The collection consists of the diary of Robert C. Laws who traveled overland from Ohio to California in 1852. Laws joins a company in Missouri after his original party, the Buckey Emigrating Company, disbands. His diary provides details of the trip, with description of the landscape, distance traveled, weather, Indians encountered, illnesses suffered and food eaten. The diary covers the period of April 12 to August 25, 1852.

Robert C. Laws was born June 14, 1830 near Cincinnati Ohio. He joined the Buckey Emigrating Company on April 21, 1852 and traveled overland to California arriving sometime in the early fall with another company headed by Major Ormsby. He died February 8, 1891.

1 folder

Property rights reside with The Society of California Pioneers. All requests for permission to reproduce or publish must be submitted in writing to the Librarian.

Collection is open by appointment for research.