Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Muir Family Papers, 1860-1906
HM 57349 - 57497
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Table of contents
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.
Collection is open to qualified researches by prior application through the Reader
Services Department. For more information please go to following
URL .
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.
[Identification of item], Muir Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
This collection was a gift to the Huntington Library from John C. Bell in September 1987.
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.
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.