The L. A. Winchell Papers span 1881-1931 and contain correspondence, printed material, research notes, notebooks, photographs primarily of the Millerton area, postcards, a roster of early settlers in Fresno County, diaries of Jedediah S. Smith and Harrison G. Rodgers annotated by Winchell. Also included is 46-chapter typewritten manuscript of the History of Fresno County and the San Joaquin Valley. Most of the information concerns the areas of Fresno County and the Sierra Nevada, however some notes on other counties are included. Of special interest are notes on local Indians, robberies, and "Fresno's firsts," such as the first post office and fire department.

L. A. Winchell was born in Sacramento in 1855 and moved to Millerton with his family in May 1859. In 1874, the family moved to Fresno after it was named the new county seat. Winchell was the son of Elisha Cotton Winchell, an early superior court judge and first Co. Superintendent of Schools.

Copyright has not been assigned to the Fresno City and County Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Society archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Fresno City and County Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Collection is open for research by appointment only.