Autograph Letter Signed to and from Cartographer Carl Wheat and Darwin, California Historian Marguerite Jenkins, 1958 -

Autograph Letter Signed to and from Cartographer Carl Wheat and Darwin, California Historian Marguerite Jenkins, 1958 Set of letters including a single-page typed letter signed from Carl Wheat (7.25 x 10.5 inches) and 2-page carbon copy letter (8.5 x 11 inches) unsigned from Marguerite Jenkins. Both letters in very good to fine condition. Carbon copy paper is toned. Interesting and fun set of letters regarding the 1877 murder of Darwin, California madam Nancy Williams and interest expressed by lawyer/historian/cartographer Carl Wheat in the Williams legend. Marguerite Jenkins was the daughter of Darwin, California Postmaster Oliver Thorson and was working on a book about Darwin old-timers at the time of her note to Wheat. We find no record of such a book being published. Carl Wheat is best known for his mammoth cartographic undertaking of researching, writing and publishing "Mapping the Trans Mississippi West, 1540-1861" published in 5 volumes between 1957 and 1963. Wheat was a practicing lawyer and according to Jenkins' letter, Wheat was arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court, when "he dropped his work to inquire about Nancy Williams...." Wheat had forgotten all about his interest in the Williams case until he received this letter from Jenkins. "I have dropped everything to prepare my "Mapping the Trans Mississippi West", the first volume of which is already out. It is a big job, and one that I cannot let wait any longer." Carl Wheat had already suffered two strokes by the time he wrote this letter and would dictate the remaining text to an assistant, completing his epic cartobibliography in 1963. Reference is also made to Carl Wheat being the "Clampatriarch" of E Clampus Vitus, a fraternal organization dedicated to the preservation of the heritage of the American West. A fun little set of letters from California.