Author Archives: nancyleek

Something they want, Something they need, Something to wear, Something to read. (Detail from Charles C. Nahl’s Sunday in the Mines. Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento.) As a librarian and devoted book reader, I have always given the gift of books. … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving in California / At the Cabin, 1849 — D.W.N. Or maybe it was really 1850. In Daniel W. Nason’s (unpublished) memoir of his two years in California, written twenty years later, he recalls the Thanksgiving feast he had with … Continue reading →

On October 24, 1849, Governor Bennet C. Riley, the military governor of California, issued a proclamation designating Thursday, November 29th, as a day of thanksgiving. Proclamation In conformity with the customs of other states and territories, and in order that … Continue reading →

I’ll be signing and selling my books tomorrow (Wednesday, November 9) at the Chico Library. If any of you are in the area, please stop in and say “Hi!” It’s an after-school event from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Alvin Coffey: … Continue reading →

How many capitals has California had? More than I knew. I might have been able to list three or four, but seven? Who knew? The California State Library knows. Here is a link to a page on Previous Capitals — … Continue reading →

How would a group of well-brought-up young people entertain themselves on Halloween 115 years ago? Annie Bidwell’s diary gives us a glimpse. In 1905 Harriett Alexander came to Chico to live at Bidwell Mansion and attend Chico High School. She … Continue reading →

Having wrapped up the last days of Black Bart, I think I will take a little vacation from blogging. I will be posting now and then, but I have family activities coming up and other projects to work on. Just … Continue reading →

Charles E. Bolton, as he was known in San Francisco, was a man about town. In the summer and fall he would leave the City to inspect his mining interests in the goldfields, or so he said. During the winter … Continue reading →