C. H. Mayo Papers: Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Martinez.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
© 2001
Manuscript Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Title: C. H. Mayo Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1879-1883
Collection Number: mssHM 61658-61711
Creator:
Mayo, C. H. (Clarence Hastings)
Extent:
101 items in 2 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscript Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The collection consists primarily of letters, most of which were written by C. H. (Clarence Hastings)
Mayo to his family back home in Warwick, Massachusetts, describing
the various towns in which Mayo lived, his work on cattle ranches, agriculture, and his impressions of the landscapes of New
Mexico, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Colorado, between 1879 and 1882.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. C. H. Mayo Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Purchased from Dawson's Book Shop, September 21, 1959.
C.H. (Clarence Hastings) Mayo traveled West in late 1879 to work on a cattle ranch in Colfax County, New Mexico, in the employ
of United States Congressman
and family friend William Windom (1827-1891). Mayo worked on Windom's Kiowa Ranch from January-April 1880 before heading north
to Wyoming and Fargo, North Dakota,
in search of other business opportunities. In August of the same year, Mayo moved to Colorado, where he worked and lived in
Saguache, Bonanza, and Gunnison through 1882.
Although Mayo was interested in purchasing land and having a ranch in Colorado, he worked as a carpenter and was also paid
to provide musical entertainment with his cornet.
The collection consists primarily of letters, most of which were written by C. H. (Clarence Hastings) Mayo to his family back
home in Warwick,
Massachusetts. Mayo describes the nature of his employment (or the lack thereof), the various towns in which he lives, cattle
ranching, agriculture,
and his impressions of the landscapes of New Mexico, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Colorado. He occasionally discusses national
politics (in particular the
election and assassination of President James A. Garfield) and frequently refers to his business activities with or on behalf
of William Windom. There are also
occasional references to Native Americans, Nelson Appleton Miles, Sitting Bull, and William T. Sherman in a few of the letters.
Mayo writes home frequently, and his
letters are most often addressed to his father (Edward F. Mayo), mother, sister (Kittie Mayo), and brother (Ned). There are
also two letters in the collection from William
Windom and one from an Uncle Richards.
Arranged chronologically, with an undated receipt and two carte-de-visite photographs stored at the end.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Mayo, C. H. (Clarence Hastings)
United States. President -- Elections, 1880
Sitting Bull, 1831-1890
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881
Miles, Nelson Appleton, 1839-1925
Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1839-1925
Windom, William, 1827-1891
Agriculture -- Colorado
Cattle
Cornet players -- West (U.S.) -- Correspondence
Indians of North America -- Colorado
Indians of North America -- New Mexico
Mines and mineral resources -- Colorado
Railroads -- Colorado
Ranch life -- New Mexico
Ranches -- Colorado
Bonanza (Colo.)
Colorado -- Description and travel
Colorado -- Economic conditions
Denver (Colo.) -- Description and travel
Fargo (N.D.) -- Description and travel
Gunnison (Colo.)
New Mexico -- Description and travel
North Dakota -- Description and travel
Saguache (Colo.) -- Description and travel
Saguache (Colo.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Mayo, Edward F.
Mayo, Edward F., Mrs.
Mayo, Kittie
Mayo, Ned
Windom, William, 1827-1891
Letters (correspondence) -- West (U.S.) -- 19th century
Mayo, Edward F.
Mayo, Edward F., Mrs.
Mayo, Kittie.
Mayo, Ned.
Box 1
Correspondence. 1879-1880
Box 2
Correspondence and Ephemera. 1881-1883
Mayo, C.H. (Clarence Hastings). Receipt to C.E. Mayo. [no date]