Zimmerman Family Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Mitchell W. K. Toda, November 4, 2002.
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
© 2002
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Overview of the Collection

Title: Zimmerman Family Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1886-1933
Bulk dates: 1900-1928
Collection Number: mssZimmerman family
Creator: Zimmerman family.
Extent: 455 pieces in 4 boxes
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 mainly of correspondence detailing the lives and activities of the Zimmerman family, especially J. Franklin Zimmerman and his sisters who were in Alaska, the Klondike, and the prairie provinces of Canada, chiefly dating from 1900 to 1928, as well as a diary detailing J. Franklin Zimmerman's journey from Skagway, Alaska, to the Yukon in 1898.
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]. Zimmerman Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Michael Brown, February 25, 2001.

Biographical Note

The Zimmerman family lived in Harvel, Montgomery County, Illinois, and consisted of William J. Zimmerman and Mary Post Zimmerman and their 10 children: J. Franklin, Arthur W., William K., Walter H., Ella M. Chase, Minnie Patterson, Mary McCarty, Anna Bunning, Frances Bunning, Ida W. McMechen (also known as Ida W. Lowe from a previous marriage), and Bertha Jeisy. William J. and Mary Zimmerman spent most of their life in Illinois as farmers. Their son J. Franklin, or Frank, went to Blackburn College and later went to the Klondike to seek his fortune in mining. His sisters, Ella M. Chase, Minnie Patterson, and Mary McCarty, followed him there, each getting married and settling in the area.

Scope and Content

This collection consists mainly of correspondence detailing the lives and activities of the Zimmerman family, especially J. Franklin Zimmerman and his sisters who were in Alaska, the Klondike, and the prairie provinces of Canada. Included is a 136 page diary by J. Franklin that details his journey with his friend Lawrence “Brunky” Weber from Skagway, Alaska, over the White Pass and then on to Dawson. The diary begins after they arrived at Fort Wrangel on February 14, 1898, and goes on to describe their traveling conditions, buying of supplies, customs rules, boat making on Tagish Lake, mining along the Dominion River, mining claims, and descriptions of the surrounding environment and towns.
J. Franklin Zimmerman had three sisters, Mary McCarty, Ella M. Chase, and Minnie Patterson, who followed him to the Klondike. Their letters to their mother, Mary Post Zimmerman, while illuminating the domestic and business lives of women in Alaska, the Klondike, and in the Canadian prairies provinces; also give accounts of their daily lives and the raising of their children.

Arrangement

The collection is in 4 boxes with correspondence arranged alphabetically by author and miscellaneous materials placed at the end.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

Zimmerman family.
Frontier and pioneer life -- Prairie Provinces -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Frontier and pioneer life -- Saskatchewan -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Frontier and pioneer life -- Yukon -- Klondike River Valley -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Gold mines and mining -- Yukon -- Klondike River Valley.
Land settlement -- Prairie Provinces -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Mines and mineral resources -- Yukon.
Pioneers -- Yukon -- Klondike River Valley -- Diaries.
Women -- Prairie Provinces -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Women -- Prairie Provinces -- Social conditions.
Women pioneers -- Yukon -- Klondike River Valley.
Dawson (Yukon) -- Description and travel.
Dawson (Yukon) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
Dawson (Yukon) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Kindersley (Sask.) -- Description and travel.
Saskatoon (Sask.) -- Description and travel.

Forms/Genres

Family papers -- 19th century.
Family papers -- 20th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century.
Diaries Yukon Klondike River Valley -- 19th century.

Additional Contributors

Chase, Ella M.
McCarty, Mary.
Patterson, Minnie.
Zimmerman, J. Franklin.
Zimmerman, Mary Post.


Box 1

A-H

Folder 1

Adden, H. J. Letter to Anna Mary Horine Zimmerman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 2

Barbre, Anna Louis. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1908

Folder 3

Bonnet, Blanch. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1922-1928

Folder 4

Bozarth, Frank. Letter to Bertha Jeisy (10 pieces). 1902-1903

Folder 5

Bunning, Anna. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (6 pieces). 1912-1931

Folder 6

Bunning, Delores. Letter to William K. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 7

Bunning, Frances. Letter to Ella M. Chase (1 piece). 1912

Folder 8

Bunning, Frances. Letter to Minnie Radamacher (1 piece). 1920

Folder 9

Bunning, Frances. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (22 pieces). 1905-1932

Folder 10

Chase, B. Aulsey. Letter to Ella M. Chase (1 piece). 1914

Folder 11

Chase, Ella M. Letter to Bertha Jeisy (2 pieces). 1906-1914

Folder 12

Chase, Ella M. Letter to Minnie Patterson (1 piece). 1899

Folder 13

Chase, Ella M. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1906

Folder 14

Chase, Ella M. Letter to Frances Bunning (1 piece). 1906

Folder 15

Chase, Ella M. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (folder 1 of 2) (24 pieces). 1900-1912

Folder 16

Chase, Ella M. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (folder 2 of 2) (12 pieces). 1913-1920

Folder 17

Chase, F. Louise. Letter to Ella M. Chase (1 piece). 1914

Folder 18

Chase, F. Louise. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1908, undated

Folder 19

Chase, Frances. Letter to Bertha Jeisy (1 piece). 1921

Folder 20

Chase, Frances. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (7 pieces). 1914-1932

Folder 21

Conner, Elizabeth A. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1911

Folder 22

[Dole], Minnie. Letter to Blanch Bonnet (1 piece). 1931

Folder 23

[Dole], Minnie. Letter to Edward J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1931

Folder 24

Duis, Christine. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 25

Duis, F. B. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1915

Folder 26

Duis, William H. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 27

Essman, Hattie. Letter to Minnie Radamacher (2 pieces). 1911-1920

Folder 28

Essman, Hattie. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 29

Essman, Hattie. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (7 pieces). 1911-1920

Folder 30

Everland, Mrs. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1908

Folder 31

Fishback, William. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1906

Folder 32

Foster, Clara. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 33

, Frida. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 34

Getard, Everett. Letter to Walter H. Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1919-1920

Folder 35

Gilliland, Maggie. Letter to Ida W. McMechen (1 piece). 1919

Folder 36

, Hannah. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 37

The Harvel Bank. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 38

Hayes, Ellen B. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 39

Hayes, Herbert. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1912-1919

Folder 40

The Hillsboro Journal. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1914

Box 2

J-Mc

Folder 1

Jeisy, Aileen. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1922-1928

Folder 2

Jeisy, Bertha. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (10 pieces). 1906-1922

Folder 3

Jeisy, John T. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1912

Folder 4

Jeisy, Opal. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (3 pieces). 1922

Folder 5

Jestis, Marie. Letter to “Dear People” (1 piece). 1912

Folder 6

Keiser, A. J. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1913

Folder 7

Keiser, H and Minnie. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1897-1899

Folder 8

Keiser, Mrs. Miel. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1900

Folder 9

Kessler, Clara. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 10

Knecht, Ella and Peat. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1932

Folder 11

Koger, I. D. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 12

Kirbirg, Hannah. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1914

Folder 13

Livergood, H. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 14

Lowe, Anna. Letter to Ida W. McMechen (1 piece). 1905

Folder 15

Lowe, H[enry]. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1906

Folder 16

, Lydia. Letter to Mary [Post Zimmerman] (1 piece). 1899

Folder 17

The M. M. Johnson Co. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1908

Folder 18

Mains, Leander H. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1886

Folder 19

Mayr, George H. Letter to Hattie Essman (1 piece). 1913

Folder 20

Maxeimer, Emma. Letter to Blanch Bonnet (1 piece). 1934

Folder 21

Maxeimer, Emma. Letter to Mrs. Hilka Essman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 22

Maxeimer, Emma. Letter to Ida W. McMechen (2 pieces). 1911-1913

Folder 23

Maxeimer, Emma. Letter to Minnie Radamacher (1 piece). 1920

Folder 24

Maxeimer, Emma. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (8 pieces). 1911-1919

Folder 25

McCarty, Dorothy L. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (6 pieces). 1912-1914

Folder 26

McCarty, Dorothy L. Letter to Walter H. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1914

Folder 27

McCarty, Lawrence F. Letter to Anna Bunning (1 piece). undated

Folder 28

McCarty, Lawrence F. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1914-1915

Folder 29

McCarty, Lawrence J. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1908

Folder 30

McCarty, Mary. Letter to Anna Bunning (1 piece). 1911

Folder 31

McCarty, Mary. Letter to Ella M. Chase (2 pieces). 1900-1907

Folder 32

McCarty, Mary. Letter to Minnie Patterson (1 piece). 1900

Folder 33

McCarty, Mary. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (3 pieces). 1911-1932, undated

Folder 34

McCarty, Mary. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (folder 1of 2) (17 pieces). 1900-1914

Folder 35

McCarty, Mary. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (folder 2 of 2) (17 pieces). 1915-1932

Folder 36

McCarty, Willie J. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1915

Folder 37

McCarty, Willie J. Letter to Walter H. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1914

Folder 38

McMechen, Ida W. Letter to Hattie Essman (1 piece). 1922

Folder 39

McMechen, Ida W. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (3 pieces). 1920-1922

Folder 40

McMechen, Ida W. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (folder 1 of 2) (20 pieces). 1886-1922

Folder 41

McMechen, Ida W. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (folder 2 of 2) (10 pieces). 1927-1933

Folder 42

McMechen, Ida W. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1886

Box 3

Me-Zimmerman, J. Franklin

Folder 1

Merrill Company. Letter to Anna Bunning (1 piece). 1908

Folder 2

Meyer, Ferdinand. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1906

Folder 3

Meyer, Ida. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (6 pieces). 1900-1911

Folder 4

, Minnie. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (4 pieces). 1912-1920

Folder 5

The Missouri Remedy Co. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1910

Folder 6

Neal, Stacy. Letter to Walter H. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 7

Patterson, Geraldine. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1915-1916

Folder 8

Patterson, Minnie. Letter to Mary McCarty (1 piece). 1922

Folder 9

Patterson, Minnie. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1916

Folder 10

Patterson, Minnie. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (17 pieces). 1900-1927

Folder 11

Pool, Emma Duis. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (3 pieces). 1914-1919

Folder 12

Radamacher, George R. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1919-1933

Folder 13

Radamacher, Minnie. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (21 pieces). 1903-1922

Folder 14

Robb, Mrs. Leslie E. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1914

Folder 15

Saathof, Henry. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1905

Folder 16

Sacktleben, William. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1912

Folder 17

Sisk, Lena. Letter to Ida W. McMechen (1 piece). 1903

Folder 18

Smock, H. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 19

, Sophia. Letter to Bertha Jeisy (1 piece). 1907

Folder 20

Stoops. R. O. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1907

Folder 21

Swets, Jacob. Letter to Anna Bunning (1 piece). 1906

Folder 22

Twing, Martin W. Letter to Ida W. McMechen (1 piece). 1907

Folder 23

Washer, Julia C. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1920

Folder 21

Whitworth, Mrs. J. F. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (1 piece). 1916

Folder 22

Zabers, Minnie. Letter to Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Mason (1 piece). 1899

Folder 23

Zimmerman, Arthur W. Letter to Ella M. Chase (3 pieces). 1900

Folder 24

Zimmerman, Arthur W. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (13 pieces). 1912-1922

Folder 25

Zimmerman, Arthur W. Letter to Walter H. Zimmerman (9 pieces). 1914-1920

Folder 26

Zimmerman, J. Franklin. Letter to Ida W. McMechen (2 pieces). 1906-1914

Folder 27

Zimmerman, J. Franklin. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (13 pieces). 1897-1922

Folder 28

Zimmerman, J. Franklin. Letter to William J. Zimmerman (3 pieces). 1897-1898

Folder 29

Zimmerman, J. Franklin. Letter to Klondike diary (1 piece). 1898

Box 4

Zimmer man, Mabel – Zimmerman, Willia m K and Misc. materials

Folder 1

Zimmerman, Mabel. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (1 piece). 1919

Folder 2

Zimmerman, Mary Post. Letter to Frances Bunning (2 pieces). 1906

Folder 3

Zimmerman, Mary Post. Letter to H. W. Buckbee (1 piece). 1908

Folder 4

Zimmerman, Mary Post. Letter to Ella M. Chase (1 piece). 1900

Folder 5

Zimmerman, Mary Post. Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Heinaman (1 piece). 1908

Folder 6

Zimmerman, Mary Post. Letter to Mary McCarty and Minnie Patterson (1 piece). 1911

Folder 7

Zimmerman, Mary Post. Letter to Walter H. Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1919

Folder 8

Zimmerman, Walter H. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (3 pieces). 1919-1922

Folder 9

Zimmerman, Walter H. Letter to William K. Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1919

Folder 10

Zimmerman, Walter H. and Mary. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (2 pieces). 1922

Folder 11

Zimmerman, William K. Letter to Arthur W. Zimmerman (3 pieces). 1913-1919

Folder 12

Zimmerman, William K. Letter to Mary Post Zimmerman (24 pieces). 1913-1928

Folder 13

Manuscript fragments (4 pieces). 1920-1928, undated

Folder 14

Manuscript notes (23 pieces). 1898-1920, undated

Folder 15

Cards (20 pieces). 1908-1933, undated

Folder 16

Direct mail (7 pieces). 1906-1923

Folder 17

Envelopes (40 pieces). 1897-1932

Folder 18

Ephemera (20 pieces). 1895-1920

Folder 19

Clippings (8 pieces). 1898, undated