Collection of 141 business documents, inventories, and receipts with civil and political papers plus miscellanea detailing the establishment of ordered life in California Gold Rush towns. A good number relate to the Sierra County area: Rabbit Creek (later La Porte), Downieville, Poker Flat, Forest City, etc. Highlights of the collection are numerous items related to the legal activities of Sheriff Edward Irwin of Sierra County, an early document committing a man to the newly established state insane asylum, several docorative billhead receipts from important pioneer newspapers and a remarkable group of 65 very early (1851-1853) holograph receipts and invoices to the general store, John Craycroft & Company, in Downieville detailing the provision of necessities to the men of the northern mines.
