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Judson-Fairbanks Papers: Finding Aid
mssHM 62780-62821  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Overview of the Collection
  • Access
  • Administrative Information
  • Biographical Note
  • Scope and Content Note
  • Indexing Terms
  • Indexing: Subjects

  • Overview of the Collection

    Title: Judson-Fairbanks Papers
    Dates (inclusive): 1852-1887
    Collection Number: mssHM 62780-62821
    Creator: Judson, Everitt, Fairbanks, Martin L., and Fairbanks, Zelotes C.
    Extent: 47 pieces in 1 box.
    Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
    1151 Oxford Road
    San Marino, California 91108
    Phone: (626) 405-2129
    Email: reference@huntington.org
    URL: http://www.huntington.org
    Abstract: This collection chiefly contains family correspondence of the Judson Family, dating from 1852 to 1887 and discussing family affairs as well as current events, including such topics as agriculture and economic conditions in California. Thirteen letters have to do with the Quartermaster Corps in Memphis during the Civil War. In addition, there are some items dealing with the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks.
    Language: English.

    Access

    Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

    Administrative Information

    Publication Rights

    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]. Judson-Fairbanks Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Provenance

    Purchased from Usher Lloyd Burdick, May 27, 1947.

    Biographical Note

    Everitt Judson traveled from New York to San Francisco in 1852 on the schooner Ino to pursue financial gains in California, leaving behind his wife, Philuta. Once there he tried his hand at gold mining and farming; each produced modest results and allowed him to purchase a ranch on the south fork of the Kern River. Everitt and Philuta had four children: John Baldwin, E. S., Smith and Mary.
    Other Judson Family members include Everitt's brother, Roswell Judson, and Everitt's three nephews, Carlton, Harris, and J. Watts. J. Watts Judson worked in the Quartermaster Corps. in Memphis, Tennessee, and fought in 1862 in the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Corinth.
    Everitt and Philuta's son, John Baldwin Judson, had two brothers-in-law, Zelotes C. Fairbanks and Martin L. Fairbanks, who also worked in the Quartermaster Corps. in Nashville, Tennessee.
    Three Judson family members were Methodist chaplains: D. Cobb, Charles H. Flanders, and J. C. Robbins.

    Scope and Content Note

    The collection consists of 36 single-item cataloged letters, 23 of which deal with the Judson Family, while the remaining 13 have to do with the Civil War. In addition, there are 5 letters, 5 bills and receipts, and 1 broadside that deal with the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks in 1866 and the recovery of his body. The bulk of the letters are written by Everitt Judson to his wife Philuta, while the remaining letters are written between various members of the Judson family. The letters concerning the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks are mostly written by or to his brother-in-law, John Baldwin Judson.
    The letters are primarily family correspondence in which affairs of the family as well as current events are discussed. The majority of the letters from Everitt to Philuta relate to his business in gold mining and agriculture in California. In those letters are details as to the variety of crops grown, irrigation farming, fruit growers, and land tenure. Everitt's letters also frequently mention economic conditions in California, domestic relations in the 19th century, and Indian attacks, interspersed between descriptions of Placerville and Visalia, Calif. Other topics that are briefly addressed include telegraphs, railroads, the Mormons, churches, and the Central America steamship.
    The letters pertaining to the Civil War discuss the Quartermaster Corps., religious practices in camp, and military chaplains. Some letters provide descriptions of Memphis, Tenn., and Washington, D.C., while others make brief mention of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and the political climate of the time.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

    Subjects

    Fairbanks, Martin L.
    Judson, Everitt.
    Judson, Philuta, correspondent.
    Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
    United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps.
    Agriculture -- California.
    Military chaplains -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Correspondence.
    Frontier and pioneer life -- California.
    Gold mines and mining -- California, Northern.
    Ranches -- California -- Visalia.
    Voyages to the Pacific coast.
    California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
    Memphis (Tenn.)
    Placerville (Calif.)
    United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
    United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Religious aspects.
    United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865.
    Visalia (Calif.)

    Forms/Genres

    Letters(correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century.
    Family papers -- United States -- 19th century.

    Alternate Authors

    Fairbanks, Martin L.
    Judson, Everitt.
    Judson, J. Watts.
    Judson, Philuta, correspondent.

    Indexing: Subjects

    Additional Note

    Agriculture - California
    • 1855, July 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62787.
    • 1860, July 20. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62794.
    Banks and banking - California - San Francisco
    • 1855, Feb. 2. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62786.
    Central America (Steamship)
    • 1857, Nov. 3. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62789.
    Chaplains, Military - United States - Civil War, 1861-1865
    • 1862, Sept. 20. Charles H. Flanders, letter to Brother Judson. HM 62799.
    • 1865, Apr. 6-7. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62811.
    • [1865], Apr. 22. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62812.
    • 1865, May 25. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62813.
    • 1865, May 30. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62814.
    Domestic relations
    • 1857, May 17. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62788.
    Fairbanks, Martin L.
    • [1866], Oct. 6. John Baldwin Judson, broadside. HM 62815.
    • 1866, Oct. 20. Zelotes C. Fairbanks, letter to Dear Bro. HM 62816.
    • 1867, Jan. 5. Porter, Bates & Co., letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62817.
    • 186[7], Jan. 5. E. S. Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62818.
    • 1867, Jan. 24. John Baldwin Judson, letter to E. P. Bates. HM 62819
    • 1867, Feb. 13. William Henry Cook, 1832-1899, letter to Judson. HM 62820.
    • 1864-1868. Bills and receipts regarding the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks and the settlement of his estate.
    Farms - California - Contra Costa County
    • 1855, Feb. 2. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62786.
    Fruits - California
    • 1854, Oct. 23. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62785.
    Frontier and pioneer life - California - Owens River Valley
    • 1862, Dec. 7. [Everitt Judson], letter to [Philuta Judson]. HM 62800.
    Gold mines and mining - California, Northern
    • 1854, Oct. 23. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62785.
    • 1859, July 17. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62792.
    • 1862, Dec. 7. [Everitt Judson], letter to [Philuta Judson]. HM 62800.
    • 1863, Nov. 16. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62804.
    Grapes - California
    • 1887, Dec. 5. Samuel McKoon, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62821.
    Indians of North America - California
    • 1858, Nov. 4. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62791.
    • 1862, Dec. 7. [Everitt Judson], letter to [Philuta Judson]. HM 62800.
    • [Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.
    Irrigation farming - California - Tulare County
    • 1861, Mar. 14. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62795.
    Land tenure - California
    • 1863, Nov. 16. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62804.
    Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
    • 1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.
    • 1864, Oct. 30. Martin L. Fairbanks, letter to [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. HM 62808.
    Methodists - California - San Francisco
    • 1853, Sept. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62782.
    Memphis (Tenn.)
    • 1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.
    Placerville (Calif.)
    • 1853, Sept. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62782.
    • 1853, Nov. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62783.
    Placerville (Calif.) - Social life and customs
    • 1853, Nov. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62783.
    Raisins - California
    • 1887, Dec. 5. Samuel McKoon, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62821.
    Ranches - California - Visalia
    • [Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.
    Right of Property - California - Visalia
    • 1864, Aug. 14. Sophy Smith, letter to Everitt Judson. HM 62807.
    Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
    • 1852, Apr. 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62780.
    San Diego - California
    • 1887, Dec 5. Samuel McKoon, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62821.
    Seeds
    • 1855, July 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62787.
    Slate Range (San Bernardino County, Calif.)
    • 1863, Nov. 16. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62804.
    Tulare County (Calif.) - Social life and customs
    • [Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.
    United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps.
    • 1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.
    • 1862, July 26. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62798.
    • 1863, June 11. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62801.
    • 1864, Feb. 27. Roswell Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62805.
    • 1864, July 10-11. Martin L. Fairbanks, letter to [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. HM 62806.
    United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865
    • 1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.
    • 1862, Apr. 16. Roswell Judson, letter to J. Watts Judson. HM 62797.
    • 1862, July 26. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62798
    • 1863, June 11. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62801.
    • 1864, Oct. 30. Martin L. Fairbanks, letter to [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. HM 62808.
    • 1865, May 25. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62813.
    United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Religious aspects
    • 1862, Sept. 20. Charles H. Flanders, letter to Brother Judson. HM 62799.
    • 1865, Apr. 6-7. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62811.
    • 1865, May 25. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62813.
    • 1865, May 30. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62814.
    United States - Politics and government - 1861-1865
    • 1863, June 11. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62801.
    Vegetables - Marketing
    • 1863, July 28. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62802.
    Visalia (Calif.)
    • 1860, June 30. Everitt Judson, letter to [J.] Watts Judson. HM 62793.
    • 1861, Mar. 14. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62795.
    Voyages to the Pacific Coast
    • 1852, Apr. 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62780.
    Washington (D.C.)
    • [1865], Apr. 22. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62812.
    Women Pioneers - California - Visalia
    • [Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.