Guide to the Daily Morning Ape

Processed by California Historical Society staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Brooke Dykman Dockter
California Historical Society
North Baker Research Library
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94105-4014
Phone: (415) 357-1848, ext. 220
Fax: (415) 357-1850
Email: reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
© 2000
California Historical Society. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Daily Morning Ape

Collection number: MS 3598

California Historical Society



North Baker Research Library

San Francisco, California

Contact Information:

  • California Historical Society
  • North Baker Research Library
  • 678 Mission Street
  • San Francisco, California 94105-4014
  • Phone: (415) 357-1848, ext. 220
  • Fax: (415) 357-1850
  • Email: reference@calhist.org
  • URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Processed by:
California Historical Society staff
Date Completed:
July 18, 1996
Encoded by:
Brooke Dykman Dockter
© 2000 California Historical Society. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Daily Morning Ape
Collection number: MS 3598
Creator: Daily Morning Ape
Extent: 2 items
Repository: California Historical Society, North Baker Library
San Francisco, California 94105-4014
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/ 

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The North Baker Research Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The North Baker Research Library 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], Daily Morning Ape. MS 3598, California Historical Society, North Baker Research Library.

Scope and Content

Two copies of the Daily Morning Ape newspaper, handwritten composed by San Francisco children and handwritten on lined legal-sized sheets with a hand-drawn masthead showing an ape under a tree thumbing his nose at an owl and an elephant, are dated September 1, 1876 (no. 1) and September 31 (sic), 1876 (no. 2). The contents of the newspapers, which often exhibit erratic spelling, are described below:
  • Date: September 1, 1876
    (no. 1). The Daily Morning Ape claims a circulation of 2,000,000, larger than any other "fools cap paper". Purported news articles deride the harbor police who appeared at the "conflagration", report a reward for return of a stolen wagon from the editor's yard and poke fun at chief engineer Scannel, supposedly scorched, and a turkey, apparently paralyzed, in the fire. The paper lauds a recent Dashaway lecture, enjoyed by various apes from the Daily Morning Ape. The advent of a new "flying bakery" for making mock turtle soup and noodles in a 60-horse-power oven is announced for the following day. Tongue-in-cheek, the paper reports a collision at the "great fire" of a crowd of firemen, none more than 3 and 1/2 feet tall, with the editors of the Daily Morning Ape; no injuries resulted. The Chinese physician, Dr. Lipotai, is said to have recovered from his accident and resumed his practice, assisted by Dr. Leiching, at 737 Washington Street; their specialty is curing mongolian apes. The paper also contains advertisements. Mock Turtle Noodles World Relief at 726 Folsom Street claims to cure everything from insanity to sprains. Regans sells the best mock turtle soup for 10¢ with free "I-scream". Dr. McBride advises readers not to fear illness, as he needs money. A double pigeon house with three towers and four entrances is available for rent; the key can be had at the corner grocery. A reward is offered for two pigeons lost from Folsom Street. Mlle. Carache and Monsieur Roostery are advertised under "Amusements" with the additional note: "every evening with matinee".
  • Date: September 31 (sic), 1876
    (no. 2). The Daily Morning Ape now claims a circulation of 2,000,003. The lead news article, under the headline "The Turkish War", described how the editor killed a large spider while he was searching for news; the spider's body was left for flies to consume. From the New York Sun comes a report of the invention of Jewish beer, followed by such punned comments as "don't jew -wish you had some" and "he-brews it himself". The newspaper apes themselves claim to have discovered Sure Cure which cures flea bites and other diseases. Most of the paper is given over to advertisements. Van Schacks offers Mississippi Gun Boats, Canal Boats and Mud Scows for sale, as well as pantaloons, spittoons, slop hoppers and wash tubs. The editor announces a picture gallery featuring a picture of the earth, one of the paralyzed turkey and a bust of the Bald Ape, along with other apes and Cook's salmon. A silver-plated hairpin was lost in front of the Palace Hotel and should be returned to room 225 if found. The Father Mathews (temperance) Society, open all night, offers tastes of Irish and Scotch punches, milk punches, and Tom and Jerry. The Grand Academy of Music at 722 Folsom Street (admission free, except $1 for grown people) announces Monsieur Roostery and other stars performing with instrumental music each morning. Reserved seats cost $2; the pit costs $1..50; the gallery, $1; and the region of the gods, 25¢. No smoking is allowed. The ship Three Brothers advertises for cargo of shellac, salts, tars and hard tack. A "boya" is requested to tend the "bota" at Jerry's and a nice "luncha" is promised in return. A razor grinder, whose picture is promised for the next Daily Morning Ape, advertises his services available on the corner of Kearney Street. The final item, illustrated by a foot kicking over a bucket, has been scratched out and a riddle about ships written in in pencil.