Author Archives: nancyleek

In September 1889 John Bidwell wrote to his friend E. Nelson Blake: Your memory is good — true, 39 years ago we brought the news of California’s admission into the Union. Where are those who were our fellow passengers? Except … Continue reading →

A story told by D. F. Crowder in the Chico Enterprise, December 29, 1917— Of women in those days there were very few. In fact, women were somewhat of a curiosity. Men would go many miles just to look at … Continue reading →

Here are four pages labeled Farm Account from Rancho Chico for 1849 and 1850. The paper is very brittle and fragile, and I am grateful to George Thompson for allowing me to handle the originals. The second image here is … Continue reading →

I was vacuuming up cobwebs around the windows this morning, and it recalled to mind this phrase: The rubbish of spiders no mortal supposes which is a line from The Housewife’s Lament, also known as the The Housekeeper’s Tragedy. or … Continue reading →

Jennie Megquier’s letters from Gold Rush San Francisco record a few interesting notes about clothing. In November 1849 she wrote: I have starched twenty shirts this evening. I tell you this to give you an idea of the amount of … Continue reading →