James O'Meara letters, 1869-1886

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
O'Meara, James, 1825-1903, addressee
Abstract:
Personal and business correspondence of James O'Meara, newspaper editor and writer.
Extent:
173 items in two boxes
Language:
The records are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

The majority of the letters in this collection are written to James O'Meara. The authors include many prominent newspaper and railroad individuals from California, Oregon and Nevada, including: Andrew Jackson Bryant, James V. Coffey, Charles De Young, James William Denver, Stephen J. Field, Laura De Force Gordon, Barclay Henley, James McClatchy, James Willis Nesmith, Harrison Gray Otis, Philip A. Roach, William S. Rosecrans, and Talbot Howard Wallis. There is also one item about American politician John Whiteaker.

Biographical / historical:

James O'Meara was born in Williamsburg, New York in June 1825. In 1849, O'Meara sailed around Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco in September. After a brief mining career, O'Meara returned to the newspaper business. Having worked at the "New York Herald" before coming west, O'Meara found work as the editor of the "San Francisco Herald." O'Meara moved to Oregon in 1857 and became a special writer for the "Oregonian" and later helped found the "Portland Bulletin" with Ben Holliday. O'Meara returned to San Francisco in 1876 and later served as editor of the "Chronicle" and then the "Evening Examiner." O'Meara eventually moved to Santa Rosa, where he edited the "Sonoma Democrat" and later the "Republican." Articles by O'Meara also appeared in "Overland Monthly," the "Argonaut," and many other influential publications of that era. O'Meara is also known for his 1887 pamphlet: "The Vigilance Committee of 1856. By a Pioneer California Journalist." He died in Santa Rosa, California in January 1903.

Acquisition information:
Purchased through Nick Aretakis Americana at PBA Galleries, Sale 599, Lot 195, October 2016.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged alphabetically by author.

Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

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