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Finding Aid to the Samuel W. Brown Diary and Letters, 1848-1850, 1859 MS 236
MS 236  
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Table of contents What's This?

Inventory

Folder 1

Diary 1849

Folder 2

Letters 1848-1850, 1859

 

1848 October 13

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife, Hannah, before journey to California. Poem praising God's work.
 

1849 March 28

Scope and Content Note

Memorandum of agreement regarding shares in Fremont Mining & Trading Co.
 

1849 April 10

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife concerning life insurance as Brown prepares to set sail for California.
 

1849 April 15

Scope and Content Note

SWB to son, Mason, detailing commencement of journey, seasickness, etc.
 

1849 May 9

Scope and Content Note

SWB to family from Rio de Janeiro, including pen and ink sketches of Cape Verde Islands, as seen from the Bark Selma.
 

1849 June 14

Scope and Content Note

Short vignette of Brown's experiences as a physician in Connecticut, "Reminiscences No. 2: The Factory Girl, By a Voyager 'Round Cape Horn". Brown hoped his wife could get it published.
 

1849 August

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife, recounts trouble with drunken, abusive officers on ship.
 

1849 August-September

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife, describing coast of Chile, visits there with friends from Connecticut. Calls journal he's keeping a "daily record of events, thoughts and feelings".
 

1849 October 1

Scope and Content Note

SWB to board of directors of Fremont Mining & Trading Company, detailing disciplinary action taken against crew members in July.
 

1849 October 7

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife from San Francisco harbor, describing port and city.
 

1849 October 18

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife regarding cost of living in San Francisco
 

1849 October 20

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife describing Benicia, Sacramento Valley. Outlines advantages of life in California--good climate, terrain, outlawing of slavery.
 

1849 November 9

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife on cost of living.
 

1849 November 20

Scope and Content Note

SWB to friend, providing excellent physical description of San Francisco. Observations on housing, lynch law, prices, population statistics
 

1849 November 29

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife from diggings on American River. Poignant episode with Indians. Vivid description of primitive living conditions of miners.
 

1850 January 8

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife in despair. Has not heard from her; reports on devastating flood of Sacramento.
 

1850 January 25, February 1

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife concerning his resignation from executive board of Fremont Mining & Trading Co. Resolves to mine only long enough to secure a stake. Plans to set up medical practice in San Francisco.
 

1850 February 16

Scope and Content Note

SWB to son, written on lettersheet with view of San Francisco, Feb. 1850. Gold going for $16 an ounce.
 

1850 August 14

Scope and Content Note

SWB to wife details trouble in Sacramento. Land speculators allegedly bought deed from Capt. Sutter which included city of Sacramento. Riots break out as "squattors" refuse to leave their land.
 

1859 May 25

Scope and Content Note

Document indicating Brown was postmaster in Petaluma.