Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Prescott, Allie.
- Abstract:
- This collection contains correspondence of Los Angeles schoolteacher Allie Prescott to her family in Massachusetts between 1870 and 1891. The letters in the collection deal primarily with family history and Prescott's struggles with loneliness, teaching, and living in Los Angeles.
- Extent:
- 48 items.
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The correspondence of Allie Prescott consists of 48 handwritten letters addressed primarily to her mother and her sister, Emma. They are arranged chronologically from Jan. 11, 1870 to Apr. 4, 1891. Six undated letters have been placed at the end of the collection.
The letters in the collection deal primarily with Prescott family history and Allie Prescott’s struggles with loneliness, teaching, and living in Los Angeles. The letters include descriptions of wildfires, oil wells, Chinese and Mexican cultures, and churchgoing. In addition, the collection includes anecdotal information concerning late 19th century fashion.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Sometime before 1870, Allie Prescott (born circa 1847) left her native Massachusetts to start a new life in Los Angeles, California. She travelled alone, leaving behind a large family in Boston. Prescott soon became a public schoolteacher and fell in love with the young city’s sunny climate, abundant fresh produce, and mix of cultures. Deeply religious, Prescott’s letters include mention of several Los Angeles area churches: Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Unitarian. Finally, while the motivations behind Prescott’s move are unknown, her letters indicate that she was sending money home to help support her mother.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased from Dawson's Bookshop, March 9, 1956.
- Arrangement:
- 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