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.

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.

Handwritten letter written on June 16, 1850 at "Coyota Diggins," California. The letter is written to Durfee's wife, Amanda, and describes conditions at the gold fields.

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, handwritten book drafts, ledgers, an article, and sermons by John David Gardiner, Howard's father. The drafts relate to Howard Gardiner's book "The Story of a California Pioneer," later published as "In Pursuit of the Golden Dream."