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Thrilling and Tragic Account of a Perilous Journey Overland to California
MS.612
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Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Thrilling and Tragic Account of a Perilous Journey Overland to California
Creator:
Breen, Patrick
Creator:
McKinstry, George, Jr.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.612
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1942
Abstract: This is a photostatic copy of a manuscript entitled
Thrilling and Tragic Journal written by George McKinstry, Jr., chronicling his journey with the Donner Party from 1846-1847. This photostatic copy was made in 1942 from the original in
the Edward E. Ayer Collection at the Newberry Library in Chicago. A label on the front of the file folder states that the
diary was actually written by Patrick Breen, who gave the diary to George McKinstry in the spring of 1847.
Language of Material:
English
.
Biographical Note - George W. McKinstry
George W. McKinstry (c. 1810-1882) arrived in California in 1846, after making the overland journey westward from Independence,
Missouri. He became the first American sheriff of California. McKinstry assisted in the rescue of the Donner Party and chronicled
the rescue expedition in the Breen Diary, which was submitted to Washington.
McKinstry arrived in San Diego in 1858 and lived there until his death in 1882. During this time, he most notably served as
a dentist, physician, and sheriff of San Diego. In addition to these duties, McKinstry served as a politician (although what
post is unknown) and as the Chairman of the Republican Committee of Southern California. He actively lobbied that California
not secede from the Union.
McKinstry was given the post of Collector of Customs at the Port of San Diego. Throughout his life in San Diego, McKinstry
spent many months with the local Native American population, and kept a daily diary which chronicled his life in San Diego.
Autry Library has broadside advertising publication, 90.253.7081.
Edward E. Ayer Collection at the Newberry Library in Chicago.
This is a photostatic copy of a manuscript entitled
Thrilling and Tragic Journal written by George McKinstry, Jr., chronicling his journey with the Donner Party from 1846-1847. This article was originally printed in
St. Louis Reveille and
The Dollar Newspaper in 1847. This photostatic copy was made in 1942 from the original in the Edward E. Ayer Collection at the Newberry Library
in Chicago. A label on the front of the file folder states that the diary was actually written by Patrick Breen, who gave
the diary to George McKinstry in the spring of 1847. The label also states that the manuscript was published in the
California Star and the Nashville, Tennesse paper,
Whig in 1847.
Thrilling and Tragic Account of a Perilous Journey Overland to California, 1942, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.612.
Processed by Glenna Schroeder, circa 1977-1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012
October 22, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
Purchased by Library for the Munk Library of Arizoniana, 1942 July.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
Biographical Note - Patrick Breen
Patrick Breen (circa 1805-1868) was born in Ireland, emigrated to Canada in 1828, and later moved to Iowa Territory, marrying
Margaret in 1831. Patrick and Margaret had seven children -- John, Edward, Patrick, Simon, Peter, James, and Isabella, and
in the spring of 1846, the family joined The Donner Party, bound for California. The party's ill-fated journey across the
Sierra Nevada Mountains was partially documented in the diary Breen kept while stranded in a mountain camp at Donner (then
called Truckee) Lake.
After their rescue, the family arrived at Sutter's Fort, New Helvetia, in March of 1847. The Breens then lived for a short
time on the Consumnes River and then in San Jose. In February of 1848 they settled in San Juan Bautista - becoming its first
non-Spanish-speaking residents - where Breen would live as a rancher for the remainder of his life. Patrick Breen died in
1868.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Manuscripts
Diaries
Donner Party
Photostats
Overland journeys to the Pacific