More Information
The
Bidwell
Diaries:
Volume
1,
John
Bidwell
Transcription
of
John
Bidwell's
diaries
from
1864-1900.
Stored
on
a
searchable
CD-ROM.
John Bidwell’s Diaries
These diaries were kept on a daily basis for years 1864, 1866, 1868-1900, and represent the personal account of an important California pioneer. The diaries are now a part of the archival collection of the California State Library, History Section.
The diaries were photocopied from the originals in 1970-1971 as a contribution of the Chico Women’s Club and a number of other Chico history lovers for use by the interpretative staff at the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park. Mrs. George (Vonnie) Eastham spearheaded this effort.
The content of the diaries was typed over a five year period, 1992-1996, by park Green Thumb worker, Shirley Connolly. Beginning in 1998, Lois H. McDonald, Association board member and volunteer, began editing the typed copy, adding a number of pages omitted by the photocopier, and checking the originals in the state library to add both these pages and other words lost in margins or at the bottom of pages. She tried to rectify changes in spelling and punctuation modified from the originals by Connolly, and to retain the original format as closely as practical.
The Bidwell Diaries are stored on CD-ROMS for viewing, searching and printing from your computer in PDF (portable document file) format. A free copy of Acrobat Reader is included with the CD, which enables you to use the files on the CD in either Windows or Macintosh platforms.
The Bidwell Mansion Association also has available The Bidwell Diaries: Vol. 2, Annie K. Bidwell.
