Consists of 70 handwritten letters from Blake to his parents and sister, a notebook listing mining supplies, and miscellaneous notes and drafts of monetary transactions. The letters describe Blake's 1849 voyage from New York to California via Nicaragua on the ships Mary and Laura Ann; his gold mining activities in Kelsey, Sarahsville, Georgetown, and particularly Michigan City, with details on mining claims and mining techniques; incidents concerning law and order; and descriptions of gold assaying for Wells, Fargo & Co. Includes hand-drawn maps of Michigan City claims, as well as two letters from Blake's father to his son, George, concerning Blake's voyage and including a handwritten copy of a letter from travel and mining companion Roger Baldwin to his sister. Also includes one letter from Sherman Day to Jesse D. Carr, discussing political and day-to-day conflicts pertaining to Day's work as an elected official.

Like thousands of others responding to the discovery of gold in the year 1849, Charles Thompson Blake boarded a ship at New York City bound for Nicaragua and the gold fields of California. Born the eldest son of Eli W. Blake of New Haven, Connecticut on Oct. 21, 1826, Thompson graduated from Yale University in 1847. Two years later he embarked on his journey to California with his friend Roger Baldwin. Their friends Edwin Tyler and Charles T.H. Palmer had preceeded them to California.

5 folders (0.3 Linear feet)

Copyright has not been assigned to The North Baker Research Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The North Baker Research Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/