General Collections and Rare Book and Special Collections Division
Search By Keyword | Browse Index of Authors | Subjects | Titles"California as I Saw It:" First-Person Narratives of California's Early Years, 1849-1900 consists
of the full texts and illustrations of 190 works documenting the formative era of California's
history through eyewitness accounts. The collection covers the dramatic decades between the
Gold Rush and the turn of the twentieth century. It captures the pioneer experience; encounters
between Anglo-Americans and the diverse peoples who had preceded them; the transformation of
the land by mining, ranching, agriculture, and urban development; the often-turbulent growth of
communities and cities; and California's emergence as both a state and a place of uniquely
American dreams. The production of this collection was supported by a generous grant from the
David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
Special Presentation Early California History: An Overview
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