Finding Aid to the Addington family papers, 1793-1941 (bulk 1871-1921)
Finding aid prepared by California Historical Society staff.
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
© 1998, revised 2010
California Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Addington family papers
Date (inclusive): 1793-1941
Date (bulk): 1871-1921
Collection number: MS 3013
Creators:
Davis, Sara Addington, 1871-1921.
Addington family.
Davis, Daniel, 1826-1897.
Physical Description: 3 boxes (1.5 Linear feet)
Repository:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
Abstract: Personal correspondence of Sara Addington Davis, relating to the lives of several Iowa and New England families; together
with correspondence of her relatives, including letters (1849-1853) of her father, Daniel Davis, a native of Vermont, describing
his voyage to California via Cape Horn, his arrival in San Francisco, and his life in Marysville, California, from 1850; a
genealogical notebook, a cookbook, a scrapbook of obituaries, an autograph album, an account book, and ephemera and miscellany,
some of which relates to Addington's daughter, Lois. Also includes two English grammars, one (1793) belonging to Jacob Davis,
and the other (1838) belonging to Daniel Davis.
Note
Previously titled: Sara Addington Davis papers, 1842-1941.
Information for Researchers
Access
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the California Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Addington Family Papers, MS 3013. California Historical Society.
Separated Materials
Photographs shelved as MSP 3013.
Acquisition Information
Purchased from Argus Book Shop.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Voyages to the Pacific coast.
California--Gold discoveries.
Marysville (Calif.)--Social life and customs.
Addington family--Correspondence.
Genealogies.
Obituaries.
Autograph albums.
Account books.
Scope and Contents
Personal correspondence of Sara Addington Davis, relating to the lives of several Iowa and New England families; together
with correspondence of her relatives, including letters (1849-1853) of her father, Daniel Davis, a native of Vermont, describing
his voyage to California via Cape Horn, his arrival in San Francisco, and his life in Marysville, California, from 1850; a
genealogical notebook, a cookbook, a scrapbook of obituaries, an autograph album, an account book, and ephemera and miscellany,
some of which relates to Addington's daughter, Lois. Also includes two English grammars, one (1793) belonging to Jacob Davis,
and the other (1838) belonging to Daniel Davis.
Letters from Daniel Davis to Harriet Davis
1849-1853
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 September 12
Scope and Content Note
Describes various ships' accommodations, eagerness of emigrants to go to California.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 September 17
Scope and Content Note
Describes trip to Bunker Hill Monument and the Boston Navy Yard.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 September 19
Scope and Content Note
Expresses feelings on leasing home; describes system of "shares" in ship's companies. Has engaged passage on the
Daniel Webster, which he describes. Mentions Vermonters in Boston, and a tailors' strike and protest march.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 September 19-20
Scope and Content Note
Describes Mt. Auburn Cemetery; encounter with a woman whose husband and son are leaving for California.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 September 21
Scope and Content Note
Has met friends, and had daguerrotype taken; describes mining tools.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 September 22
Scope and Content Note
Has learned he is entitled to a "protection" (i.e. insurance); describes eagerness of emigrants to sail.
On board the
Daniel Webster
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 November 3
Scope and Content Note
Explains his desire to leave home; describes feelings upon embarking, seasickness, weather, passengers.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 November 18
Scope and Content Note
"Speaking a ship" (meeting another vessel at sea)
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 November 20
Scope and Content Note
Describes ship's temperance society, other occupation and pranks. Excerpts from his journal--a porpoise caught.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 November 27
Scope and Content Note
Tells of arrival at Rio de Janiero, harbor renulations, trouble on another ship (the
Chester.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 November 21-27
Scope and Content Note
Sketch of the Rio de Janiero lighthouse with description of harbor and ships.
Box 1, Folder 1
1849 November 30
Scope and Content Note
Describes Rio de Janiero: slaves, market, money, liquor.
On board the
Daniel Webster
Box 1, Folder 1
1850 February 14
Scope and Content Note
Rounding the Horn; albatross and penguins; voyage from Rio de Janiero.
Box 1, Folder 1
1850 February 23
Scope and Content Note
Describes Valparaiso, prices, cemetery, harbor; tension between Chileans and Yankees.
Box 1, Folder 1
1850 February 24
Scope and Content Note
Vice and temptation in Valparaiso; vegetable sizes.
Box 1, Folder 1
1850 October 17
Scope and Content Note
Vice and crime in the city; has had bad luck and illness since arrival; area offers "no inducements to permanent settlement".
Box 1, Folder 1
1850 December 25
Scope and Content Note
Complains of not receiving mail; discusses "state of society" in California; describes local Indians, and weather; has learned
some Spanish.
Box 1, Folder 1
1850 December 27
Scope and Content Note
Personal health and situation; has job in a store; women in California; miners turning to ranching; discomfort of "camping
out".
Box 1, Folder 1
1851 January 1
Scope and Content Note
Thoughts on his character; fate of some fellow passengers and a story of a miner who made good.
Box 1, Folder 1
1851 January 28
Scope and Content Note
Written on lettersheet with view of San Francisco; describes site and weather at Marysville, and California geography .
Box 1, Folder 1
1851 February 25
Scope and Content Note
Has resolved to remain in California for the present; desires news of friends.
Box 1, Folder 1
1851 May 9
Scope and Content Note
San Francisco fire; loss of Job; tired of California and may come home; sends $50 home by a friend.
Box 1, Folder 1
1851 October 25
Scope and Content Note
Has been in the mountains since May; capture by Indians; illness; netting used to the steno, his own case not typical.
Box 1, Folder 1
1851 November 12
Scope and Content Note
Glowing description of the free life of California (including camping - also see letter 1850 December 27)
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 January 19
Scope and Content Note
Replies to a "moral lecture" from sister with thought on life and character.
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 January 25
Scope and Content Note
Friend has not delivered $50; replies to home news.
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 February 24
Scope and Content Note
Personal affairs; has had measles; compares California weather with Vermont's.
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 March 7
Scope and Content Note
Flooding at Marysville.
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 March 22
Scope and Content Note
A large robbery; Marysville authorities vs. Vigilance Committee.
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 March 28
Scope and Content Note
Describes feelings about home and lack of a "social disposition".
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 May 30
Scope and Content Note
Getting on better, thinking less of going home; stories of California generally exaggerated.
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 June 5
Scope and Content Note
Health and food; old friends; brother's career as a school teacher.
Box 1, Folder 1
1852 October 12
Scope and Content Note
Usefulness of his own teaching career; life and growing up; aftermath of spring floods.
Box 1, Folder 1
1853 January 25
Scope and Content Note
Loneliness; a hard winter; high prices; lack of work; refers to "seeing the elephant".
Box 1, Folder 1
1853 March 13
Scope and Content Note
Australia gold fever; a city election; prices.
Box 1, Folder 3
Regarding Arunah Huntington Estate
1881-1885
Letters to Sara Davis Addington
Box 1, Folder 4
Regarding Daniel Davis Estate
1900-1901
Box 1, Folder 5
Regarding A.J. Davis Estate
1911-1914
Box 1, Folder 9
From Clinton H. Addington
1904
Box 2, Folder 13
Letters to Clinton H. Addington
1886-1921
Box 2, Folder 14
Letters to Lois Addington
1913-1941
Box 2, Folder 15
Letters to Charlotte Bruce Davis
1868-1881
Letters to Gertrude Patten Addington
Box 2, Folder 16
From Willliam Henry Addington, Jr.
1863-1874
Box 2, Folder 18
From Edgerton Family
1887-1889
Letters to William Henry Addington Jr.
Box 2, Folder 20
From Gertrude Patten Addington
1863-1874
Box 2, Folder 22
Letters to David Fatten
1872-1873
Box 2, Folder 23
Family genealogy (Davis-Addington) and partial family trees
Box 2, Folder 24
Obituary scrapbook (Addington-Edgerton-Patten)
Box 2, Folder 25
Account Book of Daniel Davis
1862-1868
Box 2, Folder 26
Autograph Album of Sara Davis (including autographs to Daniel Davis, 1842)
1882
Box 2, Folder 27
Cookbook Compiled by the Ladies' Guild of First Baptist Church (Osage, Iowa)
1906
Box 2, Folder 28
Portfolio--Gift to Sara Davis
1884
