Collection Guide
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Mitchell Family Papers
mssMitchell
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Mitchell family papers
Creator:
Mitchell family
Identifier/Call Number: mssMitchell
Physical Description:
1.17 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Physical Description:
193 Items
Date (inclusive): 1858-1887
Abstract: Family papers of the Mitchell family of
El Dorado County, California.
The Thomas Mitchell family left Pennsylvania and came to Coloma, California, in the 1850s,
they and their six daughters were active participants in the life of El Dorado County. One
daughter, Elizabeth, married George W. Kinney, an accountant and mining agent in San
Francisco. Another daughter, Mary, married William J. Forbes, editor, printer, and
journalist whose humor appeared under the pen name of "Semblins." Forbes established the
first newspaper in Humboldt County, Nevada, and later set up a saloon in Treasure City,
White Pine County, Nevada, with William H. Taylor, who had married another Mitchell
daughter, Eliza. After 1875 the Mitchell family lived in San Francisco, where the sisters
kept a boarding house.
The collection consists of letters and documents related to the Mitchell family's life in
Coloma and El Dorado County, California, and in Nevada mining areas such as Austin, Virginia
City, Treasure City, and Hamilton. There are also letters discussing life in San Francisco
in 1866 and between 1876 to 1887. Although there are over 32 individuals represented in the
collection, the most frequent correspondents include Josephine Beckman, William J. Forbes,
George W. Kinney, Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor, and William H. Taylor.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Edwin Grabhorn, January 1945.
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]. Mitchell family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Collection is organized into two series: Correspondence and Miscellaneous items. Arranged
chronologically.
Processed by Huntington Library staff, circa mid-20th century. In 2019, Brooke M. Black
created a finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Frontier and pioneer life -- California
Frontier and pioneer life -- Nevada
Austin (Nev.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Coloma (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
El Dorado County (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century --
Sources
El Dorado County (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th
century
Hamilton (Nev.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Treasure City (Nev.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th
century
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th
century
Virginia City (Nev.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th
century
White Pine County (Nev.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th
century
Family papers
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Nevada -- 19th century
Beckman, Josephine
Forbes, William J., active 1868-1871
Kinney, George W., active 1863-1877
Taylor, Eliza Mitchell Schieffer
Taylor, William H., active 1866-1869