Virginia Elizabeth Reed Letter Collection, 1846-1981, bulk 1846-1955

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Murphy, Virginia Reed, Watkins, Frances E. (Frances Emma), and James, George Wharton
Extent:
0.2 Linear Feet (12 folders)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Virginia Elizabeth Reed Letter Collection, 1846-1981, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.543; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains letters written by Virginia Elizabeth Reed (later Virginia Reed Murphy), a member of the Donner Party, at age 12, as well as manuscripts written about her by George Wharton James and Frances Watkins. It also includes magazine articles and newspaper clippings from 1912-1955 regarding Reed and other Donner Party survivors, and photocopies from about 1981 of two postcards Reed sent to her grandchildren around 1918.

Biographical / historical:

Virginia Elizabeth Reed Murphy (1834-1921) was 12 years old when her family joined the Donner Party in 1846 to travel to California. Daughter of Margaret Reed, step-daughter of James Reed, Virginia and her family were among the few survivors of the unfortunate wagon train. Virginia later wrote about the events in her book Across the Plains in the Donner Party. Once they reached California, the family settled in San Jose, where Virginia met and married John Marion Murphy in 1850. They had nine children together.

Acquisition information:
Donation from George Wharton James estate, 1943 December and others through 1981.
Processing information:

Processed by Glenna Schroeder, circa 1977-1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 October 3, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian 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.

Preferred citation:

Virginia Elizabeth Reed Letter Collection, 1846-1981, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.543; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Location of this collection:
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027, US
Contact:
(747) 201-8448