Abstract Consists of California lettersheets, mostly pictorial, created approximately between the years 1850 and 1870, with the bulk dating from the 1850s. Pictorial lettersheets are illustrated with lithographs or wood engravings depicting California and Western themes. Intended to be used as stationery during and after the California Gold Rush, these lettersheets served as a kind of reportage, depicting important events and popular stories of the day. Common illustrated topics and scenes include:...

Content Description Collection comprises daguerreotypes, primarily portraits, and also views of cities, towns, and mining areas in California taken between 1839 and 1870. Most daguerreotypes are portraits of early California families and pioneers, such as Maria Paula Rosalia Vallejo Leese and John Augustus Sutter. The collection also contains a seven part, framed panoramic view of San Francicso taken in 1851 and street views of California towns such as Diamond Springs (El Dorado County), Iowa Hill (Placer...