Bruff (J. Goldsborough) Journal and Drawings, 1849-1853

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Summary

Title:
Journal and Drawings of J. Goldsborough Bruff
Dates:
1849-1853
Creators:
Bruff, Joseph Goldsborough,1804-1889.
Abstract:
The collection contains J. Goldsborough Bruff's oversize revised version of his journal (c. 1853), which documents his journey across the American plains in 1849 by way of Lassen's Trail. Also included in the collection are 264 drawings of scenes from his overland journey, of various places he visited in California, and of his sea voyage to the Eastern United States via Mexico and Panama.
Extent:
265 items
Language:
The records are in English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Journal and drawings of J. Goldsborough Bruff, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains J. Goldsborough Bruff's oversize revised version of his journal (c. 1853) which documents his journey across the American plains in 1849 by way of Lassen's Trail. Also included in the collection are 264 drawings of scenes from his overland journey, of various places he visited in California, and of his sea voyage to the Eastern United States via Mexico and Panama. Many of Bruff's drawings are in pencil, but thirty-eight of them were drawn with pastels and are in color.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Goldsborough Bruff (1804-1899) is best known as a topographer, journalist, and artist of the gold rush era. Bruff was born in Washington, D.C., on October 2, 1804. He attended West Point from 1820 until his resignation in 1822, when he left to sail, as a cabin boy, to Europe and South America in 1822. From 1827-1836 he worked as a topographical engineer, predominantly at Gosport Naval Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. He returned to Washington, D.C., in 1837 and from 1838-1849 worked for the United States Bureau of Topographical Engineers. Bruff then organized the Washington City and California Mining Association, which he accompanied to California on its overland journey in 1849. While in California he produced extensive journals and drawings of the mining camp experience. In 1853 Bruff returned to Washington, D.C., where he worked in office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department until his death on April 14, 1889.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from A.S.W. Rosenbach, 1919.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black.
Date Prepared:
© 2014
Date Encoded:
Machine readable finding aid encoded by Gina C Giang on April 2014 and revised by Diann Benti on May 2015

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please go to following web site.

Terms of access:

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], Journal and drawings of J. Goldsborough Bruff, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website