The Brumagim Collection mainly consists of personal correspondence, including a number of letters from Brumagim to his family and friends in New York. Miscellaneous correspondence between Lillie Brumagim and her friends and relatives is a component of the collection, in addition to a number miscellaneous letters, photographs, pieces of music and publications written by both DM and Lillie Birmingham.

Mark Brumagim sailed out of New York Harbor on March 24, 1849, aboard the bark "Linda." The pioneer from New York's Montgomery County arrived in California in November of 1849. He opened a bank in Marysville in 1850, the first bank in California north of San Francisco. Eight years later, he and his brothers established the banking firm of Mark Brumagim and Company in San Francisco. Brumagim and his partners held investments as far away as Durango, Mexico, and later became creditors of John C. Fremont.

The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.

Collection is open for research.