[A teenage girl’s letter on Yosemite letterhead].

Mariposa County, California, 28 May 1883. 8vo (27.6 cm). 2 integral pp. of manuscript on illustrated Yosemite Valley Hotel letterhead.

A delightful letter written from Yosemite by a teenage girl to a school friend, on an elaborate sheet of letterhead illustrating Yosemite Falls, commenting on Santa Fe, which she had recently visited.

This letter is written on the letterhead of Yo-Semite Valley Hotel (formerly Black’s Hotel) featuring an illustration of Yosemite Falls as seen from the hotel parlor. Mary C. Nichols opens the letter to her friend Jennie by explaining that she has been “on ‘the go’” all the time and seldom has the time to write. The two girls appear to have been friends in school. In a jovial moment Mary pens: “I expect there is very little going on at school now you must stir them up as I am not there to do so. I would like to peep in on you & see what you are doing & stir you up a bit.” Judging by Mary’s handwriting, she is likely between 12–15 years old.

Mary comments on her recent visit to Santa Fe, which she describes as “the most peculiar city I have seen.” “There are such funny houses! Hardly ever are a wood one all built of mud bricks.” She then offers an account of how the bricks are made and how buildings are constructed in these parts—concluding with the remark: “these [bricks] make very good houses as there is no rain.” She comments on the numerous Mexicans and Indians living in Santa Fe: “The Indians are mostly miserable looking species of humanity. One is most afraid of them although they are not at all troublesome.” She proceeds to note the general dearth of shade trees as well as the lack of shade produced by the predominant cottonwoods in Santa Fe, suggesting that “they ought to have some of the maples in your yard down there.”

The letterhead notes that the Yo-Semite Valley Hotel is “picturesquely situated among the large pines, and has the only direct view of the Yo-Semite Falls.” It also notes that “connected with this hotel are: new bath rooms, stage office, post office, Wells Fargo & Co.s Express, and an excellent laundry.” By 1876, Yosemite was attracting nearly 2,000 visitors a year, most of whom stayed in the valley for several weeks at a time. During this period the valley had three inns: Black’s Hotel (later Yo-Semite Valley Hotel), Leidig’s Hotel, and the Coulter and Murphy Hotel.

An appealing letter on a handsome sheet of Yosemite letterhead recording the scene in Santa Fe through the eyes of a young girl traveling in the west.

CONDITION: Very good; old folds and a few tiny punctures at folds; but overall no loss to the text.