The Finding aid of the Andrew Jackson Mason Diary. C058761

John Davis
Society of California Pioneers
04/26/2018
101 Montgomery Street, Suite 150
Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94129
pkeats@californiapioneers.org

Note

B-V-8f / B001632


Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers
Title: Andrew Jackson Mason Diary
Identifier/Call Number: C058761
Physical Description: 1 folder 1 Diary
Date (inclusive): 1849
Abstract: This file contains a small, leather bound, hand written in ink diary, written by Andrew Jackson Mason, during his overland journey from New Independence, MO to "the head waters of the Humboldt River" and the gold fields in 1849. The diary is in good condition and the hand writing is very clear and legible throughout.
Language of Material: English .

Scope and Contents

This file contains a small, leather bound, hand written in ink diary, written by Andrew Jackson Mason, during his overland journey from New Independence, MO to "the head waters of the Humboldt River" and the gold fields in 1849. The diary is in good condition and the hand writing is very clear and legible throughout. He makes daily entries detailing the weather, camp locations, grass conditions, and rivers encountered and crossed, as well as several encounters with Native American's along the way. He mentions the "Comanche and Shawnee" tribes by name. His wagon team made stops at Fort Laramie and several other notable locations along the route West. While many of the daily entries are short and scant in information the journal in its entirety is an invaluable resource for those researching the day to day activities of those early pioneers crossing the vast and often hostile plains by covered wagon train.

Biographical / Historical

Mr. Mason became a member of the Society of California Pioneers on May 4th, 1885. He arrived in California on September 5th, 1849.

Existence and Location of Originals

The Society of California Pioneers, 101 Montgomery St., Suite 150 The Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco CA, 94129

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Eva M. Schlipf

Preferred Citation

The Andrew Jackson Mason Diary. The Society of California Pioneers.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Frontier and pioneer life – California
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Society of California Pioneers.
Pioneers -- California -- History -- 19th century
Indians of North America - History - 19th century
Fort Laramie (Wyo.)