Scope and Contents Approximately 130 documents from the Biswell family of Randolph and Linn Counties in Missouri. It includes letters, financial documents, and military papers from the early 1800s, and newspapers containing family obituaries. Of particular interest are the letters written by brothers Jonathan and Norvell Biswell on their way to, and while in, the California gold fields, 1850-1852. Of the six series, the Gold Rush letters, Series 1, are the most frequently used as they convey the story of a...

Scope and Contents The core of this collection consists of 64 letters from Elisha Cotton Winchell to his parents and siblings in Missouri. Winchell moved to California from Missouri during the "Gold Rush" to establish his law practice while others were seeking riches in the gold fields. The first was written to his mother as he was making preparations to leave Missouri and the final one was to his sister shortly before his death, over 60 years later. Over half of the letters were written during his first few...

Scope and Contents Eighty-one documents from the Mead and Chandler family. The majority of the documents are handwritten letters, but there are also postmarked envelopes, indentures, payment records, marriage certificates, telegraphs, envelopes, poetry, photographs, and newspaper clippings spanning from 1824-1968. The majority of the documents pertain to the Civil War, however, the California Gold Rush and World War I are also mentioned. The letters date from 1824-1871, involving the Chandler and Mead family,...