Finding Aid of the John A. Sutter Diary (New Helvetia) C058497
Finding aid prepared by Nick Scales
Society of California Pioneers
June 11, 2013
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Sutter, John A. Diary (New Helvetia)
Identifier/Call Number: C058497
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folders
Cord bound volume with 1843 Boston newspaper binding, 56 pages, handwritten both sides
Date (inclusive): 1845 to 1848
Abstract: "A record of events kept by John A. Sutter and his clerks at New Helvetia, California from September 9th 1845 till May 25th
1848". The entries, made by John Bidwell, W.F. Swasey, William N. Loker, and Sutter are concerned with the arrival and departure
of persons, supplies, and cargo, as well as significant events on Sutter's holdings. The Diary has been printed by Grabhorn
Press in limited edition of 950 copies. The book contains an index of "Persons at the Fort" located references to all names
recorded.
creator:
Bidwell, John, 1819-1900
creator:
Loker, William N.
creator:
Sutter, John Augustus, 1803-1880
creator:
Swasey, W.F. (William F.), 1823-1896
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
There are no restrictions on access.
New Helvetia Diary. The Society of California Pioneers.
Gift of John Bidwell, July 5, 1886.
J. A. Sutter arrived in Yerba Buena on July 1st, 1839, aboard the ship "Clementina" from Sitka, Alaska. He was the first white
inhabitant of the Sacramento Valley, where he established Sutter's Fort. During the period of the Diary, the Fort was the
initial destination of all overland travellers coming to California, offering food, sustinence, protection, and shelter to
pioneers upon completion of the transcontinental passage. Sutter created a self-sufficient settlement at Sacramento based
upon his extensive lands and cattle, in addition to the capabilities of the people that came there. James Marshall was in
Sutter's employ, when he discovered gold in the mill race of the sawmill that he was building in Coloma for Sutter in January
of 1848.
"A record of events kept by John A. Sutter and his clerks at New Helvetia, California from September 9th 1845 till May 25th
1848". The entries, made by John Bidwell, W.F. Swasey, William N. Loker, and Sutter are concerned with the arrival and departure
of persons, supplies, and cargo, as well as significant events on Sutter's holdings.
The Diary documents the Fort's involvement with the significant events occurring in California during that time including
the increase in overland immigration to California, the Bear Flag Revolt, interaction with John Fremont, United States takeover,
and the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.
The Diary has been printed by Grabhorn Press in limited edition of 950 copies. The book contains an index of "Persons at the
Fort" located references to all names recorded.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth St, San Francisco, CA 94107.
Related Archival Materials note
The "New Helvetia Diary" has been printed in limited edition (950 Copies) by Grabhorn Press (San Francisco) in 1939. This
printing contains an indexed list of "Persons at the Fort."
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gold Discovery - California
Gold mines and mining -- California -- History.
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Sacramento (Calif.) - History - 19th century.