CALIFORNIA IN 1837 - Diary of Col. Philip L. Edwards - Containing An Account of a Trip to the Pacific Coast

Sep 29, 2026

A reprinted 19th-century diary recounts a 1837 overland journey to the Pacific Coast made by Col. Philip L. Edwards. The preface describes the State Library’s acquisition of the faded manuscript, highlights Edwards’s background as a prominent lawyer, and explains the resolution to preserve and publish the text. The diary entries document day-to-day travel activities, including departures from camp, weather conditions, and progress along rivers and routes toward the coast.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages60

Reading Time1 h 32 min

AccessFree to download

Published Work and Preface

Background on the Manuscript Acquisition

Resolution for Printing and Preservation

Diary Entries

January 1837 Travel Record

ооеоооосООО CALIFORNIA IN 1837. DIAg o Gol.Philtp I:.Edwards. # DATE DUE CrD 0/oon | 十LD 车 | ZUUS | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | GAYLORD\#3523PIPrinted in USA MEVADASTATELORARYTHIS BOLibrary an31428000306486date shoWn uurUY.nIIIE 0I charged for each day overdue.Fau rowers makes it necessary to enforce this DATE DUE | JUL22'45 | | | 100 | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | R | A | | 100 | | 人 | A | | | 88 | | A | 1000 | 心 | | | 过 | 1
对 | 1000 | | | | | | | | 979. EdwardsCalifornia in 1837. Nevada State Library Carson City,Nevada 豆 86 E CALIFORNIA IN 1837. Diary of Col.Philip L.Edwards CONTAINING AN AccOUNT OF A TRIP TO THEPACIFIC CoAST. 9179. PUBLISHED IN“THEMIS”BY AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF STATE LIBRARY TRUSTEES OF THE STATE OF CALIFOD² SACRAMENTO: A.J.JOHNSTON &co.,PRINTERS.18go. 17.94 EET CALIFORNIA IN I837 # — — [REPRINTED FROM VOI.II THEMIS.] Some years ago there was acquired by the State amanuscript diary of the late Col.P.L.Edwards,thatcontained a narration of the events that transpired onan overland trip he made to this coast in I837.JudgeJohn W.Armstrong,General Jo Hamilton and thelate James C.Goods were instrumental in securing thisvaluable acquisition to the State Library.They wereat that time members of the State Library Board.Themanuscript.from time,has become faded and dim;thatit will be preserved,by resolution of the Trustees ofthe State Library,it has been placed in our hands forpublication. Colonel Edwards was a prominent lawyer and ascholarly gentleman,and his observations of this thenalmost unknown country we esteem of incalculablevalue.After his return he published a pamphlet de.scriptive of California;it was prophetic of the future,we of to-day are witnesses of the realization of whathe pictured. Colonel Edwards was a native of Kentucky,born inI8I2,and after his early visit to California returned tothe East.He was then admitted to the bar,elected tothe Missouri Legislature in I843,chosen a delegate tothe Whig National Convention in I844,located in Sac- 义少 [4] ramento in 1850,ran unsuccessfully upon the Whigticket for Congress in 1852,and was a prominent can-didate for United States Senator in 1855.He was aleading member of the bar of this city,and died hereMay I,I869. We have known of the existence of this volume forseveral years,and present its contents through thecourtesy of the Board of Library Trustees,which wedeeply appreciate.The resolution of the Board is asfollows: WHEREAS,The MSS.presented to this Library by P.L.Edwards,Esq,giving an account of an expedition in Cali-fornia in 1837,is a valuable acquisition to the State Library;and whereas,The attention of this Board has been directedto the fact that the ink is fast fading,destroying the useful.ness and value of the work;therefore,be it Resolved,That Librarian Perkins be,and he is herebyauthorized to negotiate with some newspaper publisher andhave the same printed,and to have the files of said news-paper bound for this Library. The diary of Colonel Edwards is as follows: Friday,I4 January,I837.At night the formationof the Wallamette Cattle Company was completed atcampment Des Sable. Monday,I7 Jan'y.Took leave of the Mission,and at 3 o'clock P.M.left campment Des Sable,incompany with Messrs.Young.Hauveherst,Carmich-ael,Bailey,Esquette and Des Pan.Camped nearlyopposite the mouth of Pudding river.Rained nearlyallnight,and having no tent slept uncomfortably. Tuesday,I8 Jan'y.Set ofl at sunrise,and withmuch difficulty got our canoe past the Wallamette

FAQs

What is the purpose of publishing this diary?

The manuscript diary is published to preserve its content, since the ink was fading and was at risk of losing usefulness and value.

Who wrote the diary?

The diary is attributed to Col. Philip L. Edwards.

What journey does the diary describe?

It contains an account of an overland trip made to the Pacific Coast in 1837, with entries describing travel days and conditions.

Sep 29, 2026

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