Search

This book, which belonged to Charles W. Matt, a jeweler in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, contains chemical formulas, recipes, and instructions related to methods of working with metals such as gold and silver.

This book (approximately 200 pages, not all of which are used) belonged to Charles W. Matt, a jeweler in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around or after the 1920s. The book contains formulas, recipes, and instructions related to working with various metals, particularly gold and silver; most entries were written directly into the volume, with a few additional clippings pasted or laid in. The notes pertain to aspects of metalwork, such as making alloys, bronzing and finishing processes, dissolving and etching metals, casting metals, stripping and cleaning metals, and refining gold. Also included are recipes for making imitation ivory, paste, waxes, and cements. Supplemental information about chemical elements and casting insects is also present.

The John Mathiot papers primarily contain letters from Mathiot, a California gold miner, describing his journey by ship to California, the rapid expansion of the mining industry, his disillusionment with his chances of getting rich, and a subsequent restaurant venture.

The John Mathiot papers contain 19 letters written between February 3, 1849, and April 15, 1851. Mathiot wrote 16 of the letters, his sister Kate Mathiot wrote one to him, and friends in San Francisco wrote two letters to Pennsylvania with news of his death.

John Mathiot wrote the first six letters during his sea travels; he give descriptions of life on the ship, scenery, other passengers, and natives of Panama. On March 6, 1849, he wrote a letter describing a Panamanian religious ritual involving a procession of women in white robes and an image of the Virgin Mary, “a most beautiful & most solemn ceremony.” After his arrival in California, he wrote 10 richly detailed letters on such topics as the growth of Sutter’s Mill, California (July 12, 1849: “This place is growing fast into a town. There are some 40 buildings...”), the hardships and disappointments of mining (March 2, 1850), and journeying through the California wilderness. His letter of June 23, 1850, notes that the “mines are fast filling up with people from all parts of the world…every part of the present gold country will soon be used up.” His letters of the fall of 1850 describe his brief restaurant venture, which he abandoned in November. Correspondence from friends in California to Mathiot’s family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, April 1851, concerns the circumstances of his death.

The Nicholas Fish papers (97 items) consist of letters and documents that span Fish's career as a Revolutionary War officer and New York City politician. The collection is made up of 87 letters and 10 documents and financial records.

The Nicholas Fish papers (97 items) consist of letters and documents that span Fish's career as a Revolutionary War officer and New York City politician. The collection is made up of 87 letters and 10 documents and financial records.

The Correspondence series (87 items) is comprised of 14 letters written by Fish, 70 letters addressed to Fish, 2 letters to his son Hamilton Fish (1833 and 1844), and one item to the Committee of Defense of New York (August 4, 1815).

The series contains 52 items from Fish's military activities in the Revolutionary war (1776-1786). Forty-one of these letters are addressed to Fish as adjutant general of New York, 1785, regarding the raising and provisioning of troops to aid the first United States Army, commanded by Josiah Harmar on the frontier of the Northwest Territory. Discussed are transporting supplies, maintaining troop levels, defending the settlers of the region from Indians, taking prisoners of war, and punishing deserters. Fish received communications from the War Offices at Fort Schuyler; the Bronx; Albany; Philadelphia; and West Point. Many letters, notably, were from prominent American army officers, such as Secretary of War General Henry Knox, John Morin Scott (his former mentor), Major John Doughty, and Commissary of Military Stores Samuel Hodgdon. Of particular interest is a letter from Captain John Francis Hamtramck, who described catching and punishing 7 troops for desertion from Fort McIntosh in Western Pennsylvania (December 4, 1785), and another letter from Hamtramck, in which he discussed the poor treatment of the Six Nations hostages by the Americans in contrast to the civility shown Indian war prisoners held by the British (June 13, 1785).

A group of 36 letters relate to Fish's activities in New York politics between 1791 and 1830. These provide details of Fish's career as well as New York and American politics in general, including military affairs, the War of 1812, and presidential politics. On February 12, 1791, Fish wrote to President George Washington requesting an appointment as inspector for the district of New York. In his letter from March 10, 1794, fish discussed a dispute between Henry Dearborn and Theodore Sedgwick (March 10, 1794). In a letter to Fish, Jacob Radcliff expressed his support for Fish as New York alderman (November 8, 1810). Among letters written during the War of 1812, William Watson examined the role of Pennsylvania Germans in the Presidential campaign of 1812 (September 16, 1812); Fish wrote to James Madison concerning the punishment of Lieutenant William S. Cox for his part in the Chesapeake incident (after June 1, 1813); and Commodore J. Lewis, Chief Engineer Joseph G. Swift, and General George Izard all wrote letters regarding the defense of New York Harbor (May 8 and October 10, 1813, and August 4, 1815). (For a complete list of contributors, see the controlled access terms section.)

The Documents and Financial Records series (10 items) is comprised of military, personal, and official items.

• Two officer lists of the New York militia: one for the 1st Regiment (1775), and the other for the militia under Colonel John Lasher (September 25, 1776).
• Fish's bank deposit book with the U.S. Bank from April 1792-June 1793 (8 pages).
• Seven receipts for duties from the Supervisor's Office, District of New York, all signed by Fish (April 1795-February 1798).

This collection contains correspondence and documents related to the legal and financial affairs of Dr. William Plunket (or Plunkett) of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and to his lawyer, Stephen Chambers of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

This collection (21 items) contains correspondence and documents related to Dr. William Plunket of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and his lawyer, Stephen Chambers of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The bulk of the collection (18 items) pertains to Plunket's financial and legal affairs, including 13 letters that he wrote to Chambers (June 12, 1785-May 2, 1789). In these letters, Plunket discussed his financial difficulties, powers of attorney, and a dispute with "Dr. Rush" [Benjamin Rush] regarding property ownership. Some of his later letters express his fear of being jailed or becoming destitute. Other items concerning Plunket include a list of his creditors (October 3, 1785); a power of attorney (May 28, 1787); a financial document concerning interest on a bond (October 1787); and an unsigned document about his dispute with Rush (undated). Robert King also wrote a letter to Plunket on February 19, 1789, in which he promised to explore land in the "New Purchase" when the rivers again became navigable.

The remaining 3 items are a letter from Stephen Chambers to Jasper Yeates about land surveys (December 6, 1781), a letter from Chambers to Jasper Yeates and Thomas Hartley about a man whose son had been accused of murder (May 22, 1787), and a letter to Chambers from P. Bond, who discussed finances.