituary and notes, undated
Book of interviews, letters and clippings, 1923-1967
The record of a telephone call to detective firm in London recommended by Eduard Bergner. No record of Thomas Bell or John Thomas Hill at Scotland Yard. The result of sending a detective to Dundee, Scotland: information was obtained as to who Bell's parents were and where they lived
British Consulate instructions for obtaining birth, marriage and death certificates
Letter from British Consulate-General at San Francisco, May 18, 1949
Card showing James W. Smith's death was not recorded at Boston, undated
Copy of marriage certificate of David S. Terry and Sarah Althea Hill, June 1, 1949
Letter from Floyd C. Shoemaker, State Historical Society of Missouri concerning Sarah Althea Hill's father November 14, 1950
Copy of certificate of baptism of Thomas [Fred?] Bell in 1875 at St. Peter's Church, San Francisco, October 9, 1948
Interview with John Allen Francis, 1952
Interview with Erhard Steigart by Bertha Behler, undated
"Mammy draws some plans," undated
Interview with Mrs. Isabel Richie, undated
Notes attributed to Mrs. Behler, McNab, and Mrs. Lilienthal
Interview with Mrs. Vina Dyer, friend and heir of Teresa Bell, 1938
List of people at luncheon honoring Helen Holdredge at Sonoma, September 17, 1954
Interview with Charlotte Dennis Downs, Negro, the daughter of pioneer George Dennis, undated
Conversation jotted down at dinner party at Frank Colombo's home in San Francisco, undated
Another interview with Agatha Fay Sabichi, undated
Death records from Cypress Lawn Cemetery, June 29, 1951
Some random notes from interviews concerning Negroes of early San Francisco
Statement made by Muriel Wright
Some random notes
Letter from Holdredge to Mr. Worthington Ames explaining the Sharon family, January 17, 1954
Interview with Mrs. Alberta Joyce conducted by Claire Holdredge and put into a letter. Contains material on the Howard family related to James Smith, January 18
Letter from Louise Ritzmann contains confirmation that Mary Ellen Pleasant was once in the Creole quarter of New Orleans, February 27, 1951
Letter from Mrs. Grace Burkhard tells of her father living in San Francisco and being able to remember the Committee of Vigilance, September 19, 1955
Letter from Mrs. Pauline Bonnemort who knew Robina Bell, went to school with her and visited the Bell mansion in her company in 1898, February 19, 1955
Letter from Mrs. A.D. Bassett describes Mary Ellen Pleasant as she looked in 1900. Mrs. Bassett was in training as a nurse at Stanford with Marie Bell, February 8, 1955
Letter from Loretta Manahan Kelly regarding Mary Ellen Pleasant, July 26, 1954
Letter from Mrs. Chelton Hill, one of the Kelly sisters, whose father was president of the Kelly-Donahue Bank. She remembers Mary Ellen Pleasant's reputation, November 2, 1953
Program of memorial services in honor of Mary Ellen Pleasant at Napa, February 12, 1965
Article about Negro stereotypes in the motion picture industry, sent to Helen Holdredge by Barbara Walden, Negro actress, February 19, 1967
Letter of Mrs. Abby Hardy (Duggan) Moran who was fearful her ancestress was a madam for Mary Ellen Pleasant, April 9, 1967
Holdredge's reply assuring Mrs. Moran that this could not be, April 26, 1967
Letter from Mrs. Elena Albert of the Negro Historical Society thanking Helen Holdredge for assistance in obtaining ingoing marble slab from the doorway of Mary Ellen Pleasant's last home, April 23, 1967
Another letter from Elena Albert regarding Pleasant's grave, Sunday evening
Photostat of letter written by Teresa Bell to her brother James on August 17, 1904
Letter from Virginia Perry Wilson regarding Bancroftiana article about Pleasant letters, May 23, 1968
Letter from Robert Haas tracing the wife of T.A. Harcourt, Fannie Rulofson, daughter of the San Francisco photographer. She disappeared in 1879. (Mixed into a murder case solved by Captain Lees of San Francisco was a tidbit that Mrs. Harcourt ran away with another man, Although I knew of this I could not find the reference and therefore gave Mr. Haas an unsatisfactory answer. HH), January 27 or 29, 1954
Letter from Anna Readen (Mrs. John E.) Beck, regarding the Rearden family with excepts of letters between Timothy Rearden and L. Dennison in the 1880s, November 1953
Letter of Mrs. Ethyl Sehorn of Morgan Hill, California regarding . (Another mixup on similar names), June 10 and October 27, 1954
John L. McNab's instructions to Bert Schlesinger in the Teresa Bell will contest (4 leaves), undated
Letter from Russell Leake regarding photographs of Teresa Bell 's Laidley Street house, November 7, 1957
Letter from Lydia N. Weiss containing material about Fred Bell and Teresa Bell, March 28, 1958
Letter concerning a transcript by Sam Shippy, Deputy County Clerk, Napa, California regarding Beltane Ranch, June 30, 1954
Photostat of Teresa Bell standing in front of the fireplace in the Bell mansion. (Said by Frank Colombo to be the cardroom of the house.)
Sketch of Bell's Los Alamos ranch
Financial statement of Reginald Bell
Drawing of a tree and the carriage gate of the Bell mansion
Voodoo powders were sold at No. 13 - 13th Street, San Francisco, in Mary Ellen Pleasant's time
Letter from William B. Sherrill regarding the Bell Los Alamos Rancho property, January 31, 1955
News paper article on Mary Ellen Pleasant "What Was Mammy Pleasant's Sinister Power?" undated
Notes written by John L. McNab and Bert Schlesinger regarding the Teresa Bell will contest, undated
Letter from W. M. Stewart, Bureau of the Census to John L. McNab and Bert Schlesinger, attorneys, regarding 1890 census entries for Bell family, December 7, 1923
Certified copy of 1890 census entries for 1661 Octavia Street, San Francisco, December 6, 1923
"A Record of conversations with Eduard Bergner, also letters & etc.: Interviews, letters and clippings, 1938-1967 (bulk 1950-1958)
Note written by Teresa Bell referring to Eustace Bell and a farmhand named Riley
Letter from Ivan L. Peterson, Jr., containing material on Commodore Vanderbilt and Rudolph and Claus Spreckels, October 17, 1955
Letter from Bertha Behler, January 11, 1954
Letter from Police Department, City of New York, concerning John Thomas Hill, which was Thomas F. Bell's true name, February 23, 1950
Card from City Registrar of Boston which proves Elizabeth Smith Peck's birth to Mary Ellen Smith was not recorded there
Note of introduction from Leo Uhle, publisher of the Call-Bulletin to R. A. Carrington, Jr., publisher of the Los Angeles Examiner
Letter from Dick Friendlich, San Francisco Chronicle, January 11, 1954
Letter from Mrs. Ethyl Sehorn concerning a May Thompson she knew--not the one in Mammy Pleasant, June 24, 1954
Letter from Russel Leake concerning Captain I. W. Lees, Mary Ellen Pleasant's final residence, March 7, 1958
Letter from Virginia Carrick (Holdredge's editor) regarding Christmas gift, December 30, 1953
Letter from Jim Grady, KCBS, concerning furniture from the Bell house, December 23, 1953
Letter in reply to Dr. A. T. Leonard concerning possessions of Captain I.W. Lees, February 9, 1958
Letter from Madeleine B. Stern, author of Purple Passage: the life of Mrs. Frank Leslie, regarding Lola Montez materials, June 8, 1957
Letter from David A. Williams, author of The Forgery of the Broderick Will, undated
Letter from Mrs. Neill (Evelyn) Whitman concerning bank checks of Mary Ellen Pleasant, October 12, 1954
Script from KCBS, [Jim] Grady, This Is San Francisco: "House on Laidley Street" regarding the whereabouts of the furnishings, December 22, 1953
Letter from Swift Paine, author of Eilley Orrum, Queen of the Comstock, June 12, 1957
Envelope from John L. McNab's law officer to Mrs. Holdredge, postmarked May 9, 1949
Letter from Ernest Clewe, attorney of the Bell case, regarding Claire Holdredge's health, July 12, 1956
Letter to Millie Robbins, San Francisco Chronicle, regarding furnishings of Mary Ellen Pleasant and Teresa Bell, January 28, 1957
Letter from Rex Stout, Authors Guild of the Authors League of America, regarding membership, March 8, 1958
Letter from Johnny Winters, chief book salesman of G. P. Putnam's Sons, publishers, undated
Letter from W. B. Haugh regarding Lola Montez family in Ireland, January 14, 1956
Letter from Russell Leake regarding Lees book and photos of Lola Montez house at Grass Valley, September 19, 1958
Note that Holdredge spoke with Axel Johnson, Vassalo, Fred Meyer, and Harry Hilp regarding demolition of Bell mansion and construction of Green's Eye Hospital
Letter to Virginia Carrick, Putnam's, regarding photos of Mary Ellen Pleasant and the Bells, September 4, 1954
Letter from Albert Shumate, California Historical Society, regarding Lillie Hitchcock Coit, March 18
Letter from Herbert Asbury, author of The Barbary Coast regarding Theo Durrant, June 29, 1958
Research by Mr. Claire P. Holdredge concerning the Hunter family and Sarah Althea Hill's guardian, Judge Hunter. Includes notes of conversation with Milford Hunter
Notes at random
Letter from John L. McNab regarding sending "the grip" [i.e. valise], May 11, 1949
Letter from Abby Hardy Duggan Moran regarding her ancestor Victoria Andres and her life in San Francisco, April 2, 1967
Letter from Mama to Abby [Moran] regarding Andres family, June 22, 1941
Letter to Mrs. J. M. Snelling, Episcopal Churchnews regarding authenticity of photo of Mary Ellen Pleasant purported to be of Queen Emma of Hawaii, August 14-15, 1955
Notes on Geneva Cottage as a baby farm
Letter from Virginia Carrick of Putnam's concerning John Bell's children with references to Bergner, March 19, 1954
Letter from Eduard Bergner [an invitation to his wedding reception after his marriage to Irma Doolittle Eagan], March 9, 1954
Copy of letter written after Civil War regarding negroes--source unknown
Story told by Charlotte Dennis Downs regarding gold found by Whitfield family
The explanation of how Helen Holdrdge met Eduard Bergner (transcribed from shorthand notes)
Bergner's questions of Holdredge and her responses regarding research on Mary Ellen Pleasant's early years in San Francisco, including names used, John Brown, and the Woodworths, April 1954
Copy of "Mammy [Pleasant's]...1856 list of colored people in San Francisco" provided by Bergner
Bergner's list of Negroes residing in San Francisco who engaged in Abolition activities with Mary Ellen Pleasant
Interview with Eduard Bergner
Bergner's list of Mary Ellen Pleasant's neighbors at Geneva Cottage. (It will be noted that Stella Ingram Brown's grandparents are on this list.)
List of properties owned by Mary Ellen Pleasant
Georgiana Schell is shown as being the owner of Pleasant's last home
List of passengers on the ship which brought Mary Ellen Pleasant to San Francisco
An analysis of Mary Ellen Pleasant's character by Claire Douglas Holdredge
On March 23, 1940 William Willmore II was reported as having passed away
Tracing the Schell family, relatives of the Woodworths
Random notes from interviews
Article which mentions Bell's French mistress
Note concerning Mary Ellen Pleasant's first marriage
Interviews with William Willmore (transcribed from shorthand notes), 1938
Random notes on slavery in California
Mr. Claire P. Holdredge's interview with Clara Whitesall, the half-sister of Sarah Althea Hill, November 20, 1950
Interview with Eduard Bergner, after July 4, 1954
List showing distribution of Teresa Bell's estate
Interview with Arthur Chyrabian
Interview with Eduard Bergner, July 1954
Research concerning the proposed demolition of the House of Mystery
Mary Ellen Pleasant's death records from Bergner' s papers
Descriptions of Pleasant used in Mammy Pleasant
Interview with William Willmore concerning [Pleasant's] meeting with John Brown, March 1938
Transcript of article about Pleasant and John Brown published after her death, San Francisco Call, January 1904, undated
Transcript of the Bell marriage certificate, St. Peter's Church, San Francisco. (which the Catholic Church refused to give to either John McNab or Eduard Bergner)
Research by Fern Sayre concerning colored labor
Charles Turrill research: he was trying to find a record of children born to Teresa and Thomas Bell and trying to find out when Teresa Bell arrive in San Francisco and also trying to trace the arrival of her first husband
U.S.G. Survey concerning California mining, specifically the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine
Research concerning California mining
Notes on interviews with Bergner, July 1954
Interview with Harold Camba
Interview with Mrs. Samuel Rubin, widow of Dr. Greene who had the Bell house torn down
A newspaper interview with Mary Ellen Pleasant, copy of which was with Mrs. Downs' papers
Research by Emma Merrit
Material furnished by William Willmore, 1938
Some addresses
Description of the Bell mansion, the result of a number of interviews
Interview with George Dennis, father of Mrs. Downs--from an unidentified newspaper clipping
Negro testimony and Negro immigration from newspaper clippings
Item from Alta California, December 15, 1853, regarding Negro slavery
Interview with Charlotte Dennis Downs, April 16, 1950
George Dennis' family listed
Some chilling predictions concerning the future of America
What a negro bishop thought might come to pass
Trouble in the schools in 1897
Research done by Mrs. Emma Merrit
"Teresa Bell spent most of 1902 recovering properties once owned by Thomas Bell" notes
E. J. Talbot's interview with William "Blind Billy" Tomlinson, undated
Manuscripts
Address book, with an entry on purchasing lumber, a laundry list, and a few entries on goods purchased, accounts, and storage of items. Labeled: "Mammy Pleasant's journal, addresses, and a murder". Includes negative of one page, 1890-1895
Autograph: "Mrs. M. E. Pleasant, 1661 Octavia St." on back of business card: G. Monnier, Importer and dealer in Wines and Liquors, 1153 Howard Street, San Francisco., undated
Cancelled checks: M. E. Pleasant, written on Donohoe, Kelly & Co. [bankers] Spring Valley Water Works, March 5 and December 8, 1884; May 7, 1885
Mrs. Pleasant grocery book for C. Hillebrandt, grocers, June-November, 1895; Teresa Bell diary, June-July, 1899 1895, 1899
Harris vs. Mary Ellen Pleasant and G. Benson, No. 47539 regarding Sarah Levina Hall and estate, November 13, 1894 [fair copy]. Label: "Mammy's account of murdering Mrs. Hall" [sheets torn from Pleasant's journal by Teresa Bell. It is a record of what Pleasant gained by Mrs. Hall's death in Nicolas Gordon's handwriting to whom the veiled account of murder was dictated, 1894, undated
Recipe book [#1], undated
Recipe book [#2], undated
Negro scavenger's depot. Testimony of colored people ( Daily Evening Bulletin, September 16, 1856 and February 7, 1857)--unused research, undated
Negroes and the California Legislature; Colored people in San Francisco; and testimony of colored people (cites Sacramento Union, October 6, 1862; Sacramento Daily Union, April 22, 1858; unidentified clipping 1863)--unused research, undated
Negroes and the right to vote (cites Sacramento Daily Union, April 29, and May 8, 1858)--unused research, undated
Newspaper articles [photostats]
"Home, Actors in Bell Mystery" ( San Francisco Examiner)
"The 'House of Mystery' is Under the Hammer" ; "The Eviction of 'Mammy' was a Ruse" ( San Francisco Call) [photostat] May 11, 1899
"Mammy Pleasant: Angel or Arch Fiend in the House of Mystery?" ( San Francisco Call) May 7, 1899
"'Mammy' Pleasant Lays Claim to Real Estate and Jewels Owned by Mrs. Teresa Bell"
"Servants Tell Tales of Life in Bell Home" ( San Francisco Chronicle). Bell servants at the time of Teresa Bell's death December 21, 1922
"Shadows on the House of Silence"
"Side view of the House of Mystery" (copy of photo from "Home, Actors in Bell Mystery" ( San Francisco Examiner))
So We're Told column: "A forgotten grave" by Hal Johnson about Mary Ellen Pleasant ( Berkeley Daily Gazette) July 21, 1952
"That House is Haunted!"
"Research notebook covering Mammy and the Bells, 1883-1886. Book #1" "1887-1894"
Schell family of San Francisco and Sonoma, "learned from Eduard Bergner", undated
"Search for the name Mary Ellen Pleasants used in the early days." Research on people and businesses listed on Washington and Merchant streets, 1858-1872, undated
Tevis, Lloyd--unused research, undated
West, Charles, who worked with Pleasant in Abolition activities--unused material, undated
Films, undated
Lees, Isaiah, rolls 1, 2 and 5, undated
Cards [bibliographic references], undated
HH 30. Illustrations: San Francisco and San Francisco residents [476 cards]
HH 31. Mark Hopkins and family
HH 32. Illustrations, where they are: General [34 cards]
HH 33. San Francisco murders [14 cards]
HH 34. Illustrations, where they are: The Old South, The Civil War, Negroes [38 cards]
HH 35. Odd stories from the files of San Francisco's Captain of Detectives, I. W. Lees [38 cards]
HH 36. Illustrations, where they are: Interesting houses across the United States [61 cards]
HH 37. Lotta Crabtree [22 cards]
HH 38. Lillie Hitchcock Coit [12 cards]
HH 40. The Crocker Family [25 cards]
HH 41. The Civil War [10 cards]
HH 42. California, general [28 cards]
HH 43. San Francisco families: births, marriages, deaths [196 cards]
HH 44. James Graham Fair, Bonanza King. Collection includes Oelrichs and Vanderbilts (daughters' married names) [122 cards]
HH 45. San Francisco file [141 cards]
HH 46. San Francisco society [17 cards]
HH 47. Leland Stanford [13 cards]
HH 48. Stage coaches [13 cards]
HH 49. John W. MacKay, Bonanza King [24 cards]
HH 50. William O'Brien, Bonanza King [11 cards]
HH 51. William Ralston, banking [16 cards]
HH 52. Donahue family [10 cards]
HH 53. Reminiscences and recollections of old timers [46 cards]
HH 54. Lola Montez (references picked up after the book The Woman In Black was finished) [20 cards]
HH 55. James C. Flood, Bonanza King [16 cards]
HH 56. Subject cards, alphabetically arranged, A-N
HH 56. Subject cards, alphabetically arranged, O-Z
HH 65. Isaiah Lees cases 1850s-1860s [7 cards]
HH 66. Isaiah Lees cases 1870s [51 cards]
HH 67. Isaiah Lees cases 1880s [171 cards]
HH 68. Isaiah Lees cases 1890s [261 cards]
Sacramento, California, primarily references to illustrations of houses [58 cards]
Miscellaneous subjects (mailed Dec. 18, 1971): Emperor Norton, French in California, Ben Ali Haggin, Adolph Sutro, Judge Stephen Field, Lillie Coit, Bohemian Grove, Bella Union Theatre, Samuel Tetlow, Milton S. Latham, Libraries of California, Diamond Grand, San Francisco hotels, William Ralston, James King of William, William Coleman, Dennis Kearney, David Broderick, Lola Montez, Stephen Massett, Clara Hastings, Dog Napoleon, Jessie James, John Brown [33 cards]
Civil War spies: Pauline Cushman and Rose Greenhow. Also includes cards for the actress Charlotte Cushman. [13 cards]
Series 4 Photographs, 1849-1959
Barry, G. A. and Ben Adams Patten "San Francisco Saloon-keepers" [negatives of etchings from book] [HH 308], undated
Bell, John S. "Residence & Ranch of John S. Bell, Los Alamos, Santa Barbara Co., Ca." [photo of etching] [HH 442], undated
Bell, Marie [HH 455], undated
[Portrait of Teresa Bell] [graphic], 1901?
[Teresa Bell with stepsister Kate Clangan Gray] [graphic], [1901?]
[Teresa Bell in gown] [graphic], ]19--]
[Photostat of Picture (of Teresa Bell) in State Archives of California] [graphic], November 28, 1923
Bell, Thomas, [HH 238, 452, 466], 1862-1863
[Thomas Bell] [graphic], [18--]
[Thomas Bell] [graphic], 1862
Beltane Ranch in Glen Ellen [HH 116, 117, 118, 137, 140A, 141, 143, 179, 180, 181, 182, 186, 218, 243, 438, 439, 441, 553, 554, 555], 1958-1959, undated
Bidwell, California [photo of engraving] [HH 405], undated
"The Bonanza Kings" [photo and negative from book] [HH 200], undated
Coit, B. Howard [HH 170] [photo], undated
Coit, Lillie Hitchcock and her father [Charles Hitchcock] [HH 271] [photo], undated
Crabtree, Lotta. Painting signed "Love, Lotta" [photo of painting] [HH 273], undated
Downieville, California [negative] [HH 346], undated
Earl, John, a partner of Thomas Bell in mining enterprises [negative of drawing from book] [HH 318], undated
Floyd, Richard [HH 275] [photo], undated
Folsom, Joseph Libby (Capt.) [picture postcard, HH 280], undated
Forbes, James [photo and negative] [HH 429?], undated
Grass Valley, California [photo and negatives] [HH 339, 410, 417], 1853, undated
Green's Eye and Ear Hospital, Octavia Street, San Francisco [HH 562], October 27, 1957
[Green's eye and ear hospital from Octavia Street] [graphic], October 27, 1957
Hill, Sarah Althea. Also "Mrs. Sarah Althea Terry" [HH 468, 471], undated
[Sarah Althea Hill] [graphic], [between 1867 and 1885]
Holdredge, Helen [negative] [HH 156?], undated
Hopkins, Vigilante Sterling [A.] [negative of etching from book] [HH 310], undated
Jackson Street, San Francisco, California. "Building erected about 1856. South side Jackson Street between Sansome and Montgy St." [photo] [HH 157], undated
[Building on south side of Jackson Street between Sansome and Montgomery] [graphic] , circa 1856
Lees, Isaiah W. Ex-Chief of Police [negative] [HH 302], undated
Ludwig I, King of Bavaria (1786-1868) [print and negative of etching] [HH 312], undated
Marysville, California [photo and negatives of engraving] [HH 313, 335, 346, 393], undated
Metropolitan Theatre, San Francisco, [photo of engraving] [HH 333, 352], 1853
Montez, Lola [photographs and negatives] [HH 234, 240, 247, 248, 249, 319, 322, 334, 336, 340, 341, 345, 347, 348, 355, 358, 360, 361, 363, 421], 1853, undated
Hull, Pat
Montez, Lola. Duel in the Bois de Boulogne [photo and negative] [HH 344, 356], undated
Montez, Lola. Residence in Grass Valley, includes Bear House [HH 251, 252, 254, 255, 285, 286, 294, 297, 315, 317, 320, 321, 349, 350, 351, 354, 357, 359, 362, 420], 1955, undated
Neilson, Adelaide [negative of portrait] [HH 415], undated
Nevada City, California [photo postcard] [HH 257, 343, 387], 1849, 1852
National Hotel
Patten, Ben Adams. See Box 5 / Folder 1: Barry, G. A.
Placerville, California [photo of engraving] [HH 406], undated
Pleasant, John James. Grave [HH 462], undated
Pleasant, Mary Ellen. Also includes gravesite and bed with bedspread [HH 205, 238, 448, 449, 450], undated
Mary Ellen ("Mammy") Pleasant at 87 years of age [graphic], [circa 1901]
Portsmouth Plaza, San Francisco, California. El Dorado gambling hall, McGuire's Theatre, Union Hotel [HH 413], undated
[El Dorado gambling hall, McGuire's Theatre, Union Hotel - on Portsmouth Square] [graphic], 1865
Ralston, William [HH 467], undated
Residences. 350 Buchanan Street, San Francisco. Teresa Bell home (where she died) [HH 556, 557, 558], January 1 and 3, 1958
[House where Teresa Bell died] [graphic], January 1, 1958
[Home of Teresa Bell] [graphic], January 3, 1958
[Teresa Bell's last home] [graphic], January 1, 1958
Residences. 2781 Filbert Street, San Francisco. Where "Mammy Pleasant died, January 1904" [HH 559, 560, 561, 563], January 2, 1959
Residences. 198 Laidley Street, San Francisco (Teresa Bell's home) [HH 184, 187, 189, 190, 204, 552], 1957, 1959
[Teresa Bell's residence at 198 Laidley] [graphic], January 2, 1959
[Teresa Bell's residence at 198 Laidley] [graphic], January 2, 1959
[Teresa Bell's residence at 198 Laidley] [graphic], October 26, 1957
Residences. 1661 Octavia Street "House of Mystery" [HH 237, 239, 484], undated
[Thomas Bell mansion at 1661 Octavia between Sutter and Bush Street] [graphic], [before 1927]
[Thomas Bell mansion at 1661 Octavia between Sutter and Bush Street] [graphic], [before 1927]
Residences. 1070 Pine Street, San Francisco, California. "Home of Isaiah Lees, San Francisco's Chief of Detectives. 1022 Pine (now 1070 Pine)" [photo] [HH 411A], undated
San Francisco Fire Department. Fire Co. "Knickerbocker #5 Engine in front of their hall" [HH 277], undated
[Knickerbocker Fire Engine No. 5 in front of the firehall] [graphic], [18--]
Santa Cruz Island, California [MEP 48, HH 104], 1869
Secretary of San Francisco Vigilantes [negative of etching in book] [HH 304], undated
Sharon, William [HH 454], undated
[Stewart, Helen ?] [HH 446], undated
"Grave of James Sullivan--hung by vigilantes" [photo] [HH 307], undated
Theta Sigma Phi's Western Presentation Party for Lola Montez exhibition and The Woman in Black, [1955]
Washington Street, between Montgomery and Sansome streets, San Francisco, 1927
[Washington Street, between Montgomery and Sansome streets] [graphic], 1927
[Samuel] Woodworth's tomb, Lone Mountain Cemetery [negative of book drawing] [HH 416], undated
Series 5 Realia, [ca. 1856], 1954-1969, undated (bulk 1954-1969)
Cufflink and tie-tack, undated
Montez, Lola. Fabric pieces from rug, upholstery, and draperies in Montez's Grass Valley home at the time of its sale in 1856, [ca. 1856]
Needlework pieces (2) removed from Mammy Pleasant's Partner box], undated
Painting by C. Sadino? of a house next to a river with a bridge in the foreground, undated
Pleasant, Mary Ellen. Bedspread and pillow cases, undated
Scrapbook, 1954-1969, undated