Guide to the Letter from Elvira Thorndyke MC353
Jason Sarmiento
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Special Collections
2023
1st Floor, Shields Library, University of California
100 North West Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Telephone: (530) 752-1621
Fax Number: (530) 754-5758
speccoll@ucdavis.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Letter from Elvira Thorndyke
Creator:
Thorndyke, Elvira P. (1825-1906)
Identifier/Call Number: MC353
Physical Description:
1 item
Date: 1851
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.
Physical Location: Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Language of Material:
English
.
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.
Collection is open for research.
Jason Sarmiento created this finding aid with information supplied by the seller.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased in 2023.
[Identification of item], Letter from Elvira Thorndyke, MC353, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University
of California, Davis.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women's Rights
Women--Suffrage
Climate--Observations