Handwritten letter dated March 22, 1853, addressed to "Brother and Sister," and written in Mud Springs, California. Atmore writes about leaving his home in Michigan and going to California in search of gold and becoming a farmer there. He also describes California and the problems in looking for gold there.

ALS's which trace the emigration of a small group of related families from Ralls County, Missouri to California. The bulk of the letters are from Robert C. Briggs and John M. Kelley to John C. Briggs of Missouri. The letters give an overview of life, economics, and politics in California previous to, during, and following the Civil War years giving insights into family progress, squabbles, and the unhappiness of their Negro slaves in California.

Three handwritten letters from the gold fields of California. These items are dated Oct. 20, 1852, Feb. 28, 1854, and Nov. 25, 1854. They were written respectively from Weaverville; Rough & Rady, Nevada County; and Rattlesnake Bar, Placer County. The letters are addressed to Brokaw's wife, Matilda, in McConnelsville, Morgan Co., Ohio, and primarily discuss family matters, friends, and George Brokaw's loneliness. The Feb. 1854 letter quotes food prices in Rough & Rady.

One handwritten autobiography by Chamberlin, one handwritten history of the early discoveries and settlement of California condensed from various authors, and miscellaneous items. Chamberlin talks about his youth, his various travels, and his encounters with Native Americans.

Handwritten and signed letters addressed to family members. Coruth writes about his mining activities in Merced County, California, and about family matters. William forcefully admonishes his son, Robert, not to enlist in the army at the outset of the American Civil War. He also advises Robert not to come to California because of low wages and harsh living conditions.

Printed and signed invoice of stores used in the building of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Typed transcript of letters written by Engle while voyaging to California in 1853. The letters are addressed to family members and describe Engles' voyage by sea to Panama, the crossing of the isthmus there, his voyage by sea to California, and life in San Francisco and the nearby mining communities.

Handwritten and signed correspondence. The items were written by Hadden and others who were probably family members. The materials relate activities in the gold fields of California and also tell about activities during the Civil War. Also included is a printed poem about the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864.

Handwritten and signed letters. Hartford was originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and later went to the gold fields of California. He writes to his family from various towns and mining camps in California and describes his life and activities there.

Handwritten and signed letters. These items are dated between Feb. 26, 1860 and June 9, 1861 and are addressed to members of Johnson's family. Most of the letters concern Johnson's life and travels, especially his journey to California and his subsequent employment there as an attorney. He describes his trip through Panama to San Francisco, and makes several comments on his general impression of California both physically annd morally.