Among the Stephen Mather correspondence at the Bancroft Library are notes and letters from at least six of Stephen’s colleagues at The New York Sun. Stephen Mather became a reporter at The Sun soon after graduating from Berkeley in 1887 and remained there until 1893.
In Steve Mather and the National Parks, Robert Shankland speaks of that time…
“…The office resembled a seat of higher learning; it radiated spirit, teamwork, and auld-lang-syne, and it even, beginning not long after the turn of the century, had an alumni association. In this climate, Mather, the Eternal Freshman, basked…”
In a 1929 letter to Stephen, a fellow alumnus, C.J. Fitzgerald, shared similar memories…
“I look back on the old days when we were such a happy family in the Sun office. Boy, what a staff. I would like to show the present-day school of journalists what a scintillating galaxy of talent that was that “worked for Dana on the New York Sun…”
In the Bancroft archives are two letters from Assistant Editor Charles Rosebault. In the latter letter, Rosebault offers good wishes upon Stephen’s retirement from the National Park Service. But his earlier letter from 1894 was prescient in anticipating Stephen’s future after The Sun…
“…You have also proved that you possess ambition and determination. I do not see what can prevent your speedy acquirement of the riches we are all seeking. Very possibly the time is not too far distant when we unfortunate news-paper fellows will be getting up names about “Stephen Tyng Mather, plutocrat, monopolist, multi-millionaire, etc…Well, old boy, nobody can wish you more good fortune than I…”
