Caroline C. Briggs papers, 1878-1890

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Summary

Creators:
Briggs, Caroline Crane
Abstract:
Correspondence by Caroline Crane Briggs, chiefly to her children Sophia Crane Ristine and Benjamin Crane, from her home in La Crescenta, California.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Caroline C. Briggs papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

Caroline Crane Briggs wrote the majority of the 47 letters to her children, Sophia Crane Ristine and Benjamin Crane. The first few letters (1878) give a detailed description of the Briggs' journey to California through New Mexico and Arizona; these letters include comments upon the New Mexico and Arizona deserts and the Pima Indians. Her other letters are chiefly about her life in the new-founded city of La Crescenta. She talks about her personal activities and her travels through the Los Angeles area including Pasadena and Long Beach. She also talks about her friends and neighbors as well as her husband's business and property dealings. There is one letter by Caroline Crane Briggs to her husband and one letter by him to her. Also included in the collection are two poems by Caroline Crane Briggs about life in southern California, an essay she wrote entitled "Thanksgiving Day 1888," and eight pieces of ephemera including an obituary for Dr. Benjamin B. Briggs.

Biographical / historical:

Caroline Crane Briggs and her second husband Dr. Benjamin B. Briggs moved to California from Indiana in 1878 (she had previously lived in Crawfordsville, Indiana, with her first husband Abiathar Crane). She and Dr. Briggs moved to southern California where they bought land and helped establish the city of La Crescenta. Dr. Briggs chose the name La Crescenta after three crescents or mountain peaks he observed from his home; however, it is not Spanish for crescent.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Anna Caroline Crane, August 1963.
Processing information:

Processed by Brooke M. Black in 2015. In July 2024, Mari Khasmanyan updated the finding aid's container information and linear feet.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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 permission rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Caroline C. Briggs papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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