Inventory of the Muir Family Papers, 1860-1906
Processed by Brooke M. Black; machine-readable finding aid created by
Xiuzhi Zhou
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: lgarcia@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554
© 1998
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the Muir Family Papers, 1860-1906
The Huntington Library
San Marino, California
Contact Information
- Manuscripts Department
- The Huntington Library
- 1151 Oxford Road
- San Marino, California 91108
- Phone: (626) 405-2203
- Fax: (626) 449-5720
- Email: lgarcia@huntington.org
- URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554
- Processed by:
- Brooke M. Black
- Date Completed:
- July 20, 1998
- Encoded by:
- Xiuzhi Zhou
© 1998 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Muir Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1860-1906
Collection number: HM 57349 - 57497
Creator:
Muir Family
Extent: 155 cataloged items in three boxes
Repository: The
Huntington Library
San Marino, California 91108
Note:
This collection contains 155 cataloged items in three boxes, spanning the period 1860 to
1906, with the bulk of the collection between 1863 and 1899.
Acquisition number : 1364.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open to qualified researches by prior application through the Reader
Services Department. For more information please go to following
URL .
Publication Rights
Restrictions: Researchers wanting permission to quote
from or to reproduce any of the John Muir letters in this collection must contact the
Muir-Hanna Trust, via the University of the Pacific, to inquire about possible
restrictions on the John Muir material.
In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials,
researchers must obtain formal permission from the office of the Library Director. In
most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical property
rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary
rights In some instances, the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the
physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate curator for further
information.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Muir Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Acquisition Information
This collection was a gift to the Huntington Library from John C. Bell in September 1987.
Biographical Note
John Muir's family immigrated to the United States from Scotland in 1849, when he was
eleven years old. The Muir family made their home on a farm near Portage, Wisconsin. Muir
(1838-1914), after attending the University of Wisconsin, traveled around the United
States for several years. He came to California in 1868, where he became a naturalist and
an avid supporter of the Yosemite Valley, helping to establish Yosemite National Park in
1890. He wrote numerous articles and books concerning the environment and the importance
of nature. Daniel H. Muir, Jr. (1843-1923), the recipient of the letters, and the younger
brother of John Muir, became a medical doctor in 1870, and married Emma Kinaston in 1872.
Scope and Content Note
This collection, which is arranged alphabetically by author, is made up of correspondence
and ephemera from John Muir and his family. The family members represented in the
collection are John Muir, his parents, his seven siblings, two of his sisters-in-law and
two of his nieces. The letters largely deal with family affairs, and give a detailed
account of the family's daily life. Many of the letters mention John and his activities
at different points in his life. They often discuss Muir's location, his publications and
the family's trips to California to see him, his wife Louie, and their two daughters,
Wanda and Helen. Several of John Muir's letters are written from Yosemite Valley; these letters give detailed
accounts of Muir's activities at Yosemite as well as physical descriptions of the valley.
Correspondence: All but one letter (John Muir to Anne Gilrye Muir, HM 57467) are
addressed to Daniel H. Muir Jr., or his wife Emma Kinaston Muir (eleven letters are
addressed to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. and Emma Kinaston Muir). One-third of the letters are
written by John Muir's mother Anne Gilrye Muir. One letter is written by E. C. Love, a
friend of the Muir family. The correspondence includes the following members of the Muir
family (list shows relation to John Muir and number of items written by each family
member): Joanna Muir Brown, sister (6); Anna G. Galloway, niece (1); Sarah Muir Galloway,
sister (16); Mary Muir Hand, sister (7); Anna Muir, sister (4); Anne Gilrye Muir, mother
(68); Daniel Muir, father (6); Daniel H. Muir, Jr., brother (1); David G. Muir, brother
(9); John Muir (28); Katie Muir, sister-in-law (1); Margaret Muir Reid, sister (1); and
Anna Reid Waterman, niece (1).
Ephemera: The ephemera consists of six folders and contains calling cards, a Christmas
card, envelopes, wedding invitations, mementos from John Muir, and miscellaneous printed
ephemera, including newspaper clippings.
Container List
3 letters (1872-1878) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57349-57351.
2 letters (1872) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. and Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57352-57353.
1 letter (1874, May 16) to Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57354.
9 letters (1863-1899) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57355-57363.
Scope and Content Note
With HM 57356 is a note to Daniel H. Muir Jr. from David M. Galloway.
2 letters (1900) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. and Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57364-57365.
5 letters (1896-1906) to Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57366-57370.
6 letters (1865-1901) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57371-57376.
Scope and Content Note
On verso of HM 57372 are notes written and signed by Anna Muir, and Joanna Muir Brown. HM
57373 is in the form of a fable.
1 letter (1889) to Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57377.
1 letter (1900, Feb. 27) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57378.
3 letters (1865-1872) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57379-57381.
1 letter (1896, June 18) to Emma Kinaston Muir. Also note on back - "From aunts about Grandmother Muir's illness." HM 57382.
56 letters (1865-1894) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57383-57438.
Scope and Content Note
With HM 57396 is a letter to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. by Mary Hand Muir. On verso of HM 57405
is a letter to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. from Joanna Muir Brown. With HM 57407 is a letter to
Daniel H. Muir, Jr. from Anna Muir. With HM 57415 is a letter to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. from
Joanna Muir Brown. With HM 57416 is a letter to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. from Anna Muir. With
HM 57421 is a letter to Emma Kinaston Muir by Anne Gilrye Muir.
6 letters (1872-1890) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. and Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57439-57444.
6 letters (1884-1891) to Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57445-57450.
Scope and Content Note
With HM 57448 is a letter to Daniel H. Muir, Jr.
6 letters (1865-1885) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57451-57456.
Scope and Content Note
Enclosed with HM 57453 are two religious tracts.
1 note: "List of Trunk Contents," [not after 1872, Mar. 5]. HM 57457.
Scope and Content Note
On verso: copy of bill to The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Racine County dated
1872, Jan. 11, for work done by Daniel H. Muir, Jr.
9 letters (1869-1886) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57458-57466.
Scope and Content Note
On verso of HM 57463 is a letter to Emma Kinaston Muir by Katie Muir as dictated to David
G. Muir.
1 letter (1872, Sep. 27) to Anne Gilrye Muir. HM 57467.
27 letters (1860-1891) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57468-57494.
Scope and Content Note
HM 57468 contains a sketch of a well on last page. With HM 57478 is a letter to Daniel H.
Muir, Jr. from Anna G. Galloway.
1 letter (1903, Dec.) to Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57495.
1 letter (1889, July 21) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. and Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57496.
1 letter (1875, Apr. 17) to John Muir, 1838-1914. Incomplete. HM 57497.
Calling Cards
Physical Description: 3 pieces.
Christmas Card
Physical Description: 1 piece.
Envelopes
Physical Description: 4 pieces.
Mementos from John Muir, 1838-1914
Physical Description: 3 pieces, including tree bark and a pressed leaf.
Miscellaneous printed ephemera
Physical Description: 5 pieces, including newspaper clippings.
Wedding Announcements
Physical Description: 6 pieces, with 5 envelopes.
Indexing: Subjects
Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873.
Subject in John Muir, 1838-1914, letter (1872, Sep. 27) to Anne Gilrye Muir. HM 57467.
Subject in Sarah Muir Galloway letter (1901, July 29) to Emma Kinaston Muir. HM 57368.
Subject in John Muir, 1838-1914, letter (1872, Sep. 27) to Anne Gilrye Muir. HM 57467.
Subject in John Muir, 1838-1914, letter (1869, Dec. 3) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57483.
Subject in John Muir, 1838-1914, letter (1870, June 21) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57486.
Subject in John Muir, 1838-1914, letter (1870, Sep. 22) to Daniel H. Muir, Jr. HM 57487.
