Fred S. Meady Correspondence: Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Jessica Bremmer, September 15, 2009.
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
© 2009
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
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.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Fred S. Meady Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Purchased from Carmen D. Valentino, December 30, 2008.
Biographical Note
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.
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.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
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.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- 19th
century.
1878, Jan. 31. -----. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72024
1878, Oct. 12. -----, Nellie. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. This letter also contains a handwritten poem, an art gallery catalogue,
and an envelope.
HM 72025
1880, Sep. 3. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72026.
1880, Nov. 14. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72027
1880, Nov. 28. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72028
1880, Dec. 8. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Mrs. Sager. HM 72029
1881, Mar. 29. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72030
1881, Apr. 7. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72031
1881, May 20. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72032
1881, June 20. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72033
1881, Oct. 2-3. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72034
1881. Oct. 9. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72035
1882, Nov. 21-Dec. 9. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72036
1883, July 11. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72037
1883, July 20. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72038
1883, Aug. 3. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72039
1883, Oct. 22. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72040
1883, Dec. 4. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72041
1884, Apr. 27. -----, Pauline. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72042
1884, May 9. ----- , Annie. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72043
1884, May 16. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72044
1884, Aug. 8. -----, Annie. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72045
1884, Oct. 9. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Darling Brother.” HM 72046
1884, Oct. 17. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Dear Ones at Home.” HM 72047
1884, Nov. 7. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Dear Ones at Home.” HM 72048
1884, Nov. 15. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Jane Oakes. With envelope. HM 72049
[1884?], Dec. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Jane Oakes. With envelope. HM 72050
1885, Jan. 20. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Dear Ones at Home.” HM 72051
1885, Jan. 28. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Dear Brother.” HM 72052
1885, June 5. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Dear Ones at Home.” HM 72053
1885, June 12. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Henry Sager. With envelope. HM 72054
1885, June 25. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Jane Oakes. Several tears on edges and on spine. HM 72055
1885, July 14. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to George Sager. HM 72056
1885, July 25. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Jane Oakes. HM 72057
1886, Jan. 4. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Jane Oakes. HM 72058
1886, Jan. 13. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Dear Brothers.” With envelope. HM 72059
1886, Feb. 1. Thompson, [Benjamin]. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. This letter includes a calling card from Belle A. Gould.
HM 72060
1886, Feb. 12. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Henry Sager. With envelope. HM 72061
1886, Apr. 14. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to George Sager. HM 72062
1886, May 27. -----, Aldo. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72063
1886, June 4. Hatfield, Adda. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72064
1886, Aug. 1. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Jane Oakes. HM 72065
1886, Aug. 5. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Henry Sager. HM 72066
1886, Aug. 27. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to George Sager. HM 72067
[1886?], Aug. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to “My Dear Boys.” HM 72068
[approx. 1884-1886], Jan. 31. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Jane Oakes. HM 72069
1888, Feb. 5. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. Several tears on edges and on spine. HM 72070
1888, Feb. 25. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. HM 72071
1888, May 20. Blethen, P.B. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72072
1888, July 19. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72073
1889, Mar. 19. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72074
1889, Apr. 9. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72075
1889, Apr. 19. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72076
1889, Apr. 24. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72077
[undated]. Meady, Fred S. 1 letter to Sarah Meady. With envelope. HM 72078
[undated]. Meady, Sarah. 1 letter to Henry Sager. HM 72079
Loose envelopes. 8 items.
