1900-1902

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Header Record

Title: [Collections of 129 items concerning the Alaska gold rush] [decimalized]

Writes to his wife Clara about his experiences during the Alaska gold rush, many of the letters from Nome.

GLC05755

15 May 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

re: Describing the view; explaining his job. He misses her and everyone else. He'll be home soon.

GLC05755.004

11 June 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

re: Gives A to Z, descriptions on the city of Nome. And how things are there.

GLC05755.006

29 June 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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 are going to do. We will live but that is about all. Men up here are getting in such desperate straits, they have begun to rob and murder [. . . .] We sleep with our revolvers right where we can get our hands on them [. . . .]" Mentions pneumonia epidemic among Indians at Safety; describes beauties in the wilds: "it makes you awe stricken to…

GLC05755.010

3 August 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

"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 cared for the former & working man. He said it was myself I ought to look after not others, that is a nice speech for a person to make and especially one who claims to be a Christian." Mentions how rains have flooded other miners. Says his brother will take a sledge that winter but he will carry to mail [?] 250 miles to avoid starving.

GLC05755.012

16 August 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

re: Describes weathers and scenery. Explains how he dreads winter, speaks of liberty.

GLC05755.013

23 August 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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 or gamble. Recommends a place called "The Pride of Yukon". Complains about the mail.

GLC05755.014

30 August 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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 amusement or anything. Simply work, work, work." Mentions buying provisions in quantity.

GLC05755.016

13 September 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

re: Describes daily routine (breakfast, work, supper). rowing a boat with "a greenhorn."

GLC05755.019

30 September 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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 go into any of the saloons or gambling houses and see the women gambling and mixing with the men and in some of them they run the tables." Mr. McTaggart took photographs of their camp. He loves her. How he learned to make pies by just doing it.

GLC05755.020

4 October 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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 blood flow and tingle."

GLC05755.023

8 November 1900

Sherzer, Edwin B., fl. 1900-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clara M. Miller

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…" Describes the beautiful night.

GLC05755.024