Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Collection Scope and Content Summary
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
Title: John and Mary Stephens collection
Creator:
Stephens, John
Creator:
Stephens, Mary
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.051
Physical Description:
0.3 Linear Feet
(1 half letter document box; 1 OS folder)
Date (inclusive): 1839-1923
Abstract: This collection consists of letters and
documents belonging to John and Mary Sills Stephens, who settled in San Bernardino in
1874-1875. Mrs. Stephens preceded her husband by one year in coming to California from
Wisconsin and her letters to her husband during her cross-country journey by train contain
vivid descriptions, including a stopover in Salt Lake City to inspect the Mormon settlement
and talk with Ann Eliza, Brigham Young's wife. Two letters by John Stephens in 1883 (one of
them 82 pages in length) chronicle his early life in Wisconsin and the hardships encountered
during the depression of 1873, as well as his later life in San Bernardino, where he
witnessed the founding of Redlands and Riverside. Of particular interest is a letter to the
Democratic Free Press of Appleton, Wisconsin (October 16, 1856) expressing Stephens' views
on slavery.
Language of Material:
English .
Access
The collection has not been processed. It may contain restricted materials. Please contact
the Department of Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the
creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please
contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
John and Mary Stephnes collection. MS-R051. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine
Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information
about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder
descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Harvey Stephens, 1970.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection consists of letters and documents belonging to John and Mary Sills
Stephens, who settled in San Bernardino in 1874-1875. Mrs. Stephens preceded her husband by
one year in coming to California from Wisconsin and her letters to her husband during her
cross-country journey by train contain vivid descriptions, including a stopover in Salt Lake
City to inspect the Mormon settlement and talk with Ann Eliza, Brigham Young's wife. Two
letters by John Stephens in 1883 (one of them 82 pages in length) chronicle his early life
in Wisconsin and the hardships encountered during the depression of 1873, as well as his
later life in San Bernardino, where he witnessed the founding of Redlands and Riverside. Of
particular interest is a letter to the Democratic Free Press of Appleton, Wisconsin (October
16, 1856) expressing Stephens' views on slavery.