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Breen, Patrick, ca. 1805-1868. Patrick Breen diary, 1846 Nov. 20-1847 Mar. 1.

Title: Patrick Breen diary, 1846 Nov. 20-1847 Mar. 1.

The diary of Patrick Breen was recorded between November 20, 1846 and March 1, 1847, in what is presently the Donner Pass region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in Nevada County, California. At the time of the diary's composition, Breen and his family were part of a group of pioneers -- that came to be known as the Donner Party -- completing an overland journey from the Great Plains to California. After reaching Donner Lake (then Truckee Lake), the group met with relentless winter conditions which prohibited further travel. As these conditions persisted, food supplies were depleted and hunger and sickness came to prevail over the stranded party. For many, leather hides provided the only remaining sustenance. Several eventually died of starvation. Others, in desperation, resorted to consuming the flesh of those already dead. The survivors were finally rescued by a relief party led by James F. Reed -- an original member of their party -- and shortly thereafter reached their destination at Fort Sutter in New Helvetia. The diary begins during the early stages of the winter of 1846-47 -- one of the harshest on record for the region -- and proceeds to chronicle on a daily basis its increasing severity and the disastrous toll it took on the party. The last entry is recorded the day of the arrival of Reed's relief party.

ArchivalResource: Originals: 32 p. ; 16 cm.Copies: partial microfilm reel : negative (Rich. 530:1-19) and positive.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/26650171 View

Bancroft Library. Information about the George McKinstry diary, containing information about crossing the plains before the Civil War.

Title: Information about the George McKinstry diary, containing information about crossing the plains before the Civil War.

ArchivalResource:

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/248072100 View

McKinstry, George. George McKinstry Collection, 1816-1890.

Title: George McKinstry Collection, 1816-1890.

Correspondence, business papers, clippings, legal documents, draft of petition to Congress.

ArchivalResource: 5 manuscript boxes.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58746699 View

Bidwell, John, 1819-1900. John Bidwell (Sutter's Fort Pioneer Collection), 1841-1902.

Title: John Bidwell (Sutter's Fort Pioneer Collection), 1841-1902.

Business and personal papers, correspondence, certificates, contracts, receipts.

ArchivalResource: 2 manuscript boxes.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58745816 View