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David L. Gardiner letters : California, to his family : ALS, 1849-1850.
BANC MSS 2006/127LOCAL
Collection Overview

Title:

David L. Gardiner letters: California, to his family : ALS, 1849-1850

Creator/Contributor:

Gardiner, David L., creator

Creator/Contributor:

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Creator/Contributor:

Gardiner, Juliana McLachlan, 1799-1864

Creator/Contributor:

Gardiner, Alexander, 1818-1851

Abstract:

Contains 28 letters to his mother, Juliana Gardiner, his brother Alexander Gardiner and two to his brother-in-law, former President John Tyler. The letters describe his journey from New York across Mexico to the gold fields of California in 1849; life in early San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego; the California Constitutional Convention and politics; slavery; the people he encounters including Native Californians, Chinese, and African-Americans; the economy, including being a merchant, agriculture and whale hunting; and health conditions.

Date:

1849 (issued)

Subject:

n-us-ca -- n-mx---
Voyages to the Pacific coast -- Personal narratives
Gold mines and mining -- California
Slavery -- United States -- Extension to the territories
Indians of North America -- California -- History -- 19th century
Chinese -- California -- History -- 19th century
African Americans -- California -- History -- 19th century
Agriculture -- California -- History -- 19th century
Merchants -- California -- San Diego
Whaling -- California -- History
Gold miners -- California -- Correspondence
Voyages vers la côte du Pacifique -- Récits personnels
Esclavage -- États-Unis -- Extension aux États libres
Chinois -- Californie -- Histoire -- 19e siècle
Noirs américains -- Californie -- Histoire -- 19e siècle
Agriculture -- Californie -- Histoire -- 19e siècle
Commerçants -- Californie -- San Diego
Baleines -- Chasse -- Californie -- Histoire
African Americans
Agriculture
Chinese
Economic history
Gold miners
Gold mines and mining
Indians of North America
Merchants
Politics and government
Slavery -- Extension to the territories
Travel
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Whaling
Mexico -- Description and travel
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Sacramento (Calif.) -- Description and travel
San Diego (Calif.) -- Description and travel
California -- Politics and government -- 1846-1850
California -- Economic conditions -- 19th century
California -- History -- 1846-1850
Mexique -- Descriptions et voyages
Californie -- Politique et gouvernement -- 1846-1850
Californie -- Conditions économiques -- 19e siècle
Californie -- Histoire -- 1846-1850
California
California -- Sacramento
California -- San Diego
California -- San Francisco
Mexico
United States
California. -- Constitutional Convention -- (1849)
Gardiner, David L -- Correspondence
Constitutional Convention (California : 1849)

Note:

Purchase; From William Reese Company; in 2006.
David L. Gardiner was the son of David Gardiner, a lawyer and New York State Senator, and Juliana McLachlan, the wealthy heiress of a Scottish brewer. His sister Julia, married President John Tyler in 1844. David L. Gardiner was in the first American Gold Rush company to travel to the Pacific by crossing Mexico. He was among the earliest Easterners to arrive in San Francisco, in Apr. 1849 and was the first merchant in the new city of San Diego in 1850.
Preferred citation: David L. Gardiner letters: California, to his family, BANC MSS 2006/127, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
In English.

Type:

History.
Personal narratives.
Personal correspondence.

Physical Description:

print
1 box (.2 linear ft.)

Language:

English

Identifier:

BANC MSS 2006/127LOCAL

Origin:

No place, unknown, or undetermined