Author Archives: nancyleek

My new book, that is. Yesterday I received my shipment of 14 boxes of Nancy Kelsey Comes over the Mountain: The True Story of the First American Woman in California. Don’t you just love Steve Ferchaud’s artwork? This is the … Continue reading →

What was once a working ranch in Butte County, is now a museum dedicated to teaching history, science, and agriculture. Patrick Ranch Museum is located on 28 acres between Chico and Durham. Today my OLLI group toured the 1877 Glenwood … Continue reading →

Jim Silverman, whose fascination with California history led him to create a blog called This Week in California History, posted these two pictures on Facebook. I can’t resist sharing them. These two illustrations are from a children’s book published in … Continue reading →

We Californians tend to think that the American Civil War all happened back east, where the South rebelled and the North fought to maintain the Union. But California, a state since 1850, played a significant role in the War between … Continue reading →

Today my OLLI group visited the C.F. Lott home in Oroville. Set in a city block park, the house is surrounded by lawns, brick paths, a rose garden, and a wisteria arbor. The park is open daily, and the house … Continue reading →

How would a group of well-brought-up young people entertain themselves on Halloween 110 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 →

Continuing my OLLI adventures, today the Historic Houses class visited the Kelly-Griggs House Museum in Red Bluff. The Kelly-Griggs House is a classic example of 19th century American architecture, and one of several handsome Victorian homes in Red Bluff, California. … Continue reading →