Prentice Mulford
Encyclopedia
Prentice Mulford was a noted literary humorist and California
author. In addition, he helped found the New Thought
movement.
and, in 1856, sailed to California where he would spend the next 16 years. During this time, Mulford spent several years in mining
towns, trying to find his fortune in gold
, copper
, or silver
. After leaving the mining life, Mulford ran for a position on the California State Assembly
in Sacramento
. Although he was nominated, he ultimately lost the election. He returned to San Francisco and began writing for a weekly newspaper, The Golden Era. Mulford spent five years as a writer and editor for various papers and was named by many San Franciscans a "Bohemian," for his disregard for money. Mulford states in his autobiography, "poverty argued for us possession of more brains" (Prentice Mulford's Story 130). He became known for his humorous style of writing and vivid descriptions of both mining life as well as life at sea. In 1872, Mulford returned to New York City
, where he became known as a comic lecturer, author of poems and essays, and a columnist for [The New York Daily Graphic
] from 1875-1881. Mulford was also instrumental in the founding of the popular philosophy, New Thought
, along with other notable writers including Ralph Waldo Emerson
. Mulford's book, Thoughts are Things served as a guide to this new belief system and is still popular today.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
author. In addition, he helped found the New Thought
New Thought
New Thought promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, sickness originates in the mind, and "right thinking" has a healing effect.Although New Thought is neither...
movement.
Biography
Mulford was born in Sag Harbor, New YorkSag Harbor, New York
Sag Harbor is an incorporated village in Suffolk County, New York, United States, with parts in both the Towns of East Hampton and Southampton. The population was 2,313 at the 2000 census....
and, in 1856, sailed to California where he would spend the next 16 years. During this time, Mulford spent several years in mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
towns, trying to find his fortune in gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, or silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
. After leaving the mining life, Mulford ran for a position on the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. Although he was nominated, he ultimately lost the election. He returned to San Francisco and began writing for a weekly newspaper, The Golden Era. Mulford spent five years as a writer and editor for various papers and was named by many San Franciscans a "Bohemian," for his disregard for money. Mulford states in his autobiography, "poverty argued for us possession of more brains" (Prentice Mulford's Story 130). He became known for his humorous style of writing and vivid descriptions of both mining life as well as life at sea. In 1872, Mulford returned to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he became known as a comic lecturer, author of poems and essays, and a columnist for [The New York Daily Graphic
Daily Graphic
The Daily Graphic: An Illustrated Evening Newspaper was the first American newspaper with daily illustrations. It was founded in New York in 1873 by a firm of Canadian engravers and began publication in March of that year...
] from 1875-1881. Mulford was also instrumental in the founding of the popular philosophy, New Thought
New Thought
New Thought promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, sickness originates in the mind, and "right thinking" has a healing effect.Although New Thought is neither...
, along with other notable writers including Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
. Mulford's book, Thoughts are Things served as a guide to this new belief system and is still popular today.
Partial works
- Thoughts Are Things (1889)
- Your Forces and How to Use Them (1907)
- The Gift of Understanding
- Gift of Spirit (1917 2nd revised ed.)
- Thought Forces Essays Selected from the White Cross Library (1913)
- Prentice Mulford's Story: Life By Land and Sea (1889)
- Gift Of The Spirit { 1904 } 1st edition- with a introduction by Arthor Edward Waite
External links
- Library of Congress page on Mulford
- California Legacy Radio Anthology - provides access to radio scripts containing excerpts from Prentice Mulford's Story
- New Thought Movement homepage
- 1905 Magazine Article with photos
- Index of Prentice Mulford humorous stories presented on the Mister Ron's Basement Podcast
- 3 short radio episodes Canned Oysters from "California Culinary Experiences," 1869; Piquant Sauce and Spelling from The Prentice Mulford Story, or Life by Land and Sea, 1889. California Legacy ProjectCalifornia Legacy ProjectThe California Legacy Project began in 2000 as a project at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA and later partnered with Heyday Books in Berkeley, CA. The project uses a research team of SCU interns to create radio scripts for the radio anthology "Your California Legacy" on KAZU 90.3 FM,...
.