Holograph diary (44 pages) written retrospectively (ca. 1905) from Brown's diaries, letters, and account books, and covering the years 1845 to 1882. Following a short description of his early life in Virginia and the East, Brown lists his accounts for each year from 1858 to 1882, and writes brief entries commenting on his personal and employment experiences during each year. The volume documents Brown's travel from New York to San Francisco in 1858; his voyages as a sailor to Hong Kong, Panama, and Honolulu (1858-1860); and his work for the San Francisco Sugar Refinery, the San Francisco Gas Company, and as a stencil cutter (1860-1867). The entries of 1867 to 1882 document his work for mining companies in Jefferson City, Montana; Eureka, Nevada; Inyo and Lake Counties, California; and Leadville and Ten Mile, Colorado. Brown describes the effects of the Civil War on his family in Virginia, the problems he encountered as a Southerner in the West, as well as events in San Francisco including the earthquake of 1875, and the anti-Chinese riots and diptheria epidemic of 1877. He comments on his experiences with American Indians during his travels in the West, and describes incidents in which he was involved during his employment with mining companies. Accompanying the volumes are seven letters to Brown from Alex Fisher of Leadville, Colorado, regarding the Wheel of Fortune mine (1880 Feb 3-23); two letters from John Crabb Galloway regarding his voyage from San Francisco to Queenstown, Ireland (1883 Oct 15-1884 Feb 21); a bill of sale for dry goods purchased by Brown in Eureka, Nevada in 1874; an undated list of books in Brown's hand; and a certificate of promotion from 4th to 5th grade by the Healdsburg (California) Public Schools for Keysie Brown dated 1888 Jun 1.
