Paden (Irene D.) Papers, 1931-1953

Summary

Title:

Paden (Irene Dakin) Papers,

Dates:

1931-1953

Creators:

Irene Dakin Paden

Language:

English.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Paden (Irene Dakin) Papers, Mss29, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Background

Scope and content:

The Paden papers consist of notes, research materials, and portions of the drafts of her three books. They are contained in seven manuscript boxes (3 linear ft.), the first four of which contain 18 ringbinders of notes, quotations, and transcripts that Mrs. Paden collected in the course of her research. Included among the transcriptions are some full length diaries written by travelers on the Overland Trail as well as many shorter quotations from published and unpublished accounts. The next two boxes contain 48 notebooks--journals of Mrs. Paden's travels along the Overland Trail. Virtually every year, from 1931 t0 1952 the Padens spent a month or more traveling the region by automobile; the journals constitute a day-to-day account of her observations. The final box contains partial drafts of each of Mrs. Paden's three books.

Biographical / historical:

Irene Dakin Paden (1888-1974), self-styled "housewife," lived and pursued the study of the history of the American West for more than forty years in Alameda (Calif.). Her husband, Dr. William G. Paden, a descendant of the Locke family of San Joaquin Valley pioneers, was the Alameda Superintendent of Schools. Together the Padens spent many summers during the 1930s and 1940s seeking and following the 19th century emigrant trails that lead to California. Mrs. Paden kept copious notes of these explorations and during the winters carried out preparatory research for the following summer's excursions. She is the author of three books on western history: The Wake of the Prairie Schooner (1943), an overview of travels on the Overland trail from the Missouri River to the California gold fields; Prairie Schooner Detours (1949), an extension of the first book, examining alternative routes on the Overland Trail; and The Big Oak Flat Road (1955), a history of the route from Stockton to the Yosemite Valley.

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Physical description:

3.5 linear ft.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Processed by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by Don Walker

Date Prepared:

© 1998

Date Encoded:

Machine-readable finding aid derived from paper by means of scanning and OCR; OCR file edited for typographical errors before encoding. Date of source: 5-98.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Paden (Irene Dakin) Papers, Mss29, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Location of this collection:

University of the Pacific

University of the Pacific, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University Library

Stockton, CA 95211, US

Contact:

(209) 946-2404

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