Author Archives: nancyleek

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About nancyleek

Nancy is a retired librarian who lives in Chico, California. She is the author of John Bidwell: The Adventurous Life of a California Pioneer.

How the College Came to Chico

Posted on May 7, 2012 by nancyleek

After several years of petitioning by citizens in northern California, the state legislature authorized a branch of the State Normal School to be built somewhere north of Marysville. As soon as they did so, every city, town and hamlet in … Continue reading →

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Bidwell and Chico Normal School

Posted on April 29, 2012 by nancyleek

John Bidwell secured a State Normal School for Chico by donating a piece of his ranch as the initial site for the school. But his involvement in bringing a college to Chico goes back several years earlier. In February 1880, … Continue reading →

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What’s Normal about a Normal School?

Posted on April 22, 2012 by nancyleek

It used to be common for teacher’s colleges to be called “normal schools.” The term has an odd ring to it, since the first meaning of “normal” that comes to mind is “typical, usual, average, ordinary.” We speak of “normal … Continue reading →

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Happy Anniversary, Chico State!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by nancyleek

This year California State University Chico is celebrating its 125th anniversary. So Happy Quasquicentennial, Chico State! (Not wanting to confuse some of their students, Chico State isn’t using the nifty word “quasquicentennial” for a 25 + 100 years celebration. But … Continue reading →

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Bidwell’s Gold Discovery–part II

Posted on April 15, 2012 by nancyleek

When John Bidwell headed off to the Feather River to mine for gold, he didn’t just jump on his horse and go. There was planning to do, and Bidwell was always a man who planned carefully before taking a course … Continue reading →

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Bidwell Mansion and the BMA

Posted on April 3, 2012 by nancyleek

Last Saturday I participated in the Bidwell Mansion Fun Run (or in my case, Walk).  In spite of the rain I thoroughly enjoyed getting out with all the other Mansion supporters to help raise money and awareness for Chico’s centerpiece. … Continue reading →

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Bidwell’s Gold Discovery

Posted on March 31, 2012 by nancyleek

John Bidwell learned of Marshall’s gold discovery at Coloma shortly after Marshall showed his gold samples to John Sutter. Sutter asked Bidwell to take a sample to San Francisco, which he did, probably in early February 1848, being the first … Continue reading →

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How Well Do You Know John and Annie?

Posted on March 24, 2012 by nancyleek

Just for fun, here’s a little quiz about John and Annie Bidwell: 1.  John Bidwell came to California in: A) 1841    B) 1845    C)  1848 2.  John Bidwell called this man “the meanest man in California.”  He was referring to: … Continue reading →

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How much was $600 worth in 1847?

Posted on March 20, 2012 by nancyleek

When Lt. William T. Sherman met John Bidwell in 1847, Bidwell was searching for a runaway horse that had $600 in its saddlebags. This was money Bidwell had earned during a summer of surveying land for various people in 1847. … Continue reading →

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First Meeting: John Bidwell and William Tecumseh Sherman

Posted on March 18, 2012 by nancyleek

John Bidwell spent much of the 1840’s in California surveying land and mapping land grants for other men. It was during one of his surveying trips in 1847 that he met future Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman, he of … Continue reading →

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