Pioneer Journals

Trail Bibliographies

 * Melvin L. Bashore & Linda L. Haslem. Mormon Pioneer Companies Crossing the Plains (1847-1868) Narratives: guide to sources in Utah libraries and archives. [Salt Lake City,Utah:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Historical Department, 1990. FHL 289.3016 B291m 1990; film 1592752 item 6]


 * Patricia A. Etter. To California on the Southern Route,1849: a history and annotated bibliography. Spokane, Washington: Arthur H. Clarke, 1998. FHL 979.4 H2et


 * Martin L. Heckman. Overland on the California Trail, 1846-1859: a bibliography of manuscript & printed travel narratives. Glendale, California: Arthur H. Clarke, 1984. FHL 979. h23h


 * Robert E. Lester, ed. The American West: Overland journeys,1841-1880: research collections on the American West. Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1998. FHL 973 W2Les


 * Merrill J. Mattes. Platte River Toad Narratives: a descriptive bibliography of travel over the great central overland route to Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado, Montana, and other western states and territories, 1812-1866. Urbana,Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1988. FHL 978 E63m


 * Lannon W. Mintz. The Trail: a bibliography on the Overland Trail to California, Oregon, Salt Lake City, and Montana during the years, 1841-1864. Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press, 1987. FHL 973 E63m


 * Frank O' Bryan. Overland Chronicle:emigrant diaries in Western Nevada Libraries. Reno, Nevada: Nevada Historical Society, 1979. FHL 979. 3 J530


 * John M. Townley. The Trail West: a bibliography index to Western American Trails, 1841-1869. Reno,Nevada: Jamson Street Press, 1988. FHL 973 W22t


 * Kris White and Mary Catherine Cuthill, eds. Overland Passages: a guide to Overland Documents in the Oregon Historical Society. Portland, Oregon: Oregon HIstorical Society, 1993. FHL 973 W20

Trail Narratives
 Oregon Trail
 * Akin, James, Jr. The Oregon Trail Diary of…., in 1852 Web Research Group, 1989. FHL 921.73 Ak52a


 * Belshaw, Maria Parsons. Crossing the Plains to Oregon in 1853. Fairfield, Washington: Ye Gallon Press, 2000 FHL 979 H 2bj


 * Bowers, Fidelia March. An account of the Wagon Train Mastered by Solomon Tetherow. [S.l.:s.n., 19-- FHL 921.73 A1 no. 159 Digital Images]


 * Cummins,Sarah J. Autobiography and Reminiscences of Sarah J. Cummins, Touchet, Washington. La Grande, Ore.: La Grande Priting Co., 1914. FHL Digital Images


 * Davis, Charles George The Oskaloosa Company: last wagon train to Skinner’s in 1847, a history of the southern road to Oregon: untold story of the Scott- Applegate Trail overland journey guided by the 1847 pilot of record, …Portland, Oregon: Frontier Publishing, 1996 FHL 979.5 H2do


 * Doyle, Susan Badger and Fred W. Dykes, eds. The 1854 Oregon Trail Diary of Winfield Scott Ebey. Independence, Missouri: Oregon-California Trails, Association, 1997. FHL 921.73 Eb27d


 * Hanna, Esther Belle. Journal of Esther Belle Hanna( Typescript) Transcribed by Mrs. H.D. Brumble. FHL Digital Images


 * McBride, John Rogers. Overland to Oregon: Yamhill County, 1846. [Lafayette, OR: Yamhill County Genealogical Society, 1996] FHL 2055388 item 10


 * Meeker, Ezra. The Ox Team, or the Old Oregon Trail, 1852-1906. New York: Era Meeker, 1907. FHL Digital Images


 * Packard, Patricia L ed Harvey J Jones, 1864, Oregon Trail Journal. Boise, Idaho: Idaho Genealogical Society, 2001? FHL 979.5 H2p


 * Rumer, Thomas A. The Wagon Trains of ’44: A Comparative View of the Individual Caravans in the Emigration of 1844 to Oregon. Spokane: The Arthur H Clark Co, 1990.


 * Thomson, Origen. Crossing the Plains: narratives of the scenes, incidents and adventures attending the overland journey of the Decatur and Rush county emigrants to the "far-off" Oregon in 1852: printed from a diary of daily events. Reprint. Greensburg, Indiana:  Orville Thomson Printer, 1896. FHL 973 W2tor


 * White, Dr Thomas. To Oregon in 1852. Letter of Dr Thomas White, La Grange County, Indiana emigrant Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1964. FHL 977.2 B4 v. 23 no 1-4


 * Wilbur, Sanford R, et. .al comp. The McCully Train. Iowa to Oregon, 1852. Gresham, Oregon: Symblos, 2000 FHL 978 H2wm

 California Trail
 * [Bennett, James] Overland Journey to California: Journal of James Bennett whose party left New Harmony in 1850 and crossed the plains and mountains until the Golden West was reached. [New York: Edward Eberstadt, 1932]


 * Bryant, Edwin. What I saw in California: its soil, climate, productions, and gold mines, with routes, and advice to intending emigrants. London: G. Routledge, 1849. FHL Digital images


 * [Graves, Asa Lester] Letters to his Wife, 1849 – 1850 [by Asa Lester Graves] FHL 981934 item 3] title no 38856 (went to California in the gold rush)


 * Griffin, Mrs Kenneth E. comp Gold Rush Days, 1852 – 1853, from Huron County, Ohio to California [accounts by three men Lewis Beers, William Hubbard Palmer] Typescript FHL 979.4 D3gr


 * Harris, Benjamin Butler. The Gila Trail: The Texas Argonauts and the California Gold Rush. Edited & annotated by Richard H. Dillon. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, [1960]
 * Hutching, James Mason. Seeking the Elephant, 1849. Glendale, California: Arthur H Clarke, 1980. FHL 921.73 H97h (journal of his overland trek to California)


 * Johnston, Wm G. Overland to California: A member of the wagon train first to enter California… in the memorable year of 1849. Oakland: Biobooks, 1948.


 * [Kilgore, William H.] Edited by Joyce Rockwood Muench. The Kilgore Journal of an overland journey to California in the year 1850. From the original manuscript journal of William H. Kilgore. New York: Hastings House, 1949. …identifies the date of the destruction of the old Mormon Winter Quarters on April 29, 1850;… [Mattes: 861]


 * Lamore, John. ed., Alex M. Cowan. Oswego goes the gold; the journal of a Kosciusko County group in the Gold Rush of ’49. Warsaw, Indiana: Kosciusko County Historical Society, 1994. FHL 977.282 H2ca
 * Leeper, D.R. The Argonauts of forty-nine: some recollections of the plains and the diggings. South Bend, Indiana: J.B. Stoll & Co., 1894. FHL Digital images


 * Loomis, Leander V A Journal of the Birmingham Emigrating Company. Salt Lake City [1928] FHL 979.453/S1 W2L/1697615 it 6 (from Birmingham,, Iowa to Sacramento, Calif in 1850)


 * Dillon, Richard H., ed. Loveland, Cyrus C. California trail herd: the Missouri to California journal of Cyrus C. Loveland. Los Gatos, Ca.: Talisman Press, 1961. FHL 2056031, item 13
 * Mclhany, Edward Washington. Recollections of a ‘49er. Virginia Beach, VA: Donning Company, 2006. [ed & annotated by Scott J. Lawson] … biographical sketches of the Charlestown Virginia Mining Company. FHL 921.73 M187m;


 * Miller, Harvey. Journal of 1852 trek from Quincy, Ill. to Eldorado County, Calif. Original manuscript, Historical Society of Quincy & Admas County, Quincy. FHL 1863527 item 10


 * Parke, Charles Ross. Dreams to Dust: A diary of the California Gold Rush, 1849 – 1850. Edited by James E. Davis. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, [1989] Dr. Parke, a resident of Illinois, formed a small company….


 * Parkman, Jr. Francis. Prairie and Rocky Mountain Life: or, the California and Oregon Trail. Columbus,J. Miller, 1856. FHL Digital images


 * Peltier, Jerome, editor. Journal of Edmund Cavileer Hinde. Fairfield: Ye Galleon Press, [1983] […St. Louis to California in 1850. ]


 * [Pritchard, James A] Edited by Dale L. Morgan The Overland Diary of James A. Pritchard from Kentucky to California in 1849…. [Denver:] Fred A Rosenstock,The Old West Publishing Company, 1959. Mexican War veteran, from Petersborough, Kentucky, left on 10 April, 1849…


 * Shackelford, Mrs. Frank. Diary,1865,1868: copy of a diary kept by Mrs. Frank Shackeford on a wagon train from Missouri to Los Angeles California, 1865; from California to Texas, 1868. (typescript) FHL 928376 item 7


 * Shaw, Reuben Cole. Across the Plains in Forty- nine. Edited by Milo Milton Quaife. Chicago: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co, 1948. … from Boston to California in 1849.


 * Smith, C.W. Journal of a trip to California: Across the Continent from Weston, Missouri, to Weber Creek, California, in the summer of 1850. Edited by R.W.G. Vail. New York: The Cadmus Book Shop, [ca.1829]  …crossing the Sierra via the Humboldt-Carson route.


 * Wayman, Dr. John March Hudson. A Doctor on the California Trail: The Diary of Dr. John Hudson Wayman from Cambridge City, Indiana, to the Gold Fields in 1852. Edited by Edgeley Woodman Todd. Denver: Old West Publishing Co, [1971]


 * Zeamer, J. Across the Plains by Immigrant Wagon 1865: my trip to California and what I saw on the way: a true story. [S.l.]: Warren County, Illinois Genealogical Society,1993. FHL 973 W2z

Mormon Trail

 * Clayton, William. William Clayton's Journal: a daily record of the journey of the original company of Mormon pioneers from Nauvoo,Illinois, to the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Salt Lake City, 1921. FHL DIgital Images

Libraries and Archives

 * Additional trail journals, narratives, diaries and letters of the pioneers to Oregon, California and Utah may be available at the the following libraries, archives and societies:
 * Merrill J. Mattes Collection. Merrill j. Mattes Research Library at the National Frontier Trails Museum, Independence, Missouri
 * FamilySearch Catalog Family History Library
 * Church History Library Catalog
 * Oregon Historical Society Library
 * Society of California Pioneers, San Francisco

Societies

 * Biographies of some of the Pioneers are available through the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. To search for your ancestors click on "History Department" and then "History Card Index".
 * National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers