Guide to the Samuel Adams Journal and Papers, 1849-1901
Processed by California Historical Society staff.
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/
© 1999
California Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Note
History--California History--Bay Area History
Guide to the Samuel Adams Journal and Papers, 1849-1901
Collection number: MS 1 (Vault)
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:
- Library staff
© 1999 California Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Samuel Adams Journal and Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1849-1901
Collection number: MS 1 (Vault)
Creator:
Adams, Samuel, 1810-1888
Extent:
1 box (6 folders)
ca 40 items (.42 linear ft.)
Repository:
California Historical Society, North Baker Research Library
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94105-4014
Abstract: Two original journals cover the voyage to California and Adam's
first months in San Francisco (4/1/1849 - 3/18/1850). The bulk of the Adams papers comprises
letters from Adams to his wife, business correspondence, and Mrs. Adams' letters to her son
Samuel G.
Physical location: Consult repository
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to 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
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], Samuel Adams Journal and Papers. MS 1 (Vault), California
Historical Society, Manuscript Collections.
Acquisition Information
Gift of A.T. Shine, 3/14/1949
Biographical Statement
Samuel Adams arrived in California aboard the Barque
Mazeppa
on December 3, 1849 after a ten-month voyage at sea. He had left New York on January
27, 1849 with a carge of merchandise which he had been commissioned to sell for the firm of
Rowland and Whitehouse of Brooklyn, N.Y. Adams had previously managed a drugstore in
Brooklyn for Rowland, but when it and the house he had been preparing for his family burned,
he agreed to act as a commercial factor in order to support his family. The voyage of the
Mazeppa was plagued by storms, lengthy repairs to the ship
after it was forced to return to Rio de Janeiro, and long delays in navigating around Cape
Horn. Adams helped to pass the time by writing a journal for his wife and children living in
Winthrop, Me. Some sections are addressed to the children and in them he describes details
of life at sea--what the sailors ate, where they slept, and how they were disciplined; how
to reckon the speed of the ship in knots, and the awesome responsibilities of the
captain.
Adams' arrival in San Francisco, at the height of the gold rush, began with a concentrated
period of bargaining and selling the merchandise in his cargo. By March 15 he had disposed
of the bulk of the goods, had purchased some small parcels of land, and had set up his own
drug store. (From other sources it has been determined that the store was located on
Washington St. below Kearny; that he was burned out every year until he started his fourth
store in 1853.) Adams returned to Winthrop, Me. in 1853 (probably after having been awarded
free passage to New York as an agent of the Postoffice Dept.) and returned to San Francisco
later that year with his family.
Adams was married to Philemela Johnson. They had three children--Eve, Samuel, and George
Russell Adams, who became the youngest member of the Exploring Expedition in Russian
America, 1865-1867, as described in an article by Harold F, Taggart, CHS Quarterly, 35,
291
Scope and Content
The Adams collection includes five bound journals. Two volumes the original journal; the
remaining three volumes contain typewritten or longhand copies of the original volumes. The
first volume of the original journal covers the period 4/1/49 to 6/8/49 and is entirely
devoted to the voyage. It is prefaced by a compass rose and a sketch of the Barque
Mazeppa by George E. Young, a shipmate and later a California state
senator. Volume 2 covers the period 7/14/49 to 3/18/50 and describes the end of the voyage
and Adams' first months in San Francisco. The names of the officers, crew, and passengers of
the ship appear in the back of Volume 2. Tables of latitude and longitude of the
Mazeppa from May 1, 1849 to Nov. 4, 1849 are recorded in the back
of Volume 2.
The bulk of the Adams papers comprises letters from Adams to his wife and Mrs. Adams'
letters to her son Samuel; documents relating to Adams' agreement to work for Whitehouse and
Rowland and to his attempt to become a government mail agent; and various notes and
clippings relating to family matters. Two copies of addresses by George E. Young are
included.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Girdler, John Captain
Adams, Samuel G.
Voyages to the Pacific coast
San Francisco (Calif.)--History
Diaries
Letters
Adams, Philemela
Related Material
California Historical Society Photograph Collection contains a photograph of his nephew
George Adams and his aunt, Sarah Adams.
Box-folder 1:1
A copy of the agreement drawn up between John O. Whitehouse, Charles Rowland,
and Samuel Adams whereby said partners have formed themselves together for the purpose
of shipping goods to California. Describes the terms of contract. 1/23/49
Box-folder 1:1
Designates Samuel Adams a government mail agent. 4/30/1853
Box-folder 1:1
Postmaster General awards Adams free passage to New York as agent of the
department.5/26/1853
Box-folder 1:1
Samuel Adams to Philemela Adams; New York City, 1/20/1849
Scope and Content Note
Describes his visit to the
Mazeppa preparatory to
setting sail for California and his feelings on the eye of departure--a moving and
loving letter to his wife of 10 years.
Box-folder 1:1
Samuel Adams to Philemela Adams; Rio de Janeiro, 3/20/1849
Scope and Content Note
Describes letters and journals forwarded to her, moneys sent, and advises her on
childrens' affairs; describes Rio de Janeiro; his feelings that trip could change his
attitudes.
Box-folder 1:1
Samuel Adams to Philemela Adams; San Francisco, with note appended dated May
15am
5/14/1850
Scope and Content Note
Describes his business as prospering; she is to address his letters c/o druggist,
corner Kearny and Jackson.
Box-folder 1:1
J. Wm. (?) Campbell to Dr. Samuel Adams, 7/14/1853
Scope and Content Note
Denies Adams the appointment to take charge of mail destined for San Francisco.
Box-folder 1:1
Contents of the May, 1853 mail from San Francisco to New York for steamers
Golden Gate and
Georgia;
transfer of some mail to steamers
Crescent City
and
Falcon.
Box-folder 1:2
Mrs. Adams to son Samuel; Winthrop, Me., 1/14/1852
Scope and Content Note
Concerns his illness while away from home.
Box-folder 1:2
Mrs. Adams to son Samuel; Winthrop, Me., 2/4/1852
Scope and Content Note
Describes presents his father has sent; contains separate letter to his teacher.
Box-folder 1:2
Miss Jennie Brown to pupil Samuel Adams; Salem, Mass., 5/13/1852
Scope and Content Note
Small-town news to Adams' son Samuel who has been ill.
Box-folder 1:2
Receipts for payment of school tuition for the Adams children; report card
for his son George from the City College of San Francisco. Religious awards of merit
to Samuel Adams and his son Samuel G., 1/2/1852 - 4/1/1861
Box-folder 1:3
Various letters and covers from Susie G. Job of Walpole, Mass. to Mrs. Adams,
8/14/1899 -
10/6/1901
Box-folder 1:4
Includes various family records and newspaper clippings, including one of
Adams' death in 1888 and of the death of his Son Samuel G. in 1891; a fragment of a
land-company letterhead; handwritten copies of 2 addresses by Geo. E.
Young
Box-folder 1:5
Contains a single newspaper clipping of an 1899 graduating class in which a
relative of Mrs. Adams played a part.
Box-folder 1:6
Comprises the two volumes of Adams' journal and typewritten and longhand
copies of the journal.
