San Francisco documents for the years 1846 thru 1988

San Francisco, CA -

Dr George Blumer relates his experience during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906

San Francisco, CA -

Donoldina Cameron account of SF quake in the The San Francisco News... The terrible earthquake shock that in one instant roused a sleeping city, spared not in its rude awakening the peacefully sleeping house at 920 Sacramento Street.

San Francisco, CA - 3 June 1846

Permit me to say, sir, that if you should find it convenient to visit the U. S. Ship Portsmouth during her stay in this port, that I, with the officers of the ship, will be most happy to see you.

San Francisco, CA - 9 June 1846

I have the honor to enclose a Requisition for supplies, made upon me by Capt. Fremont, of United States Topographical Engineers

San Francisco, CA - 10 June 1846

I feel gratified, sir, in having it in my power to forward you by Lieut. Hunter the amount of funds asked for in your name by Lieut. Gillespie, with most of the articles of store, etc.

San Francisco, CA - 26 June 1846

Castro has written to me, saying that "he had received advice from various sources, that the boats of the American ship Portsmouth go about the Bay of San Francisco armed for the purpose of examining its trade, etc."

San Francisco, CA - 1 July 1846

I have just received your note by Captain Hall, requesting, in the name of Captain Fremont, that one of the medical officers of the Portsmouth might be ordered to his command.

San Francisco, CA - 28 September 1846

I am here, anxious to know what prospect there is of your being able to recruit my thousand men for a visit to Mexico.

San Francisco, CA - 30 September 1846

You will, as soon as you are ready, proceed to sea under your sealed orders, with this modification, however : you will, on falling in with the Cyane, send her immediately to San Francisco, instead of detaining her on the coast

San Francisco, CA - 1 October 1846

On my arrival here with the Congress and Savannah in pursuit of the Walla-Walla Indians, I was glad to find that their numbers had been greatly exaggerated and that they were friendly-disposed.

San Francisco, CA - 29 April 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... I felt heartily glad to hear that we were then clearing the Faranolles

San Francisco, CA - 7 May 1848

On Friday we dined at the house of Don Luis Palo, a Californian gentleman of agreeable manners

San Francisco, CA - 8 May 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... Captain Fulsom saw the gold he had with him; it was about twenty-three ounces weight, and in small flakes

San Francisco, CA - 10 May 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... according to the newspaper here, a number of people have actually started off with shovels, mattocks, and pans to dig the gold themselves.

San Francisco, CA - 13 May 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... The gold excitement increases daily, as several fresh arrivals from the mines have been reported at San Francisco.

San Francisco, CA - 17 May 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... there is a regular gold mania springing up...

San Francisco, CA - 18 May 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... Our trip has been delayed to-day, for the saddler cannot get our equipments in readiness for at least forty-eight hours.

San Francisco, CA - 20 May 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... Several hundred people must have left here during the last few days. Malcolm and I have our baggage all in readiness to start on Monday.

San Francisco, CA - 22 May 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... On the door was pasted a paper with the following words, Gone to the diggings.

San Francisco, CA - 1 June 1848

Thomas Larkin letter to James Buchanan... I have to report to the State Department one of the most astonishing excitements and state of affairs now existing in this country, that, perhaps, has ever been brought to the notice of the Government

San Francisco, CA - 6 October 1848

J. Tyrwhitt Brooks journal entry... After receiving this intelligence, they went to the house of the first alcalde, to consult with him on what steps should be taken to arrest the robbers...

San Francisco, CA - 22 August 1849

Franklin A. Buck letter to sister... As we entered this noble Bay, with a cracking breeze, the blue devils that had been haunting us for the last month left and every countenance was radiant

San Francisco, CA - 23 August 1849

Franklin A. Buck letter to sister... The death of J. K. Polk was received here by the steamer on Saturday. On Monday all the shipping displayed their flags at half-mast and the man of war fired minute guns.

San Francisco, CA - 31 October 1849

Franklin A. Buck letter to sister... All the canvass houses have disappeared and handsome frame and brick buildings have taken their places. Several new saloons have been opened...

San Francisco, CA - 8 January 1850

Benjamin Lippincott letter to John. L. Stephens... It affords me pleasure to introduce to your acquaintance Genl. Thos. I. Green

San Francisco, CA - 14 February 1850

Enos Christman letter to Ellen Apple... This day a year ago, I little dreamed that in a twelvemonth I should have encountered the terrors of Cape Horn, and after many days of severe suffering, reached the shores of this golden land...

San Francisco, CA - 15 February 1850

Enos Christman journal entry... Tuesday, February 12th, we were landed with our baggage on the beach at a place called Happy Valley, about a mile east of the city

San Francisco, CA - 20 February 1850

Enos Christman journal entry... We are detained here in Happy Valley, keeping ourselves in readiness to attend the landing of our freight.

San Francisco, CA - 22 February 1850

Enos Christman journal entry... This being Washington's birthday anniversary, the flags of the shipping were floating all day and guns were fired at regular intervals.

San Francisco, CA - 24 February 1850

Enos Christman journal entry... Early this morning the body of a dead man was found near our tent, no unusual occurrence.

San Francisco, CA - 27 February 1850

Enos Christman journal entry... The air is very cold and piercing and the distant hills across the bay are covered with snow. Last evening it commenced raining and hailing and continued all night and this forenoon

San Francisco, CA - 4 March 1850

Enos Christman journal entry... I have done the last clothes washing I intend to do before getting to the diggings.

San Francisco, CA - 15 November 1850

Alonzo Delano letter... DIG, dig, dig, and so I did, till I dug two thousand dollars and over, but hang me if I didn't dig it out of pocket instead of in.

San Francisco, CA - 1 December 1850

Franklin A. Buck letter to sister... I have not seen Captain Phillips but I think of going a voyage with him in the Schooner Columbia. I want to do something until next Spring...

San Francisco, CA - 15 January 1851

Alonzo Delano letter... ONE year ago this day I was hard at work in the Feather River mountains, in building a fireplace and finishing off a comfortable cabin on a claim which I had taken up, with the bright anticipation that at the present writing I

San Francisco, CA - 1 April 1851

Alonzo Delano letter to the Free Trader... Don't you want to come to California? Don't you want to get rich? Do not the piles which we are taking out excite your acquisitiveness?

San Francisco, CA - 13 June 1851

Alonzo Delano letter... Night before last a man was caught with a safe which he had stolen. He was seized, tried by the citizens fairly and impartially, found guilty, and hung before daylight

San Francisco, CA - 1 August 1851

Alonzo Delano letter... The Vigilance Committee were looked upon as the true purifiers of society, instead of the courts; yet in no case did the former impede the acts of the latter in its administration of justice; its only aim was to punish speedil

San Francisco, CA - 3 June 1853

W.T. Sherman letter to brother John Sherman...Large brick and granite houses fill the site where stood the poor, contemptible village

San Francisco, CA - 30 November 1854

W.T. Sherman letter to brother John Sherman...I have seen by the papers that you are elected to Congress.

San Francisco, CA - 5 November 1855

Benjamin Lippincott letter to his friend Houghton... In relation to the matter of the young man we spoke of, Mr. Broderick has told me if you will forward to him or to Gov. Bigler the recommendation to mercy in his favor, it shall be promply attended

San Francisco, CA - 20 March 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to brother John Sherman...I see you are placed on the Committee of Foreign Relations

San Francisco, CA - 18 May 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to Henry S. Turner... This steamer will bring you news of most distressing character, growing out of the shooting of James King of William, editor of the Evening Bulletin, by Casey, editor of the Sunday Times

San Francisco, CA - 21 May 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to Thomas Ewing... I take it for granted you will be sufficiently alarmed at the condition of affairs here as reported by the papers...

San Francisco, CA - 6 June 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to General J. E. Wool... I was surprised beyond measure to hear yesterday from Colonel Rowe, who brought me a copy of Governor Johnson's letter to you of June 4, that you expressed a determination not to risk the issuance of arms

San Francisco, CA - 9 June 1856

W.T. Sherman letter Card to the Public on Resigning His Commission

San Francisco, CA - 16 June 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to Thomas Ewing... Governor Johnson stated that in the discharge of his duties as chief executive of the State it might become necessary for him to call out the militia to enforce the laws

San Francisco, CA - 2 July 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to Henry S. Turner... The last advices explained the condition of public affairs up to the 20th ult., at which time the Vigilance Committee were in full blast.

San Francisco, CA - 7 July 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to Henry S. Turner... The Vigilance Committee is in full blast, still exercising full control; has Judge Terry in their power, and, had the man Hopkins died, they would have hung him

San Francisco, CA - 7 July 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to brother John Sherman...The Vigilance Committee is in full blast

San Francisco, CA - 3 August 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to Henry S. Turner... Here in this country the democratic, common element prevails to such a degree that, as you will have observed, the influence of the Governor, .Mayor, and all the executive authority has been utterly disregard

San Francisco, CA - 3 August 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to brother John Sherman...Here in this country the Democratic a mob element prevails

San Francisco, CA - 19 August 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to... It is pretty generally acceded to that Terry's friends in the committee had to log-roll and stuff the box in order to save him.

San Francisco, CA - 19 August 1856

W.T. Sherman letter to brother John Sherman...The city of San Francisco, where all these alleged frauds were committed, voted against Johnson.

San Francisco, CA - 1 June 1863

mark twain writes to his mother and sister from san francisco

San Francisco, CA - 10 October 1869

Harvey Rice travel letter... The moment we stepped on the wharf, we were surrounded by an army of noisy and uproarious backmen, who contended with each other manifully for the prizes, or rather for the victims.

San Francisco, CA - 20 October 1869

Harvey Rice travel letter... The more I see of this city the more I am surprised with its peculiarities, nationalities, and novelties. It is a modern Rome, built on not only seven, but seventy times seven hills.

San Francisco, CA - 30 October 1869

Harvey Rice travel letter... A man may live here for fifty cents a day, or at the rate of five dollars a day, and so far as food is concerned about equally well at either price.

San Francisco, CA - 5 November 1869

Harvey Rice travel letter... There are so many pleasant spots, villas and towns, in the vicinity of San Francisco, that it is quite impossible for me to describe the half of them.

San Francisco, CA - 5 December 1869

Harvey Rice travel letter... Almost everybody here is a speculator, especially in San Francisco, where they are constantly engaged in speculating among themselves in city lots.

San Francisco, CA - 7 December 1869

Harvey Rice travel letter... And now let me say, if you want to see a new world, go to California. You can go by rail from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in seven to eight days, running night and day, at the rate of about twenty-five miles an hour.

San Francisco, CA - 1 January 1879

gold certificates described in catalog of historical goods for sale

San Francisco, CA - 18 April 1906

Thomas Jefferson Chase, a Ferry Building ticket clerk memory of the 1906 S.F. Quake... I had reached about halfway to Howard on the west side of First Street when I heard a low distant rumble. It was coming from the west. louder and louder.

San Francisco, CA - 23 April 1906

Earnest H. Adams letter to employers Messrs. Reed & Barton... Here we are all paupers together, but we have our grit left.

San Francisco, CA - 25 April 1906

eleanor watkins personal account of the san francisco earthquake

San Francisco, CA - 25 April 1906

orsamus cole personal account of 1906 san francisco quake

San Francisco, CA - 1 June 1906

Peter Bacigalupi letter to the publication Edison Phonograph Monthly... On the morning of the 18th of April I was awakened from a sound slumber by a terrific trembling, which acted in the same manner as would a bucking broncho

San Francisco, CA - 2 June 1906

Emma Burke account of 1906 SF quake to Overlook Magazine... No one can comprehend the calamity to San Francisco in its entirety.

San Francisco, CA - 21 September 1918

jessie endsley enrolls in the united states naval reserve force

San Francisco, CA - 28 September 1920

sumner theller receives letter from his mother

San Francisco, CA - 7 March 1935

letter of refferal from bucyrus-erie company for jessie endsley

San Francisco, CA - 22 May 1935

letter of reference from the marion steam shovel company

San Francisco, CA - 20 March 1939

letter of reference from american-hawaiian steamship company

San Francisco, CA - 19 September 1988

DeWitt C. Baldwin as related to Ana Maria P. de Jesus... At about five fifteen, I had gotten as far as sitting up with my feet over the side of the bed when totally unexpectedly the house began to shake violently.