In the meantime I’ve been mulling over the Muir-Mills connection from yesterday’s discovery. Several years back JMA purchased the Kimes collection, which the JMA website describes as
The William and Maymie Kimes Collection forms a unique resource of Muir’s literary efforts. In the course of the research, the Kimes contacted libraries, private collectors, and Muir descendants. They interviewed many who had known Muir, and/or the Hanna (descendants of Wanda Muir) and the Funk (descendants of Helen Muir) families. Bill Kimes and Helen Muir corresponded extensively.
So yesterday I was able to look at the list of items and see that the Kimes collection contains 7 books by Enos Mills, including one about grizzlies, some flyers and some photographs of Mills cabin. No sign of “In Beaver World”
Which means what exactly? It could mean that its just missing or mislabled. The work was published in March 1913 and Muir died in December of the following year. It could mean that Mills knew Muir was aging and disinterested at the time and didn’t want to bother him. It could mean that Muir loved the book so much he loaned it out to a good friend before his death. Or could it possibly mean that Mills assumed he wouldn’t be interested? Might he have known something about Muir and beavers that we don’t?
Hmm…John Muir was very fond of trees….
Well this is just the kind of mystery a beaver-loving member of the John Muir Association might be able to find an answer to. Consider my attention officially engaged. I’ll let you know if I learn anything. Oh:it gets better. In summer of 1907 Enos writes Muir and says I’m travelling all over and giving speeches and am planning a trip to California in October, and Muir writes back “Come to Martinez.”
My home was 9 years old.
Muir Invites Mills to Martinez 1907
Take some time out of your day to enjoy this:
