Bulger Family Papers, 1877-1989, bulk 1882-1904

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Summary

Title:
Bulger family papers
Dates:
1877-1989, bulk 1882-1904
Creators:
Bulger (Family)
Abstract:
Papers belonging to John Bulger, who took part in the Klondike gold rush, and his family in Iowa.
Extent:
2.33 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Bulger family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Bulger family papers consist primarily of correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera, mostly related to the Klondike gold rush. The correspondence contains mostly letters by John Bulger to his wife and children throughout his expedition in the Klondike and Alaska from 1898 to 1901, during which he mined for gold near camps in Dawson and Nome. These letters provide a descriptive account of his personal experiences with prospecting for gold and mining in camps such as Skagway, Tagish, Dawson, and Nome; they are also reflective of the living conditions and challenges many Klondikers typically faced as they roamed the country. Other letters in this collection are addressed to Olive A. Bulger from her daughter Winifred Bulger, and cousin Freedom Jackson of Beatrice, Nebraska, who make numerous references to sewing in a dressmaking shop. The letters written by Winifred Bulger to her mother Olive and sister Vallie in Iowa, express her thoughts, feelings, and encounters during the journey west, as well as her first impressions of life in California. Of note is a scrapbook containing portraits, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Most of these clippings come from The Summer in Colorado series, written by Mary P. Porteus of St. Louis, Missouri. Other materials in this collection include: one autograph album belonging to Olive A. Bulger; one book titled Gold Fields of the Klondike, containing pictures of regions commonly traversed by gold miners; two photographs of John Bulger during his stay in Dawson; one issue of the Klondike Nugget newspaper; and a Free Miner's Certificate and Grant for Placer Mining issued to John Bulger by the Canadian government.

Biographical / historical:

John Bulger, his wife Olive, and their children Winifred, Vallie (died 1966), Mabel (born 1882), Gladys, and Donald Bulger, lived primarily in Clinton, Iowa before moving apart. While John Bulger traveled throughout the Yukon Territory to work as a miner during the Klondike Gold Rush, his family remained behind in the United States. At several instances during his journey, John Bulger earned wages by working for companies such as the Seattle Lumber Company and the North American Trade and Transportation Company in Nome, Alaska. He died in Los Angeles in 1942.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Judy Davis, March 2007.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library staff in 2009. In August 2023, Brooke M. Black created the finding aid.

Arrangement:

Organized in three series: Series 1. Correspondence, 1877-1989; Series 2. Bound volumes and photographs, 1894-1901; Series 3. Ephemera, 1899-1902.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Brooke M. Black
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-09-14 09:26:07 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

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]. Bulger family papers, 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
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