Diary (May 1846-May 1849) beginning when Eastland was a 14-year-old schoolboy, written from home in Nashville, Tenn. and New Orleans, La., where his father, Thomas B. Eastland, was a political figure; continuing through the Mexican War, in which Joseph Eastland apparently served as a young man; and ending at the beginning of his overland journey to Calif. taken with his father. Letters (Mar. 1846-1853) to family members at home begin shortly before the time of the diary, continue through his relocation to San Francisco, and conclude shortly after Thomas Eastland's return to the East in 1853. The letters include several written from San Francisco, giving details about Thomas' business ventures in quartz mining and real estate, and about Joseph's employment with Donahue's Union Iron and Brass Foundry.
