Mitchell Family Papers mssMitchell

Brooke M. Black

The Huntington Library

September 2019

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

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.

Biographical / Historical

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Conditions Governing Use

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]. Mitchell family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into two series: Correspondence and Miscellaneous items. Arranged chronologically.

Processing Information

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

Series I: Correspondence 1858-1887

Physical Description: 1.11 Linear Feet (59 folders)

Box 1, Folder 1

Lena [unknown last name] to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor? 1858 January 25

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 2

Abraham Chalmers to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1861 January 27

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 3

William C. L. Baker to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1861 February-July

Scope and Contents

5 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 4

William McBrien to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1861 April-October

Scope and Contents

2 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 5

Letters to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1861-approximately 1873

Scope and Contents

6 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 6

Jane Mitchell to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1862 April 1

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 7

George W. Kinney to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1863 April-July

Scope and Contents

2 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 8

Charles Schieffer to George W. Kinney 1863 July 31

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 9

George W. Kinney 1863 October 26

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 10

Unknown author to George W. Kinney 1864 March 7

Scope and Contents

1 piece. Incomplete.

Box 1, Folder 11

Pauline Fuhr to Charles Schieffer 1864 April 25

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 12

Charles Schieffer to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1864 May 1

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 13

Thomas Mitchell to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1864 May 27

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 14

Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers to George W. Kinney 1864, June 12

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 15

Maria Schieffer to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1864 July 17

Scope and Contents

1 piece. Following the above: John Fuhr to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor, 1864, July 17.

Box 1, Folder 16

Jane Mitchell to Mary Mitchell Forbes 1864 July 20

Scope and Contents

1 piece. Following the above: Lucy Bankle to Mary Mitchell Forbes, 1864, July 20.

Box 1, Folder 17

Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1865 September-December

Scope and Contents

8 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 18

George W. Kinney to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1866 March-August

Scope and Contents

14 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 19

William H. Taylor to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1866 May-July

Scope and Contents

2 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 20

Mary [unknown last name] to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1868 April 18

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 21

William J. Forbes to William H. Taylor 1868 October-November

Scope and Contents

7 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 22

Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1868 December 13

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 23

John Curtis to William H. Taylor 1868 December 14

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 24

William H. Taylor to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1869 February-March

Scope and Contents

8 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 25

Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor approximately 1869 March 17

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 26

Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor to "my dear Cousin" 1869 April 4

Scope and Contents

1 piece. Incomplete.

Box 1, Folder 27

Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor to William H. Taylor 1869 August 10

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 28

Mary Mitchell Forbes to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1869 August-October

Scope and Contents

3 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 29

William J. Forbes to William H. Taylor 1869 October-November

Scope and Contents

2 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 30

Mary Mitchell Forbes to Eliza Mitchell Taylor Schieffer 1870 June 20

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 31

William J. Forbes to Charles Carter 1870 October 16

Scope and Contents

1 piece. Enclosed in William J. Forbes to W. H. Taylor, 1870, October 16.

Box 1, Folder 32

William J. Forbes to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1870 November 11

Scope and Contents

1 piece. Incomplete.

Box 1, Folder 33

William J. Forbes to William H. Taylor 1870-1871

Scope and Contents

7 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 34

Horatio Nelson to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1871 November 19

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 35

George W. Kinney to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1872 June 15

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 36

George C. Jenks? to Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor 1873 August 25

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 37

Hugh Chalmers to Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers 1873-1877

Scope and Contents

2 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 38

Letters to Emma L. Mitchell and Ella Mitchell 1873-1880

Scope and Contents

7 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 39

Frank Noonan to May Schieffer and Emma Mitchell 1876 September 17

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 40

George W. Kinney to William Kinney 1876-1877

Scope and Contents

2 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 41

Kate Schieffer and May Schieffer to Josie Mitchell, Ella Mitchell and Emma L. Mitchell approximately 1876-1879

Scope and Contents

7 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 42

Ella Mitchell to Emma Mitchell 1877 April 3

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 43

Abraham Chalmers to Emma Mitchell, Josie Mitchell and Ella Mitchell 1877-1878

Scope and Contents

3 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 44

Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor to Kate Schieffer approximately 1878 July 3

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 45

Josephine Beckman to Ella Mitchell 1878-1879

Scope and Contents

9 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 46

Thomas Harney to Ella Mitchell 1878-1879

Scope and Contents

6 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 47

Josie Mitchell to Ella Mitchell 1878-1879

Scope and Contents

2 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 48

Thomas J. Veach to Ella Mitchell 1879 July 16

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 49

Ella Mitchell to Will Storms 1879 August 11

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 50

William Kinney to Sheridan Forbes 1879 October 20

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 51

Oliver Merrill to Catherine Mitchell 1879-1883

Scope and Contents

6 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 52

Walter Murray to Minne Harney 1880 January 10

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 53

Sheridan Forbes to William Kinney 1880 June 22

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 54

Joseph Warmington to Catherine Mitchell 1880 July 18

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 55

Paul Mitchell to Catherine Mitchell 1880 September 20

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 56

Minnie Harney to Ella Mitchell 1880-1883

Scope and Contents

3 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 57

Eliza Mitchell Schieffer Taylor to Catherine Mitchell 1887 June 30?

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 58

William Kinney to Catherine Mitchell 1887 July 1

Scope and Contents

1 piece.

Box 1, Folder 59

Miscellaneous correspondence 1877 and undated

Scope and Contents

5 pieces.

Series II: Miscellaneous items 1858-1882

Physical Description: 0.1 Linear Feet (4 folders)

Box 1, Folder 60

Elizabeth Mitchell Kinney Chalmers school compositions approximately 1858

Scope and Contents

5 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 61

Bills and receipts 1862-1882

Scope and Contents

14 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 62

Envelopes 1880-1882

Scope and Contents

13 pieces.

Box 1, Folder 63

Song lyrics undated

Scope and Contents

8 pieces.