Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Meady, Fred S.
- Abstract:
- This collection consists of letters written by Fred S. Meady (died 1913), who worked on steam and cargo ships, and his wife, Sarah Meady, dating from 1878-1889. Fred's letters describe life at sea, and Sarah's describe life at home in Maine, and on the ships when she joined Fred.
- Extent:
- 58 items.
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of letters related to Fred's life at sea and Sarah's life at home and on the ships when she joined Fred. Many of the letters are from Fred to Sarah (whose nickname was Sade) and from Sarah to her family, but there are also letters written to Sarah from various friends. Letters to Sarah are often addressed to "Sade," and she signed many of her letters as "Sade" as well. The bulk of Fred's letters to Sarah are from various ships and ports, as are Sarah's letters to her family.
Fred seemed to miss his wife a great deal when he was at sea, and many of his letters are about his desire to be home with her or to have her on board more often. He discusses his health in many of the letters and he seems to have battled rheumatism quite often. Other topics include the day-to-day life of living on a ship, details about the type and amount of cargo being loaded and carried, the "sea risk" clause in his life insurance policy, his friendship with a Captain Blethen, and his concern that Sarah is seeking employment in a shop he does not find acceptable. Fred mentions some specific ships, including the S.S. Dale. A letter to Mrs. Sager relates his current work and his plans for the next ship he'll board.
Sarah's letters to her family also tell of daily life on the ships (how the ships are cleaned, how they are secured during rough weather), of the stewards she befriended on board, and of the acquaintances she made while traveling with her husband (such as other couples who were also traveling by sea). She relates details about the specific places they visited and about the social calls she paid. Several of Sarah's letters to her brothers reveal her concerns that they grow into responsible, mature men. Sarah also discusses her health a great deal and she battled whooping cough at some point.
The letters to Sarah from her various friends and acquaintances are mainly about family visits, social calls, various entertainments, and news and gossip from home. One letter, from Benjamin Thompson, is an invitation to lunch and includes a calling card.
Finally, there are several loose envelopes and various calling cards not attached to any specific letters.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Fred S. Meady worked on steam and cargo ships and often spent months at sea or waiting in various ports for the ships to be loaded with cargo such as cotton, sugar, and coal. He often traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, but also made trips to Galveston, Texas; Port Costa, California; San Francisco, California; Le Havre, France; Liverpool, England; and Ilo Ilo, Philippines. He married Sarah Sager, from Gardiner, Maine, on November 26, 1879, and she joined him on ship for several trips, including voyages to Hong Kong, Liverpool, and various ports within northern California. Sarah had at least two brothers, George and Henry, and possibly a sister named Annie.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased from Carmen D. Valentino, December 30, 2008.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191