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[Collections of 129 items concerning the Alaska gold rush] [decimalized]
1900-1902
Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902
Writes to his wife Clara about his experiences during the Alaska gold rush, many of the letters from Nome.
GLC05755
to Clara M. Miller
15 May 1900
re: Describing the scenery and the mood like the houses that covered are with heavy snow, Indian creeks that are streaming down the bay.
GLC05755.001
19 May 1900
re: The moment he arrived, he didn't see any sign of life. But then later he saw 200 Indians and 25 whites and they were his roommates.
GLC05755.002
27 May 1900
re: Very descriptive about the scenery around him--is ship journey, Russian Orthodox Church ceremony with Indian boy choir. Encounters with some Indians
GLC05755.003
1 June 1900
re: Describing the view; explaining his job. He misses her and everyone else. He'll be home soon.
GLC05755.004
11 June 1900
Red ink, and written recto only. re: Daily activities on the boat and off the boat. Wrote about the animals(skin), roommates(seasick), Indians and the scenery (Monarch Island, glacier).
GLC05755.005
22 June 1900
re: Gives A to Z, descriptions on the city of Nome. And how things are there.
GLC05755.006
29 June 1900
written recto only. re: Wrote about how, he and his roommates got settled in the woods. What they did all day (played roulette, climbed, haunted). How much he getting paid.
GLC05755.007
11 July 1900
re: Newsy letter from his wife. Talks about his sister and brother and how they are. And a company where his brother works in. All of sudden, Talks about Gods and stuff. But then later talks about some dog which supposed to make Clara jealous.
GLC05755.008
17 July 1900
re: S. Newman Sherzer (writing for his brother, who has traveled to Port Safety) intends to stay in Alaska for two more weeks. A mention about the weather says it is fine. Hopes the [street]car strike is over so he can sympathize with Miss Eva.
GLC05755.009
27 July 1900
Says he was on a "prospecting tour." Says she wouldn't recognize him with bronzed hands, two weeks' beard, etc. Prices & problems making money: "I feel very much disheartened and discouraged and if things do not turn out better I don't know what we...
GLC05755.010
3 August 1900
with postscript containing verses. re: Conflicts about the arrival of the letters. Describes a storm in detail. Talks about his sister growing up, and talks about his appearance and also how he feels.
GLC05755.011
10 August 1900
"I hope when I get back home I will not have forgotten how to be gay, but every thing is so dreadfully solemn up here [. . . .]" Talks about a politician, "Mr. Johnson," who asked him "to vote for McK [inley] in the last election and asked me what I...
GLC05755.012
16 August 1900
re: Describes weathers and scenery. Explains how he dreads winter, speaks of liberty.
GLC05755.013
23 August 1900
re: describes weather. Says "it reminds me of our Indian Summer all except the nights which are quite cold". Talks about grace. A women he does not like, tells Clara to inform him about her younger sister, doesn't like saloons. Doesn't like to drink...
GLC05755.014
30 August 1900
They have built their cabin, which consists of one room 10 x 12. Describes dog team. Remarks that with old, soiled clothes "I never though I would look so tough."
GLC05755.015
6 September 1900
Alludes to a secret; says he is "perfectly willing to wait several years as you said" and tells her that he went to Alaska, because it was the only place, a man could find work, "but it is a dogs life and you might as well be buried, no pleasure, no...
GLC05755.016
13 September 1900
A dreadful storm raging; fear of being flooded. Two postscripts, one mentioning having their dogs live in the cabin and one, dated 9/14, saying the storm is over and everything is okay.
GLC05755.017
20 September 1900
re: Very horrible weather but has changed for the better in recent day. Speaks about his cabin, expects to hear about Miss Eva. Likes Clare's letters cheerful letters.
GLC05755.018
27 September 1900
re: Describes daily routine (breakfast, work, supper). rowing a boat with "a greenhorn."
GLC05755.019
30 September 1900
Addressed to "Dear Pitty." Good letter mentions "the little stamp photos" form his mother. Talks about mud and spills, a lady getting stuck in mud. Mentions saloons and gambling: "This place is certainly awful for disreputable characters, you can...
GLC05755.020
4 October 1900
re: Waiting for chilling blast. Raining hard. Daily activities like chop woods and feed the dogs. He has luxury meals once in a while. Also he saw article about "horrors of Cape Nome." Remembers his wife's and his relatives.
GLC05755.021
11 October 1900
re: Received her letter. Very descriptive about the weather. Describes dogs and dog fights. Talks little about their new house. Got little emotional about each other's feelings.
GLC05755.022
18 October 1900
re: Dog injuries. Robberies. Skating people. Making caps (with drawings). Detailed weather report. And says "The past 4 or 5 days have been very beautiful indeed and the atmosphere is very clean and bracing it puts new life in one and makes your...
GLC05755.023
8 November 1900
re: Doing both of their assessment work. Detailed weather reports and very detailed daily activities (how they catch fish). Mentioned little about an election in the place where he works. "They did have little election for corporation up here…"...
GLC05755.024
30 November 1900
re: States that coldest day was couple of days before he wrote this letter and it was bad for him. Despite the very cold weather he's been comfortable with everything. Detailed weather report. Describes the sheltered feeling that he is having. And...
GLC05755.025
5 December 1900
re: He is leaving to Good Hope Bay for a month or two. The group was supposed to leave that day but was postponed because of a blizzard. He had his picture taken with the dogs. Mentions all the dogs' names. Also mentions the accounts of the day the...
GLC05755.026
January 25, 1901
re: Blizzard, igloo, traveling. He has been away for 7 weeks and returned to his cabin for the first time. Tells his story of the seven weeks he spent in Good Hope Bay. Describes an Igloo. Got lost. Had an account with some native. Mentions how the...
GLC05755.027
February 3, 1901
re: Traveling with his buddies describes how it was awful. Complains about the postal system because her letter is not getting is not getting through. He misses her, saying "Clara, life would be empty to me with out you."
GLC05755.028
February 10, 1901
re: Finally received bunch of letter from her. Letting her informed, that when he received all the letters. Discusses some downside and upside about he came to Alaska. Asking what is going on in St. Louise, and letting her know what is going on Nome...
GLC05755.029
February 17, 1901
re: Temperatures have reached 48 degrees below zero. Detailed weather report. Dislikes how he dislikes washing and sewing. Explains what he wears in details. Complains about her people gambling. Thinks about the past and hope and preys for that can...
GLC05755.030
February 24, 1901
re: Detailed weather report, and his quest to find after the storm. Explains the situation with the mail. And also explains why his clothes stops him from going to church.
GLC05755.031
3 March 1901
re: Very upset, his brother came back and he received the 2 missing letters between him and his brother. Thinks the letter is dull and uninteresting.
GLC05755.032
10 March 1901
He has received great amount of letters. He believes that he won't have to answer them all. Wants a good picture of Clara in "good size". Explains his confrontation with a man, which he did not enjoy.
GLC05755.033
24 March 1901
(pp. 2 and 5 written vertically on inner leaves; takes 3 months to get letters). re: Loved the pictures that Clara sent him. Looks at the pictures about 20 times a day. Remembers the good old times. Writes with much affection towards Clara. Tries to...
GLC05755.034
March 31, 1901
re: Remembers what happened a year ago. Spent his Christmas and New Years, had lovely time. Mentions taking a position in the post office. Discusses a wedding.
GLC05755.035
7 April 1901
re: Easter. Weddings. Misses Clara very much and wants to see her. Asks Clara to marry him as soon as he comes home. Describes the church where he went on Easter. Hopes Clara visits Philadelphia. Writes to Clara about Mr. Flanagan.
GLC05755.036
14 April 1901
re: Clara informs him about what is going an St. Louis. He is concerned about Clara's health and hopes she is feeling alright.
GLC05755.037
21 April 1901
re: Only saloon seems to make money. He has been informed of a good investment in a saloons, he is not very interested though. Talks a about a man who came on the boat, and went "on a drunk".
GLC05755.038
26 May 1901
re: A birthday letters to her. Wishes Clara all the best wishes and love. Received 4 letters from her. Wants to save enough money to get married with Clara. A big fire took over Nome. Writes about the mail detail.
GLC05755.039
3 June 1901
re: Longs for reading matter and to see her. Working night and day. He sent her a pictures and gave her some letters to Miss Nettie from his brother. Talks little about summons. Also about Miss Nettie.
GLC05755.040
9 June 1901
re: Drizzling and raining for about a week. They are both working in post office, how misses her, how? Explains it in details. " I simply have to tell you how I feel…". Clipped verse, [poem] "Only You".
GLC05755.041
16 June 1901
re: No boats because insurance companies wouldn't cover. Temperature was dull. No boats arrived in 2 weeks that meant no mail. Describes a huge ice blockade, which covered a whole town. Talks a little about a senator from Seattle, and that lot ships...
GLC05755.042
22 June 1901
En. has long note dated 7 a.m. 7-1901. re: He is waiting for the next boat to arrive. He is concerned about his sister's health. He is glad to find out that Clara is recovering from the mumps. Tells Clara not to worry because he is staying...
GLC05755.043
12 July 1901
re: He answers Clara's declaration that she wrote in her previous letter. Writes about the location of a fair in St. Louis.
GLC05755.044
19 July 1901
Remnants of flower. re: Received a letter from Clara from June 29. Writes about the Worlds Fair sight.
GLC05755.045
2 August 1901
re: It has been 3 weeks since a boat has landed in Nome. There is a rumor that the engineers are on strike. Writes about the best native in Nome.
GLC05755.046
9 August 1901
re: Anxious to get those letters, but the ships didn't arrived. Talks about the weather for while. But then he mentions the Senator from Seattle. Then he says "This state affairs has made it quite dull at the post office….".
GLC05755.047
11 August 1901
re: He is very glad to have received letters from Clara. Mentions the Fourth of July two years ago. He will be by himself for a while because his brother will be going to St. Louis.
GLC05755.048
16 August 1901
re: He thanks Clara for the article that he received. Detailed weather report. Hopes the hot spell ends in St. Louis. Asks about the Worlds Fair.
GLC05755.049
18 August 1901
re: Writes about what is going on in St. Louis. Explains what he is going to eat for supper.
GLC05755.050
22 August 1901
Explains the situation at the post office. Talks about the bad weather in Alaska.
GLC05755.051
29 August 1901
re: The pictures are fine that she sent. Describes the beauty of Alaskan Mother Nature. "To night is a beautiful moon brightnight and all is still…" He mentions about inditing Mr. Wright and testifying before the grand jury.
GLC05755.052
3 September 1901
GLC05755.053
8 September 1901
Includes note dated 9/9 with photo of two men in front of tent with huskies.
GLC05755.054
14 September 1901
GLC05755.055
22 September 1901
GLC05755.056
29 September 1901
GLC05755.057
4 October 1901
GLC05755.058
13 October 1901
GLC05755.059
25 October 1901
GLC05755.060
28 October 1901
GLC05755.061
4 November 1901
GLC05755.062
10 November 1901
GLC05755.063
17 November 1901
Preparations for Thanksgiving.
GLC05755.064
24 November 1901
Trying to sell dogs but regrets it as they are affectionate.
GLC05755.065
30 November 1901
Describes Thanksgiving menu.
GLC05755.066
7 December 1901
GLC05755.067
14 December 1901
Lost his lead dog. His bad luck. Encloses small dried flowers tied with thread.
GLC05755.068
29 December 1901
Accompanied by a seventh page: "Xmas 1901. Bill of Fare." A holiday dinner menu which includes "ptarmigan" (a type of arctic grouse, also known as rock or white grouse).
GLC05755.070
5 January 1902
A shocking trick he played on a "native" with a batter(?).
GLC05755.071
January 12, 1902
GLC05755.072
January 19, 1902
GLC05755.073
January 26, 1902
Getting news of the Boer War; Dreamed he had married her.
GLC05755.074
February 1, 1902
GLC05755.075
February 9, 1902
GLC05755.076
February 16, 1902
Lots of mail received. Dull. Only he and one other man keep regular hours. Answers her questions. Hopes to return.
GLC05755.077
February 28, 1902
GLC05755.078
7 March 1902
GLC05755.079
5 April 1902
"I hope you will not find me changed but I don't know. I feel the winter has been very hard on me and you may find me more sedate and serious than I was." Longs for spring; suffers anxiety about his mother and feels depressed. "I feel like a man...
GLC05755.080
20 April 1902
Getting over depression. Miss Netty's fault is meddling with other people. He gets teased for writing so many letters.
GLC05755.081
27 April 1902
Comments that "Nome has seen her best days and is a good place to get out of now."
GLC05755.082
4 May 1902
GLC05755.083
11 May 1902
GLC05755.084
18 May 1902
GLC05755.085
28 May 1902
GLC05755.086
1 June 1902
GLC05755.087
8 June 1902
Started work at post office.
GLC05755.088
14 June 1902
Things are brightening up. Thanks for letters and books.
GLC05755.089
18 June 1902
GLC05755.090
22 June 1902
GLC05755.091
5 July 1902
GLC05755.092
9 July 1902
GLC05755.093
13 July 1902
Bad weather. "Don't worry yourself about me working myself to death. I don't do enough to kill anybody."
GLC05755.094
17 July 1902
Pretty dull. Boats arriving.
GLC05755.095
20 July 1902
A delegation from Congress to visit. Cute postscript.
GLC05755.096
26 July 1902
GLC05755.097
6 October 1902
A American-Russian Company to develop Atlantic. Has made an arrangement to go home.
GLC05755.098
11 October 1902
Bad storm.
GLC05755.099
19 October 1902
Will leave on the "Senator" for San Francisco.
GLC05755.100
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