found in a Pacific Books old auction site: June 1998 A DOCTOR AT MURIETA'S HIDEAWAY 89. (Skinner, James Sidney, M.D.) Archive of letters and other material relating to Dr. James Sidney Skinner, who practiced in Ohio in the 1840's, and thereafter traveled west to California. In 1860 he was in Hornitos, in Mariposa County (occasional hideaway of famous bandit Joaquin Murieta), and thereafter moved to San Francisco, where he continued to practice medicine. The archive consists of: * 7 letters written from J.S. Skinner at Hornitos to his son Charles, who was attending the Collegiate Institute at Benicia, California. All written during the autumn of 1860. * Membership certificate for Skinner in the Ohio State Medical Society, signed by the president and secretary of the society. (Lower left corner torn off.) Dated Jan. 6, 1849. * Printed letter filled out in ink, informing Skinner that he was granted an honorary medical degree from the Cleveland Medical College. Dated 8 Marmch 1850. * 6 letters of recommendation for Skinner written by various friends and colleagues in Ohio. All dated 1851. * Printed business card of Dr. Skinner, giving his address as 44 Second St. San Francisco (tarnished). c.1860's. * 2 letters to Charles Skinner from his sister Abbie. Dated San Francisco: 1864 and Stockton: 1865. Various places: 1850's & 1860's. Interesting archive pertaining to a medical doctor in eary California, most notable for the letters from Hornitos, a wild town near Quartzburgh which was founded by Mexican miners, gamblers and dance-hall women in 1850. * Oct. 14: Apparent racial prejudice regarding possible culinary habits, "Some one stole Flora's little dog on Wednesday night ant I have offered Ten Dollars reward for him by as yet cannot hear anything from him I have looked every where. But I think that some Chinamen stole him from the front door...." * Oct. 16: Medical costs are revealed, "I have been to Merced River today to see a patient and got 25 dollars for my visit & also received 60$ from other patients today...." * Oct. 22: "My business is still very good I shall take off a man's leg about 6 miles from here on Thursday next he got run over by one of the bit teams... Ma sewed 500 yds. ceiling yesterday for that big Brick building in China town for those Italians, she got $19.50 for the job." * Oct. 26: There had been a fire, described in the letter of Oct. 14, and "It is generally believed her now, that Elias set his own store on fire...he got his store insured for $14,000 Dollars before the fire occured... Frank Reynold's in McClatchy's had the Delerium Tremens on Monday night last, and tried to shoot Watson, he shot very close to him but did not hit. Frank is in Ben Brooks charge for threatening Watson's life...." * Nov. 21: Gives instructions to his son for going from Benicia to Hornitos on his vacation, "...take a berth in the lower cabin if there is one so as not to have to pay for a state Room - I would not pay them more than one dollar for my room & bed... As soon as you get up, go right to the stage office and secure your seat on the stage..." This letter was torn by Charlie's young sister Flora, and repaired with a piece of paper upon which Skinner has written of the mishap. The archive is in very good or better condition, an interesting glimpse of a doctor's life in the California gold region. (700/1000).