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The collection consists of two manuscripts by Hoyt: 1) account of Hoyt's overland experiences in route to the California gold rush fields: autograph manuscript, dated 9 May - 2 July 1852, 22 leaves, numbered 10-32 (missing p. 25), probably transcribed from a journal; 2) account of Native Americans drawn from Hoyt's experiences as a member of Isaac Stevens's exploring expedition surveying a route for the Northern Pacific Railroad from Oregon to Wisconsin in 1853: signed autograph manuscript, 27 pp., with first page bearing a signed note from H. S. Hoyt, dated "Deerfield June 23, 1860." The overland manuscript records the daily activities of Hoyt's wagon train heading west, from near Ft. Leavenworth (KS) to Humboldt Valley (CA). In the Indian manuscript Hoyt provides general comments about the race of Native Americans followed by sketches of various Indian tribes under headings like Backfeet, Flatheads, Spokans, etc.
Arranged chronologically.
The collection is open for research.
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under
Purchased in Michael Brown Rare Books in
No materials were separated during 2011 processing.
Images of this collection may be viewed online at
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); David Starr Hoyt Manuscripts, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
This collection was processed by John Delaney on 2011 July 25. Finding aid written by John Delaney on 2011 July 25.
David Starr Hoyt, from Deerfield, Massachusetts, was an officer in the Mexican War, and in 1856, led several thousand men to the fighting in Kansas. He was killed near Lawrence, Kansas, by "border ruffians" on August 12, 1856. Lawrence had been the site of a raid by the "border ruffians" on May 21, 1856 which made national headlines and is often regarded as one of the first shots of the Civil War. [From May 11, 1868 issue of The Gazette & Courier, a newspaper in Greenfield, Massachusetts.]