Description
This collection contains the correspondence of Jefferson Martenet (1828-1906), who left Baltimore, Maryland, in 1852 during
the California Gold Rush and became a resident of
Northern California. The correspondence is chiefly to his family in Baltimore discussing life, business ventures, and hardships
in California, politics, and the American Civil War.
The correspondence includes 365 letters, dating from 1837-1892.
Background
Jefferson Martenet (1828-1906) was born on July 24, 1828 in Baltimore, Maryland. He left Baltimore on September 16, 1852,
for Northern California with plans
to get rich quick off the California Gold Rush and return home within a few months. He arrived via steamer to San Francisco
on October 30, 1852, but spent six months recovering from a sickness in San Francisco until April 1853. He then went to mine
in Harbaugh camp near Jackson, California, for ten months until February 1854. He spent less than a month in Jackson, where
he worked as a cook and returned to San Francisco by May 1854.
Family tree of Jefferson Martenet
Extent
357 pieces in 2 boxes
Restrictions
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.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.