Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Fred S. Meady Correspondence: Finding Aid
mssHM 72024-72079
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Fred S. Meady Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1878-1889
Collection Number: mssHM 72024-72079
Creator:
Meady, Fred S.
Extent: 58 items.
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
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 necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Fred S. Meady Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Purchased from Carmen D. Valentino, December 30, 2008.
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.
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.
Arranged chronologically.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Meady, Fred
S.
Ocean travel -- 19th century.
Merchants -- United States -- History --
19th century -- Sources.
Women -- United States -- Social life
and customs -- 19th century.
Hong Kong (China) --
Description and travel.
San Francisco (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
Letters (correspondence) -- 19th
century.