Guide to the John and Mary Stephens collection
MS.R.051
Finding aid prepared by Anne Nguyen, 2012; inventory added by Zoe MacLeod,
2020.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
(cc) 2020
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
Title: John and Mary Stephens collection
Creator:
Stephens, John
Creator:
Stephens, Mary
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.051
Physical Description:
0.3 Linear Feet
(1 half letter document box; 1 OS folder)
Date (inclusive): 1839-1923
Abstract: This collection consists of letters and
documents belonging to John and Mary Sills Stephens, who settled in San Bernardino in
1874-1875. Mrs. Stephens preceded her husband by one year in coming to California from
Wisconsin and her letters to her husband during her cross-country journey by train contain
vivid descriptions, including a stopover in Salt Lake City to inspect the Mormon settlement
and talk with Ann Eliza, Brigham Young's wife. Two letters by John Stephens in 1883 (one of
them 82 pages in length) chronicle his early life in Wisconsin and the hardships encountered
during the depression of 1873, as well as his later life in San Bernardino, where he
witnessed the founding of Redlands and Riverside. Of particular interest is a letter to the
Democratic Free Press of Appleton, Wisconsin (October 16, 1856) expressing Stephens' views
on slavery.
Language of Material:
English .
Access
The collection has not been processed. It may contain restricted materials. Please contact
the Department of Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the
creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please
contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
John and Mary Stephnes collection. MS-R051. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine
Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information
about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder
descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Harvey Stephens, 1970.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection consists of letters and documents belonging to John and Mary Sills
Stephens, who settled in San Bernardino in 1874-1875. Mrs. Stephens preceded her husband by
one year in coming to California from Wisconsin and her letters to her husband during her
cross-country journey by train contain vivid descriptions, including a stopover in Salt Lake
City to inspect the Mormon settlement and talk with Ann Eliza, Brigham Young's wife. Two
letters by John Stephens in 1883 (one of them 82 pages in length) chronicle his early life
in Wisconsin and the hardships encountered during the depression of 1873, as well as his
later life in San Bernardino, where he witnessed the founding of Redlands and Riverside. Of
particular interest is a letter to the Democratic Free Press of Appleton, Wisconsin (October
16, 1856) expressing Stephens' views on slavery.
box 1, folder 1
Writings of John Stephens
undated
box 1, folder 1
Poem: "Breathe not her name" (poem, ms., 1 l.)
undated
box 1, folder 1
Poem: "To Mip" "I scale the snow-caped mountain ..." Ms 2 pp.
undated
box 1, folder 1
Poem: "The Cherokees' reply to the proposition that they should move across
the Mississippi" Noted on verso: "The speech of the Cherokee Cheif"
undated
box 1, folder 1
Poem: "The Indian" (newspaper clipping)
undated
box 1, folder 1
Poem: "Lines for an album" (newspaper clipping)
undated
box 1, folder 1
Poem: "At the altar" (newspaper clipping, Antwerp, Jefferson County, New
York). "A poem by John Stephens of San Bernardino Cal. (formerly of Antwerp, N.Y.)
recited by his twelve-year-old son Otto Tank Stephens, on his entering the San
Bernardino Lodge of Good Templars, Oct. 8, 1883"
undated
box 1, folder 1
Section of play: Begins "I have heard enough! Go back to that assembly of
cowards and tell them to set their house in order, for the French Guards, with the
Emperor at their head, will be with them in one hour". Ms 2pp.
undated
box 1, folder 1
Narrative: "I am told that I have but five minutes to live" Ms. 2.5
pp.
undated
box 1, folder 2
"John Stevens' account of his escape in 1823 at age 13 from farmer employer to
whom he had been bonded, and poem written about the occasion, 1883" 2 c. of poem, both
ms. One copy is attached to account
1883
box 1, folder 3
Speech on benevolence & intemperance. Ms, 20 pp.
undated
box 1, folder 4
Temperance address. Ms, 24 pp.
undated
box 1, folder 5
"The Porlier-Tank cottage; its history and the people who have lived in it" by
Deborah Beaumont Martin. 1925. Laid in is postcard of cottage
1925
box 1, folder 6
ALS to Miss Jennie S. Harris from Wm. D. Stephens. Oct. 22, 1922. Ms, 3 l.
(Relating to William Harvey Stephens acting with the Walter Hampden Shakespearean
Company.)
1922 October 22
box 1, folder 7
ALS to Mr. Homer D. L. Sweet (cousin) from John Stephens. June 7th, 1883. (June
7-24, 1883) Ms. 82 pp. Laid in is brief ms. note
1883 June 7
box 1, folder 8
"4th of July speech. 1842; delivered again in 1859. 25 pp. Mainly a temperance
speech." (from envelope)
1842
box 1, folder 9
ALS to Homer D. L. Sweet from John Stephens. Nov. 8, 1883. 12 pp.
1883 November 8
box 1, folder 10
4th of July speech. Signed by John Pompey. July 4, 1838. Ms. 32 pp.
1838 July 4
box 1, folder 11
Speech on intemperance delivered to Washingtonian Society
undated
box 1, folder 12
4th of July speech, 1850. Includes section on intemperance
1850
box 1, folder 14
ALS from Mary Sill Stephens to John Stephens. Nov. 8, 1874. 12 l.
1874 November 8
box 1, folder 15
ALS from Mary Sill Stephens from John Stephens. Dec. 1, 1874. 11 l. (Covers
events in Salt Lake City relating to Brigham Young divorce.)
1874 December 11
box 1, folder 16
ALS from Mary Sill Stephens to John Stephens. June 25, 1875. 8 l.
1875 June 25
box 1, folder 17
Photocopy of biography of William Delos Stephens, including
portrait
undated
box FB-022, folder 8
Certificates collected by William D. Stephens
circa 1839-1843