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Overland Mail Collection: Finding Aid
mssOV 1-110
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Title: Overland Mail Collection
Dates (inclusive): 1850-1898
Bulk dates: 1850-1887
Collection Number: mssOV 1-110
Creator:
Overland Mail Company.
Extent:
166 pieces
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 contains materials related to the development of
overland mail service in the United States West (bulk 1850-1887) and is composed of two
parts: the papers of Hiram S. Rumfield (75 pieces), assistant treasurer of the Overland Mail
Company at Salt Lake City, Utah, which contain documents related to Rumfield family matters,
the business affairs of the Overland Mail Company, and Indians in Utah Territory; and the
papers of L.P. Williamson (90 pieces), superintendent of the North Western Overland Mail
Company and president of the Western Mail and Stage Company, which include reports from
stage drivers concerning road conditions.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
For more information, contact Reader Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. Overland Mail Collection, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Purchased by the Library from H. C. Revercomb, June 29, 1946.
The Butterfield Overland Mail Company, organized in 1857, carried mail between St. Louis,
Missouri, and San Francisco, California, until the outbreak of the Civil War forced it to
move north to the central overland route. It was known as the Central Overland and Pike's
Peak Express Company until it was reorganized and General Bela M. Hughes was elected
president of the Overland Mail Company in 1861.
A collection of Hiram S. Rumfield letters in the American
Antiquarian Society have been published in Rumfield, Hiram E.,
Letters of an Overland Agent in Utah, Archer Butler Hurlbert, ed., Worcester,
Mass, 1929.
This collection contains personal correspondence, business papers, 2 photographs, and a
scrapbook of newspaper clippings (1865-66) related to the development of overland mail
service in the United States West, predominantly for the years preceding the establishment of the
railroad. Includes originals and a few letter-press copies.
Two groups of manuscripts integrate this collection:
- (1) The papers of Hiram S. Rumfield, an officer of the Overland Mail Co. (75 pieces, 1850-1867). Rumfield was appointed to the post of mail agent at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1860, but on the outbreak of the Civil War was transferred to the Salt Lake City office as assistant treasurer and remained in that capacity until 1866. He was engaged in a real estate venture in Carson City and acquired 640 acres of land which was laid out as the Rumfield Town Survey. These papers contain documents related to Rumfield family matters, the business affairs of the Overland Mail Company, and Indians in Utah Territory. There are two photographs: a portrait of Rumfield and a photograph of a stagecoach.
- (2) Papers of L. P. Williamson, of Independence, Mo., superintendent of the North Western Overland Mail Company and president of the Western Mail and Stage Co. in 1884; dealing with the company's business and including reports from stage drivers concerning road conditions. (90 pieces, 1880-1898).
Persons represented by 4 or more pieces: William Connor (4 items); Frederick K. Cook (4 items); Hiram S. Rumfield (21 items);
and H. A. Todd (5 items).
Some notable items include:
- Carney, Thomas. To John McAllister Schofield. Letter asking military protection for Kansas. 1863 August 10
- Rumfield, Hiram S. To Amos Reed, Indian Supt. Letters interceding on behalf of the Indians, asking help and food for them. 1862 February 10, March 7
- Williamson, R. C. To L. P. Williamson. Letter concerning extension of the mail route into Oregon. 1882, February 2
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Rumfield, Hiram S.
Williamson, L. P.
Overland Mail Company -- Archives.
North Western Overland Mail Company.
Postal service -- West (U.S.) -- History -- Sources.
Indians of North America -- Utah.
Coaching (Transportation) -- West (U.S.) -- History -- Sources.
Business records -- West (U.S.) -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) -- West (U.S.) -- 19th century.
Scrapbooks -- West (U.S.) -- 19th century.
Williamson, L. P.