They relate mainly to the Donner Party, McKinstry's work as sheriff for the Sacramento District, estimates of the whites and Indians in the Sacramento Valley, and early steamboats on the Sacramento River. Included also is a pay roll of the garrison at Fort Sacramento during the winter of 1846-47.

George McKinstry was an overland immigrant who reached California in 1846. He took part in the attempts to rescue the Donner party, was the first sheriff of the northern district at Sutter's Fort, and became prominent in the Sacramento region. From 1849 to 1850 he maintained a trading post on the Cosumnes River. In later life he lived in San Diego, where he practiced medicine. McKinstry gave his collection of letters and documents to the Bancroft Library in 1872.

Number of containers: 1 vol. Number of microfilm reels: 1

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Collection is open for research.