Identity area
Reference code
P/P155/70/32
Title
James Riordan letters
Date(s)
- 1859-1861 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
15pp
Context area
Archival history
Kerby A. Miller created his abstracts and transcripts of the Riordan letters from the original manuscripts held in the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Kerby A. Miller's abstracts of letters sent by Irish emigrant James Riordan, working in the California gold fields, to his brother William of New Orleans and sister Eliza of Boston between 1859 and 1861. William Riordan died in 1861, near the time that James attempted to leave San Francisco for the Washoe region of Nevada. Miller notes that all of the letters are written in different handwriting; perhaps an indication that James Riordan had someone write the letters for him.