Letter from Mary Frances Lyman to her parents, Reverend and Mary Denison Lyman. She reports the death of Joseph Unthank (1815-1883) and her decision to quit her teaching job at the Indian Training School to study music.
End of a letter from Mary Frances Lyman to her parents, Reverend and Mary Denison Lyman. She requests that they wait to return home until all of their party can join them.
An unsigned letter by Elizabeth Theresa Boise (1826-1904) to Mary Denison Lyman (1828-1874) regarding race relations in Salem, Oregon. The letter discusses the marriage of an African American woman named America Waldo in Salem in early January, 1863.
Boise recounts attending the wedding along with some other white women and two white men. (Other sources identify America Waldo's husband as Richard Bogle, also an African American.) She describes how the next day, the people of Salem verbally attacked them for having participated in the integrated wedding, and that their names were published in two newspapers in order to shame them. Boise goes on to describe other unrest regarding race relations, including tensions over the preaching of the abolitionist Congregational Church minister Obed Dickinson ("a monomaniac upon the negro equality question"); and the birth of a mixed-race baby to a woman named Roxanna. This was very likely Roxanna Holmes, an African American woman whose parents were brought to Oregon as slaves in 1844.
The letter is unsigned, but the writer has been identified as Elizabeth Theresa Boise (1826-1904) by researcher Brian W. Johnson. Boise was an unmarried woman teacher who immigrated from Massachusetts to Oregon in 1853-54. At the time this letter was written, she was likely teaching in or near Salem. She had known Mary Denison Lyman for at least nine years. Mary's husband, Rev. Horace Lyman, had been the head teacher at La Creole Academy near Dallas, Oregon, circa 1855, while Elizabeth was the assistant teacher. The "Reuben" mentioned in this letter was Elizabeth's brother, Judge Reuben Boise; and the "Ellen" mentioned was Reuben's wife, Ellen Frances Lyon Boise.
Letter from Margaret Duncan Lyman to her father-in-law, Reverend Lyman, and to her husband/cousin, Horace Sumner Lyman. She expresses her concern for him and how much she misses him.
Letter from Margaret Duncan Lyman to her father-in-law, Reverend Lyman, and to her husband/cousin, Horace Sumner Lyman. She gives her husband tips on contacting her and discusses the weather.
Letter from Margaret Duncan Lyman to her father-in-law, Reverend Horace Lyman and to her husband/cousin, Horace Sumner Lyman. She discusses family health, photographs, and a forgotten umbrella. Her letter is short and hurried, since she is trying to finish before the stagecoach arrives.
Letter from Margaret Duncan to her fiance, Reverend Horace Lyman. She discusses her mother's health, her fiance's missionary work, and the possibility of ending her engagement.
Letter from Margaret Duncan to her future husband/cousin, Reverend Horace Sumner Lyman. She discusses their postponed marriage, descending mosquitoes, and the wedding of Horace's son.
Letter from Margaret Duncan Lyman to her husband/cousin, Reverend Horace Sumner Lyman. She discusses correspondence with her family, her mother's health, and missing her husband.
Letter from Margaret Duncan Lyman to her future husband/cousin, Reverend Horace Sumner Lyman. She discusses her fondness for letters from her fiance, the weather, and family health.
Letter from Margaret Duncan Lyman to her future father-in-law/uncle, Reverend Horace Lyman. She discusses family correspondence and potentially living with her aunt.
Letter from Margaret Duncan to her uncle/future father-in-law, Reverend Lyman. She discusses receiving letters from her fiance, family news, and the weather.
Letter from Margaret Duncan to her future father-in-law/uncle, Reverend Horace Lyman. She discusses her reluctance to have frequent correspondence with her uncle and her caution in entering marriage.
Envelope addressed to Reverend Horace Lyman, who was a professor at Pacific University at the time. This was likely sent by Margaret Duncan, his future daughter-in-law.
Letter from Margaret Duncan Lyman to her future father-in-law/uncle, Reverend Horace Lyman. She discusses the impression she is making on her uncle, the Bible and Prayer Union, and faith.
Letter from Margaret Lyman to her husband/cousin, Horace Sumner Lyman. She discusses the letters she has forwarded to her husband, including one that may decide their fate, as well as forgotten belongings and the weather.
