Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Elvira Thorndyke Letter
- Dates:
- 1851
- Creators:
- Thorndyke, Elvira P. (1825-1906)
- Abstract:
- Letter written by prominent women's rights advocate Elivra Thorndyke to her mother in Maine describing Thorndyke's preference for California's culture and climate to her home state. She became the first president of the California Woman Suffrage Society, a founding member of a women's group in Rockland, Maine, and a published author and editor for the cause of women's rights.
- Extent:
- 1 item
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Elvira Thorndyke Letter, MC353, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This item contains a six-page letter from Elvira Thorndyke, a prominent advocate for women's rights, moved from Maine to California with her husband in 1851. In a letter to her mother, she praises California, discusses her desire to stay there, and shows keen interest in the women's rights movement and her sisters' well-being.
Partial Transcript
I have just returned from Placerville, where I have been on a visit. Joshua is there yet, but does not expect to stop but a few weeks. The winter here is delightful so far. We have a rain storm about once a week and then clears away as warm as September at home. While the snow storms and winds are perhaps howling around you down in that frigid zone, I am sitting in my chamber with the window up as comfortable as though it were midsummer. I would not go back there if anyone would pay my passage and live through this cold winter as much as I would like to see you all, but you may perhaps see me drop in upon you some warm summer day - just merely to make you a visit. I like California more and more every day and shall stay here a long time if I live. It is destined to be a great country. There is to be a great State ball at the Capitol on Christmas eve. All the ladies in California are invited and all the old Spanish residents likewise. It will be a great time. The New Englanders in San Francisco celebrate the landing of the Pilgrims on the 22 of this month by a public dinner and oration - all the citizens from New England are invited. I shall not fail to be present, but do not know as I shall attend the ball or not. We are all well. California is very healthy. I attended a Theatre last evening. The play was Guy Mannering, taken from Sir Walter Scott's novels. We have [a] company from Sacramento.
I have a good many acquaintances there. Lavinia wrote to Lucy last mail. Asa Coombs says that Lucy declares she is coming to California yet. I can tell her one thing; if she was here she would enjoy herself better than any place she was ever in. Susan I understand has been to Lowell on a visit. I don't understand who she could have gone there to visit. Tell Lucy is she should [..?..] along this way she would find me on Stockton St., between Pacific and Broadway, and if she comes I will take her about to see the Elephant - and forget the letter reading last winter. By the way, how does 'women's rights' prosper at home, and what effect had the Worcester convention last Oct. We have just got the doings here. May I not expect to receive a line from some of you by this next Steamer. So Susan Maria has gone to 'settle on the banks of the pleasant Ohio'. Give my respects to all enquiring friends.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased in 2023.
- Processing information:
-
Jason Sarmiento created this finding aid with information supplied by the seller.
- Physical location:
- Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-06-13 09:53:23 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Elvira Thorndyke Letter, MC353, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library100 NW QuadDavis, CA 95616-5292, US
- Contact:
- (530) 752-1621