John H. Benson diary [typescript]

Collection

Identifier: MS 0128

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The John H. Benson diary [typescript] (1849) details his journey from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. The diary was kept daily for 142 consecutive days. Benson started out traveling with the Louisa Company, but he and one other broke away to go at it alone on the 107th day of the record. Benson records his surroundings, mileage traveled, animals, food prices and loads, the weather, and Indian encounters.

Dates

1849

Creator

Benson, John H., 1809- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

John H. Benson (b. 1809) was forty years old when he started on his journey from Missouri to California. Further biographical information could not be found.