Bloom, Henry S. papers, 1851-1968

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Summary

Title:
Henry S. Bloom papers
Dates:
1851-1968
Creators:
Bloom, Henry S.
Abstract:
Henry S. Bloom worked in the gold fields in California during the Gold Rush from 1850 to 1851. The collection is comprised of one folder correspondence and printed material, including newpaper clippings and a check (1851-1968, bulk 1851-1899).
Extent:
.1 linear ft. (1 folder)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Henry S. Bloom papers, MC 30, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is comprised of one folder consisting of correspondence and printed material, including newspaper clippings and a check (1851-1968, bulk 1851-1899). The correspondence covers such topics as family and friends, life in California, farming, the Post Office and Christmas celebrations. The newspaper clippings are funeral notices for Henry S. Bloom and Thomas Bloom and an article about Henry S. Bloom's diary about life in California during the Gold Rush. Photocopies of the clippings are also included.

Biographical / historical:

Henry S. Bloom (full name: Henry Sterling Bloom) was born on August 5, 1820 in Burlington in Bradford County, Pennsylvania to David and Mary ("Polly") Alma Bloom (maiden name: Rutty). Henry moved to Illinois with his parents in 1834. He married Elizabeth Ann Kearns on December 11, 1844 in Wilmington, Illinois. They had thirteen children together: Guy, Edith, Hilda, Inez, May, Ivan, David, Linda, Victor, Osburga ("Bess"), Thomas, Margaret Belle and Harry Lee.

Bloom wrote about his time spent searching for gold in California from 1850-1851 in a diary which Burt E. Burroughs described in the Kankakee Republican News in the 1930s. In his diary, Bloom depicted the highs and lows of daily life in a mining camp as he worked in the hotel his father (who had come to California in 1849) owned. He also tended bar, worked in the post office, and mined for gold. Bloom's gold mining efforts were relatively successful, and he returned to Illinois with several thousand dollars' worth of gold.

Bloom was one of Kankakee County's earliest pioneers. In 1853, he served as one of the commissioners who organized the county. He held a variety of minor offices in Rockville Township. He served as justice of the peace for fourteen years after having been elected at the age of twenty-two. He was also appointed postmaster and served in that position fo some time. Bloom worked as a farmer until he moved to the city of Kankakee. Towards the end of his life, Bloom was known for possessing a wealth of memories about the early days of the county, many of which were listed in the Atlas of Kankakee County. Bloom passed away on February 3, 1899 in Kankakee County at the age of 78.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please contact the Sacramento Room.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Christina Edling
Date Prepared:
Copyright 2014
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Christina Edling. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: February 14, 2014.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Use of the described materials may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Sacramento Public Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Henry S. Bloom papers, MC 30, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 264-2976
sacroom@saclibrary.org
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