Description
This collection contains 45 items related to John M. Cavarly (1832-1895), a ship's
captain, who worked for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, from 1864 to 1890.
Documents include some correspondence, scrapbooks, and ship's log. As well, the collection also includes the manuscript of
the 1961 novel
Annie's Captain,
about Cavarly and his wife written by their granddaughter Kathryn Hulme.
Background
John M. Cavarly (1832-1895) was born in 1832, presumably in New London, Connecticut. His father had been
crippled by a fall at sea, but that did not deter Cavarly from going to sea at the
age of 14 on a packet ship bound for London in 1848. He made captain by 1859 and
sailed clipper ships for private interests. On one such voyage in 1859 to Hawaii
from New York, he met and married Annie Bolles (1839-1890), daughter of a well-to-do Hawaiian
businessman. In 1863, he lost his ship, the Anglo
Saxon, to the Confederate steamer CSS
Florida off the coast of Ireland.
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.