O'Meara (James) Letters, 1869-1886

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Summary

Title:
James O'Meara letters
Dates:
1869-1886
Creators:
O'Meara, James, 1825-1903, addressee
Abstract:
Personal and business correspondence of James O'Meara, newspaper editor and writer.
Extent:
173 items in two boxes
Language:
The records are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James O'Meara letters, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The majority of the letters in this collection are written to James O'Meara. The authors include many prominent newspaper and railroad individuals from California, Oregon and Nevada, including: Andrew Jackson Bryant, James V. Coffey, Charles De Young, James William Denver, Stephen J. Field, Laura De Force Gordon, Barclay Henley, James McClatchy, James Willis Nesmith, Harrison Gray Otis, Philip A. Roach, William S. Rosecrans, and Talbot Howard Wallis. There is also one item about American politician John Whiteaker.

Biographical / historical:

James O'Meara was born in Williamsburg, New York in June 1825. In 1849, O'Meara sailed around Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco in September. After a brief mining career, O'Meara returned to the newspaper business. Having worked at the "New York Herald" before coming west, O'Meara found work as the editor of the "San Francisco Herald." O'Meara moved to Oregon in 1857 and became a special writer for the "Oregonian" and later helped found the "Portland Bulletin" with Ben Holliday. O'Meara returned to San Francisco in 1876 and later served as editor of the "Chronicle" and then the "Evening Examiner." O'Meara eventually moved to Santa Rosa, where he edited the "Sonoma Democrat" and later the "Republican." Articles by O'Meara also appeared in "Overland Monthly," the "Argonaut," and many other influential publications of that era. O'Meara is also known for his 1887 pamphlet: "The Vigilance Committee of 1856. By a Pioneer California Journalist." He died in Santa Rosa, California in January 1903.

Acquisition information:
Purchased through Nick Aretakis Americana at PBA Galleries, Sale 599, Lot 195, October 2016.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged alphabetically by author.

Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black
Date Prepared:
© 2017
Date Encoded:
Maching readable finding aid encoded by Brooke M. Black in February 2017 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James O'Meara letters, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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