Author: PHELPS, ALONZO (A.M.)
Title: Contemporary Biography of California's Representative Men with Contributions from Distinguished Scholars and Scientists: Pacific States
Description: San Francisco, CA: A. L. Bancroft and Company, Publishers, 1882. 1st Edition; 1st Printing. Hardcover. B&W Illustrations; This book is a folio sized volume in a morocco leather binding with gilt lettering and decoration on the front cover and spine of the book. The leather has embossed decorations, gilt rules and five raised bands on the spine. The book is in Very Good condition and was likely issued without a dust jacket. The covers have some rubbing wear and beginning fraying to the spine ends and corners. The text pages are clean and bright. Illustrated throughout with full page plates with tissue-guards. The book includes biographies of 107 men who "represent" the Western US, specifically the West Coast including California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska; "to gather a compendium for preservation and reference the lives and portraits of those who have labored side by side in laying the foundations of human greatness upon the shores of the Pacific, is the object of this work. Included also, are essays by John Muir (the Glaciers and Snow Banners of California) , John Le Conte (The Lakes of the Pacific Coast) , and Caleb T. Fay (Alaska). " Includes a wonderful biography of Texas Ranger John C. "Jack" Hays (1817-1883) on page 62. Hays arrived in California in December 1849 and within five months he was elected sheriff (the first) of San Francisco. He retired in 1853 to begin his appointment as United States surveyor general of California (appointed by President Franklin Pierce) where he was one of the founders of the city of Oakland. " The essay by John Muir appears to be a first and possibly only appearance.. Very Good .

Keywords: Californiana Alonzo Phelps Biography Political Biographies Personalities California History Californiana


See more books from our catalog: Californiana