Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Thomas B. Eastland diary and letters
- Dates:
- 1849, May-December
- Extent:
- 0.2 Linear Feet (1 half manuscript box)
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item, date] Thomas B. Eastland Papers (MS Vault 019). California Historical Society Collection at Stanford, Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The diary and 13 letters concern Eastland's overland trip from Nashville, Tenn. to Mazatlan where he boarded the steamer Oregon for the remainder of the trip to San Francisco. The diary provides descriptions of camping sites, availability of water, encounters with Native Americans, and his thoughts on the expedition. Fifty-seven separate camps were made, from which Army scouts made forays into the countryside. After 97 days, still 170 miles from El Paso, Eastland decided to proceed independently with his son Joseph Eastman and enslaved person, Dow. The bulk of the letters were written en route to his wife Josephine.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The route followed by Eastland was through Texas and Mexico, but after 4 months enroute West Eastland wrote to his wife "...we are still 170 miles from El Paso...gross ignorance or willful design has governed those who induced the government to make a road this route...". On Sept. 11,1849 Eastland decided to strike out on his own--to continue to Chihuahua and there book passage to San Francisco. He arrived in San Francisco aboard the steamer Oregon on Dec. 1, 1848. By 1850 he and his son had formed Eastland and Son, a diversified business venture. Thomas Eastland returned to his family in Nashville in 1853. In addition to his business venture with his son he had purchased mining claims in Chinese Camp and Indian Gulch and lots for resale in the short-lived town of Ora in what was then Sutter Co., now Placer Co.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Mrs. Thomas B. Eastland, 1948. Transferred to Stanford University, 2025.
- Physical location:
- Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged three business days in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: https://library.stanford.edu/libraries/special-collections.
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-02-26 15:39:50 -0800 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Material in the public domain does not have any restrictions on use.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item, date] Thomas B. Eastland Papers (MS Vault 019). California Historical Society Collection at Stanford, Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
Department of Special Collections, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6004, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022