First Days in Santa Barbara

Letter from Elizabeth Maria Tinker Sibley to Emily Sibley Watson, September 27, 1890<br />

9-27-1890

"Nellie" & her friends. Santa Barbara. Sep 24th 1890

Mr. Canfield "on the fence." Santa Barbara, Cal. Sep 24 1890.

At the Fair. Santa Barbara. Sept. 24th 1890

Fair day at Santa Barbara, Cal. Sep. 24th 1890

Elizabeth Sibley's September 27, 1890 letter to her daughter confirms that Emily arrived in Santa Barbara around September 24th, since she sent a telegraph to her mother announcing her safe arrival, which Elizabeth Sibley received on that date. This matches several photographs from that date among the Santa Barbara pictures in George Eastman's collection.

Elizabeth Sibley's letter also confirms that Mr. & Mrs. Edward Duty Tyler had returned from Colorado Springs, enchanted with their visit, and that George Folger Canfield had accompanied Emily, J.G. and Libbie Tyler to California.

Letter from James Sibley Watson to Emily Sibley Watson, October 3, 1890<br />

10-3-1890

James Sibley Watson's October 3, 1890 letter refers to having received a letter from Emily dated September 25th, and also a letter and telegram from George Folger Canfield (always referred to in Jimmie's letters as "C") which "certainly sound confident."

Emily's letter reassured Jimmie that she had not "become discouraged & wish that [she] had never begun the thing [i.e., the divorce proceedings] & that [she would] want to come home & all that."