Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Clark, Caroline Hubbs Letters
- Dates:
- 1839-1858
- Creators:
- Clark, Caroline Hubbs
- Abstract:
- Letters that were mostly received by Caroline Hubbs Clark from various friends, family members, and correspondents - both women and men.
- Extent:
- 1.0 folder (34 letters, 5 envelopes, 2 notes, 1 typescript)
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
Caroline Hubbs Clark Letters. The Society of California Pioneers.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Letters that were mostly received by Caroline Hubbs Clark from various friends, family members, and correspondents - both women and men. While the letter from D.W. Clark (Caroline's husband) to Caroline is noted as a gift of Mrs. George Percy, the donor information of the other letters is unknown.
22 letters from Isabella H.P. Bliss (Bell) to Caroline (Carry/Carrie) written on various dates between 1843 and 1854 and from four different locations (Trebizond, Bebek, Constantinople, and Archipelago). Bell was a missionary in Turkey. She and Caroline were good friends; Bell's letters tell of her life in Turkey as a missionary. Two of these letters (Trebizond, 1843) are addressed to the "ladies of the American Circle, Portland, ME," via Caroline, the Secretary. Some of the letters include the original envelope. Also, some of these contain crossed writing and writing in the borders of the page, but are not entirely crossed letters (which would contain two separate sets of writing, one written over the other), and are still legible. Portions of several letters are missing and/or difficult to follow due to the writing in the margins.
There is also a letter (New Haven, Connecticut, March 13, 1839) from Bell to Miss Jane G. Woodhull (?), care of Reverand J. B. Bondit (?) of Portland, Maine. It is unclear how this pertains to Caroline.
Two envelopes addressed to Caroline: Two in the care of Capt. Alex Hubbs (Caroline's father) of Portland, Maine. One in the care of J.C. Holbrook (?) of Chicago.
Letter (January 1, 1858): To "Mrs. Clark" (Caroline) from Susan W. Tyler. It is unclear from where Susan was writing, looks like Esidumbini (?). It appears as though Susan might be Caroline's sister-in-law.
Letter (August 21, 1850): To "Carrie" (Caroline) from Linda (?). She writes in hopes that they remain close friends after Caroline leaves, and she wishes her well on her journey.
Letter (Portland, Maine, August 9, 1850): To Miss M. Caroline Hubbs from Theo R. and Fannie D. Hayes, wishing her luck and gifts of "rememberance of friends."
Letter with envelope (Portland, Maine, September 15, 1854): To Mrs. D.W. Clark (Caroline), in Chicago, from Celia (?) sending her condolences for the death of Caroline's daughter.
Letter with envelope (Jacksonville, California, April 22 [year illegible]): To Mrs. Mary C. Clarke [sic.], in the care of Capt. Alex Hubbs of Portland, Maine, from L.J. Payson (?). This letter was written in attempts to reassure Caroline's faith in Christ's love.
Letter (Atlantic Sea, January 25, 1847): To Caroline Hubbs, but it is very difficult to read and the signature is illegible. The author writes to justify his/her beliefs and lifestyle although he/she does not often go to church.
Note: Prayer or confession of sin. Perhaps written by Caroline (?).
Letter (January 1842): To Caroline Hubbs from Josiah Tyler (Susan Tyler's husband). This letter contains some crossed writing, and it is difficult to read.
Letter (Portland, Maine, September 17, 1854): To Mr. D.W. Clark from Alex Hubbs sending his condolences for his daughter's death.
Note: History of the Hubbs and Gage families, written by Caroline.
Letter (part of original and copy; San Francisco, 1852): To Caroline from D.W. Clark, written over the period of about a week, beginning Christmas Day. The first part is a love poem for Christmas, and the rest describes the city of San Francisco.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Hints are given about Caroline Hubbs Clark's life in these letters, but most of them have to be pieced together. Apparently, her name was in fact Mary Caroline, but most called her Caroline or Carry/Carrie.
She lived in Portland, Maine, but traveled to Connecticut, Wisconsin, Chicago, and California. She was the daughter of Alexander Hubbs and the wife of Dennis Woodruff Clark. She was the Secretary of the American Circle (?). It is unclear exactly what the American Circle did, but several of her friends in the organization were missionaries. She also worked for the S. School (?).
Caroline and Dennis had a daughter named Emma. In 1854, their daughter died, but it is unclear whether this was Emma or whether they also had another daughter.
Caroline's great-grandparents on her father's side had immigrated to the United States from Holland. There is more information on her family history in a note included in these letters.
It appears as though she left Portland, perhaps en route to California (?), in 1850. Dennis was in San Francisco in 1852, but it appears, from the letter he wrote to Caroline, that she was not there and had not yet visited the city.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Mrs. George Percy.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- July 25, 2012
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-08-02T11:13-0700
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
There are no restrictions on access.
- Preferred citation:
-
Caroline Hubbs Clark Letters. The Society of California Pioneers.
- Location of this collection:
-
300 Fourth StreetSan Francisco, CA 94107, US
- Contact:
- (415) 957-1849 ext. 160