Monthly Archives: February 2014

Nikolai and Conchita, continued

Posted on February 22, 2014 by nancyleek

Nikolai Rezanov must have looked pretty impressive in his dress uniform, with the diamond Order of St. Anne on his breast and a laced bicorne hat under his arm. He went out of his way to be charming and courteous, … Continue reading →

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Nikolai and Conchita

Posted on February 21, 2014 by nancyleek

In 1805-06 Nikolai Rezanov spent a miserable winter in the Russian outpost at Sitka. Life in the Russian colony was beyond wretched: the log cabins were cold and damp, the food stores were dwindling, the clothing was infested with vermin, … Continue reading →

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The Russian-American Company

Posted on February 8, 2014 by nancyleek

Nikolai Rezanov had a vision that went beyond helping his father-in-law corner the fur market in Siberia. To successfully expand the fur trade and make Russia the dominate force in the North Pacific, he would follow the example of British … Continue reading →

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The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!

Posted on February 7, 2014 by nancyleek

With the Winter Olympics taking place in Sochi, Russia, now is a good time to look at the Russians in California. Although that’s not really my motivation; my inspiration comes from an excellent new book: Glorious Misadventures: Nikolai Rezanov and … Continue reading →

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John Bidwell, Ag Promoter

Posted on February 7, 2014 by nancyleek

A few paragraphs from an Address by Major John Bidwell to the California State Agricultural Society, 1860: There is no reason why we cannot supply ourselves with the thousands of barrels, boxes, hogsheads, and casks, of dried apples, peaches, nuts, … Continue reading →

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One Grand Fruit Orchard

Posted on February 2, 2014 by nancyleek

I think this state is to be largely a fruit garden. I don’t think it is to be used continuously for the production of grain. Of course we will always produce cereals, but the capabilities of California are in the … Continue reading →

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