Anna Mangan White

Step back in time and journey into the lives of three women of Goldfield—Anna Mangan White, mother of Marjorie White Nolte, and daughter of Ella Fitzgerald Mangan—as it fits with the town’s history when Goldfield was one of the world’s most prosperous mining districts.

Through photographs and newspaper coverage, we catch a glimpse of their experiences, but acknowledge that these portrayals may differ from the reality of their time, as newspapers often emphasized promoting the region rather than revealing day-to-day struggles.

Photographers, journalists, and non-fiction authors captured moments that might sometimes seem contradictory, but they all existed in the same space and time. To sense their lives, we should step back from our twenty-first-century beliefs perspective and recognize the stark realities that characterized their era.

Experience the dreams, struggles, and resilience of three generations, centering on Anna Mangan White as she blossomed into life in Goldfield and birthed a new life, my mother, in a landscape dominated by mining fever and nineteenth-century societal norms.

Death more frequently visited mining camps than births. Of fourteen children, Ella Mangan left eleven children in the Leadville, Colorado cemetery, and two in Goldfield; then raising, til her death, granddaughter Marjorie to age fourteen in San Francisco.

These newspaper articles portray Nevada lives written by Nevadans at the moment; notice the distinct roles, and institutions used by both genders, here and with the “John Mangan – Joe White” story.

The archival photographs affixed here are from the Central Nevada Historical Society, Museum’s files in Tonopah. They are representative of life in Goldfield similar in time to the newspaper citations, with one possible exception, they are not of the Mangan family.

1907 Goldfield Chronicle

“Mrs John Mangan of Columbia gave a pleasant birthday party…the evening included dancing, a game of cards, with a watermelon feast.

1909 Goldfield Daily Sun

“Events in Society: Among important events planned for the week of the Mining Congress is the fair to be given by the ladies of Sacred Heart church. For months it has occupied the time and attention of the ladies and with Father Dermody’s able assistance it is well on the road to success. Knights of Columbus booth…Mrs. Mangan. Young Ladies booth…Anna Mangan.

1910 Goldfield Daily Tribune

“In Society. Monday evening an enjoyable card party and dance was give by Pocahontas Council No.12. The ladies prizes were awarded to…Mrs. Mangan.

1910 Goldfield Daily Tribune

“In Society: Installation of the newly elected officers of Pocahontas Council No. 12 took place last Monday evening at their wigwam in Miners’ Union hall…Guard of Tepee, Ella Mangan.

1911 Goldfield Daily Tribune

“Personal Mention: Mrs. J.J. Mangan and two daughters will go to San Diego on Wednesday to spend the summer.”

1911 Goldfield Daily Tribune

“In Society: The Women’s Catholic Order of the Foresters gave their midsummer dance on Thursday evening, and it was a most flattering success. The music was of an unusual order of excellence and the attendance was large. the grand march was led by Miss Anna Mangan…”

1912 Goldfield Daily Tribune

“A pretty Leap Year supper was enjoyed after the dance at the Goldfield Grill. The young ladies took their escorts. Smilax and sweet peas were arranged the whole length and width of the table and bright red carnations formed pretty central pieces. Those seated were…Miss Anna Mangan…”

1913 Goldfield Daily Tribune

“Marriage License: A Marriage license has been issued from the county clerk’s office to Joseph F. White and Anna Mangan, both of Goldfield.”

1913 Goldfield Daily Tribune

“Young Couple Married. Joseph F. White and Anna Mangan, two of the young people of the camp who are well known, were married yesterday at the Catholic church at 9 o’clock in the morning by Rev. Father Dermoody.”

1915 Tonopah Daily Tribune

“John Mangan and Miss Josephine Mangan, father and sister of Mrs. Joe White, came over from Goldfield yesterday to be at the bedside of Mrs. White, who underwent a critical operation.”

1916 Tonopah Daily Bonanza

“Miss Josephine Mangan, who had been visiting her sister, Mrs. Joe White for the past week, returned to Goldfield on this afternoon’s auto stage.”

1916 Tonopah Daily Bonanza, December 18th

“Visitor to the White Family. A nine and one-half pound baby girl (Marjorie Ann) that arrived last night at the home of Joe White, one of the owners of the Mizpah Hotel buffet, which accounts for the broad smile worn by the proud father and the cigars that are passed out. Dr. McLeod reports the mother and child are doing well.”

1916 Tonopah Daily Bonanza, December 27th

“Death of Mrs. Joseph White After the Birth of Baby Girl: Mrs. Joseph White died last night at 25 minutes before 12 o’clock after a heroic struggle, battling for her own life and that of her newborn babe…Mrs. White was a most lovable woman, devoted to her husband and yearning for the babe that took toll of her own life…”

1916 Tonopah Daily Bonanza, December 29th

“Sorrowing Friends Follow Body of Mrs. White to Grave: The funeral of the late Mrs. Joseph White of Tonopah took place this morning at Goldfield from St. Mary’s church…The church was thronged with friends of the deceased and all the automobiles and other vehicles in the city were crowded into commission for the long cortege. Two autos were filled with floral offerings.

1916 Tonopah Daily Bonanza, December 29th

Ella Fitzgerald Mangan died December 24, 1930, when my Mom was fourteen years of age, leaving a cloud of sorrow about Christmas day throughout her life, having lost her mother on December 26, 1916.

Marjorie White Nolte lived a wondrous and long life, passing away January, 2004; her ashes joined those of her parents in the Goldfield Cemetery, together for the first time in 88 years.

I have been fortunate with these visages of my Nevada family, given from early writers in Goldfield and Tonopah; it has set new pathways in my mind to search for their spirit, and mine, in this land.

Anna Mangan White’s life spanned a beginning in the harshness of Leadville, Colorado to a similar, though probably more refined lifestyle in Goldfield, Nevada. She grew up knowing two siblings, eleven unknown but for their places in the Leadville cemetery. A relatively short life, but rewarded with the birth of a daughter held in her arms but days and thence rejoined eighty-eight years later in the Sacred Heart section of the Goldfield Cemetery.

A full youthful life in a Nevada mining camp.

I feel blessed having discovered these recorded moments and am left with a question: If my grand and great-grand parents were now before me would there be one, above others, I want to tell me stories?

Surely great-grand mother Ella Mangan who bore fourteen children, outlived all but one and remained throughout a spirit of family and community…or, John Mangan being a leader in a significant historical event in Nevada mining camp history and taking the place of father to my mother…Joe White holding a place of recognition and admiration in the camp who “made friends easy and kept them”…Annie White a flower in the dusty, close, and otherwise frenzied life of an early central Nevada mining camp.

This experience has piqued my eagerness, and hopefully yours, to learn more about other nineteenth century Nevadans’ relationship to each other and the land.