Envelope reads, "Mrs. Sharon." Negative shows a woman, Mrs. Sharon, sitting behind a long counter or table holding a writing instument in her right hand over some materials on the table in front of her. On the other side of the counter is another woman. Both women are wearing coats and elaborate hats. Also on the table is an ink well. This same woman is pictured in H95.18.728 where she is identified as Mrs. William Sharon. William Sharon was a prominent banker in San Francisco and Virginia City. He was appointed by Ralston as the representitive of the Bank of California in Virginia City. He eventually made a forturne and acquired many of Ralstons holding, including the Palace Hotel. He was elected to the U.S. senate from Nevada from 1875-1881. He died in 1885. Aafter his dealth, a scandal erupted involving his mistress, Sarah Althea Hill who sued his estate for support claiming the existence of a marriage contract which turned out to be a forged document by Mammy Pleasant. Miss Hill was eventually committed to an insane asylum in 1892 where she lived for the next 45 years. The woman pictured in this negative is probably not Hill but I can find no reference to a wife of William Sharon that was legal. It is possible that this woman is not related to the aforementioned William Sharon. (D. Curry, 10-28-96.)