Correspondence of Dwight Plympton Conklin, 1849-1857.

ArchivalResource

Conklin, Dwight Plympton. Correspondence of Dwight Plympton Conklin, 1849-1857.

Correspondence of Dwight Plympton Conklin, 1849-1857.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/669861941

The collection consists of 16 letters, 14 by Dwight Conklin, one by his cousin Henry B. Janes and one by Henry's brother Horace P. Janes all of which are rich with descriptions of economic and social life in the Sierra county gold camps and Gold Rush San Francisco, with the exception of one, which was written before Conklin emigrated to California. Conklin's letters from Downieville contain detailed descriptions of prices of commodities and working conditions in the Sierra county Gold camps, as well as colorful descriptions of events such as a pistol duel. Conklin's San Francisco letters are largely focused on quotidian family issues, but include occasional commentaries on social issues. The letters include observations about the efficiency of the San Francisco Fire Department, a lengthy rumination on the mixture of races in the city, including a racist invective against the African Americans living there, a discussion of the social unrest in the local Chinese community spurred by the Taiping Rebellion in China, mention of the famed shipwreck of the steamer Yankee Blade and a description of the water shortage which plagued the Northern gold camps in 1855. The letters of Henry and Horace Janes both contain detailed ruminations on the actions of the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance of 1856. Henry's letter, which has a tone of California boosterism in all its descriptions, describes the committee as a regrettable necessity, whereas Horace condemns it as an affront to democracy.

16 letters.

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