Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline “Paul” Starkey Wells in Woodside, CA to her brother, Edward “Ned” Starkey. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Paul thinks Ned would enjoy California and wishes he could be there with her. All the animals on the ranch respond to their names, and the dogs, cats, and chickens all eat out of the same dish without any fuss. They have not gone horseback riding yet because Addie has had a sore throat and Paul doesn’t have a riding skirt. However Addie is...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline "Paul" Starkey Wells in Woodside, Ca to her brother, George G. Starkey. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Paul appreciated receiving Goerge’s letter with illustrations upon her arrival in California. She has now seen sage brush, antelopes, prairie dogs, and a bear. Aunt Em seems pleased that her niece travelled across the country with the family of Senator Sargent. Paul enjoyed the Sargent’s company very much; Ella Sargent is “pretty, and full or...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline "Paulie" Starkey Wells in Woodside, Ca to her brother, "Dear old Georgie Boy." Although the letter is dated 1875, context clues indicate it was very almost certainly written in 1876. Paulie received a letter from their father yesterday instructing her to figure out how much the travel home will cost. He will send the money, and she may return home at the first opportunity. Uncle Robert will find out the information tomorrow in ‘Frisco. She doesn’t know...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline Starkey Wells in Woodside, Ca to her “folks” at home. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Letter cuts off mid-sentence, indicating that a page is missing. Pauline has finally arrived at her destination in California. She recounts her journey by train across the US, including seeing mountains, trees, prairies, rivers, and a few cities. Names mentioned: the Sargents, Ella (Sargent) Places Mentioned: Alleghenies, Chicago, Ind. (Indiana), Ill....

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline “Paul” Starkey Wells in Washington, D. C. to her “sister,” Morleena (no surname given). No records have been found for a “Morleena Starkey,” indicating Morleena may have been a cousin or close family friend. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Paul departs for the “Far West” this evening. Mother will likely return home tomorrow, so Morleena should be on good behavior. Paul asks Morleena to save the St. Nicholases for her to read when she comes home....

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline “Paul” Starkey Wells in Woodside to her sister, Theodora Starkey Smith. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Paul writes about her journey to California and seeing Aunt Em and Uncle Robert’s ranch. By Thursday evening, she felt at home with the Sargents, who invited her to visit them in Washington. Uncle Robet is funny and nice, Addie is unchanged and could benefit from city life, and Aunt Em does not look quite so large, but is still just as jolly....

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Rev. Rudolph L. Tafel in London to John Pitcairn Jr. Tafel hopes J. Pitcairn and W. Childs have arrived safely back in Paris after their long and interesting journey. He and his wife look forward to receiving them in London for a long stay before they return to America. His wife has recovered from an illness, and they are both beginning to feel the “good effects” of the trip through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Their time with Pitcairn and Childs has renewed...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Robert M. Glenn at the Golden Hotel, London, to his parents Benjamin F. Glenn and Mary Aitken Glenn. R Glenn recounts his visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The outside was dingy and almost black from smoke. The inside was better but not very grand. Glenn notes the stained glass, 300 ft high dome, the statuary, and the very good boys’ choir. After the service, they went down into the crypt and saw the tomb of the Duke of Wellington, complete with his coronet,...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Robert M. Glenn in London to his mother, Mary Aitken Glenn (1819-1896). R Glenn writes that he arrived in London after a five-hour carriage ride from Liverpool. He, Ernest, and another New Churchman from New York named William A. Tenney (?) paid extra for a private carriage ride, and they amused themselves with talking, singing, and playing cards. They arrived at Shriley’s Temperance Hotel where they only spent one night because there was “a death-like stillness about...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Robert M. Glenn at Hotel Mirabeau, Paris to his mother, Mary Aitken Glenn (1819-1896). R Glenn has been greatly enjoying Paris. He describes buildings decorated with busts and carved flower garlands, and streets so smooth and level that riding over them feels like being on velvet carpet. The cabs are very cheap, so he and Ernest have been sightseeing around the city every day. He tells his mother not to worry too much about the war; They wouldn’t even know it existed...