Topic: History

A History of the New California

Birds Eye View of Sacramento from Dome of Capitol

A History of the New California delves into the multifaceted history of California, providing a wealth of information for genealogists and history enthusiasts alike. The book is organized into chapters that cover a broad spectrum of topics, from California’s contributions to civilization and its diverse climate to detailed accounts of early Californian history and the discovery of gold. Notable sections include insights into the habits and lives of native Californians, the role of vigilance committees, and the development of major institutions such as the public school system and universities. Additionally, the book offers a detailed alphabetical list of biographies, presenting the lives of individuals who played significant roles in California’s history. This resource is invaluable for genealogists seeking to trace lineage and understand the historical context of their ancestors’ lives in California.

Time Book from the E. W. Chapman Ranch, 1876-1878

Cover E W Chapman Ranch Time Book 1876-1878

This original ledger was used by the E. W. Chapman Ranch to keep track of their employees time spent working, starting in July of 1876 and running through June of 1878 . Generally the amount worked are either indicated by a check mark for a day of the month, or 1/2 to indicate they worked only half a day. What a day’s work was is never mentioned, but traditionally it could be as long as sunrise to sundown. The job employed for is also not mentioned. You would consider these employees as day laborers, and many of them may have also worked for other ranches and farms. The type of information provided in this document is the name of the employed, the days of the month they worked, the total days, wages per day, amount paid, amount due, and total amount.

The Madera County Historian, Volume 2, Issue 2

The Madera County Historian documents the history of Madera County and was published by the Madera Historical Society beginning in 1961. This is issue 2 of volume 2, was published in April of 1962 and totaled 8 pages. The issue starts out with an article by Archie Marston concerning the beginnings of the town of Chowchilla, California. Marston deals with the “legends” of the Chowchilla area, properly placing them each in their place before he discusses the real story of Chowchilla and the dreams of one man, Orlando Alison Robertson, the “Father of Chowchilla.”. On page 3 mention is made … Read more