Finding aid of the Peter H. Burnett Daybook C057741
Finding aid prepared by Kelsey Fox
Society of California Pioneers
September 28, 2011
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Burnett, Peter H. Daybook
Identifier/Call Number: C057741
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
1 daybook (35 pages)
Date: 1849
Abstract: The contents of this folder are 35 photocopied pages from a daybook written by Governor Peter H. Burnett, recording property
sales in Sacramento. The 35 pages are 3 sets of the same 12-pages. One set consists of black copies made in 1938. One of the
sets of whitecopies does not contain the first page of the daybook (numbered in the upper-right hand corner). The pages are
addressed to John A. Sutter, Jr., and range from January to July of 1849.
creator:
Burnett, Peter H. (Peter Hardeman), 1807-1895
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research
There are no restrictions on access
Peter H. Burnett Daybook, the Society of California Pioneers.
Donor and acquisition date unknown
Peter Hardeman Burnett was born on November 15, 1807, in Nashville, Tennessee. He arrived in California on November 5, 1848
via overland route. He served as the first Governor of California, from December 20, 1849 – January 9, 1851. Before becoming
governor he worked as a lawyer and was elected Judge of the Oregon Supreme Court, member of the Oregon Territorial Legislature,
and appointed to the Superior Tribunal of California. While governor, he encourgaed the development of California’s legal
code, and faced challenges such as raising revenue for state expenses and quelling Native American uprisings. After resigning
as governor, he continued to work in the legal profession until he became President of the Pacific Bank of San Francisco.
In 1880, he wrote Recollections and Opinions of an Old Pioneer. He died in San Francisco on May 17, 1895. Source: Gilbert
& Melendy. The Governors of California: From Peter H. Burnett to Edmund G. Brown. (Georgetown, CA: Talisman, 1965.), 25-35.
Print.
The contents of this folder are 35 photocopied pages from a daybook written by Governor Peter H. Burnett, recording property
sales in Sacramento. The 35 pages are 3 sets of the same 12-pages. One set consists of black copies made in 1938. One of the
sets of whitecopies does not contain the first page of the daybook (numbered in the upper-right hand corner). The pages are
addressed to John A. Sutter, Jr., and range from January to July of 1849.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers. 300 Fourth Street. San Francisco, CA 94107
Related Archival Materials note
Society of California Pioneers Records--Archival Record: Vol. 1, pg. 158; Mortuary Record: 1892-1902, pg. 53
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Burnett, Peter H. (Peter Hardeman), 1807-1895
California. Governor (1849-1851: Burnett)
Sacramento (Calif.) - History - 19th century.