Historic Newspapers: Gold Rush Era

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 14, 1848 The top of pg. 3 has a column head: "The California Gold Region" which has near the beginning: "The accounts which have reached the United… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 4, 1848  The front page has news on the Gold Rush headed: "From California", beginning: "In Upper California the gold excitement is on the increase..."… more

NEW-YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, November 4, 1848  The back page is an article "From California - Counter Revolution at Mazatlan" which mentions the increase of excitement of the gold rush. Also within… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 1848  Page 3 has a report headed: "From California" which includes in part: "...fully confirms the most glowing accounts heretofore received in the… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 1848  Page 3 has a report headed: "From California" which includes in part: "...fully confirms the most glowing accounts heretofore received in the… more

DAILY EVENING TRANSCRIPT, Boston, Dec. 5, 1848 

* Very early California gold rush reporting - 49ers 

 California Gold Rush reports from 1848 are rather rare but we've found some through the years,… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 1848  

* Gold discovered in California
* Official government report
* Pre 49ers- Forty-Niners

Beginning on the front page and taking all of… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 1848  The top of the back page has a column head: "Further Of The Gold Mines" which is an early report on the California Gold Rush. It is primarily… more

BOSTON MUSEUM, Dec. 16, 1848  Page 4 has: "California Gold" which includes: "All of our brethren are having their say about the California gold discoveries...But California, nor any other unsettled… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 21, 1848 

* California gold rush fever

Page 3 has an article: "Gold" which includes: "...all that has been reported of the gold regions of… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 23, 1848  The front page has several items on the California Gold Rush including: "California Adventurers" beginning: "The 'stream of human life' is… more

NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, 1849   Although this issue does not have specific gold rush content, it is a great “period” item with 1849 in the dateline. The issue contains many ads related to California… more

NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, 1849  Although this issue does not have specific gold rush content, it is a great “period” item with 1849 in the dateline. The issue contains many ads related to California… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 5, 1849  The top of the back page has: "The Gold In California" which includes 3 items, two from the Phila. Mint of the U.S.
Pages 3 & 4 have: "Letter… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 1849  Over two columns on page 2 are taken up with an excellent and very detailed letter headed: "Diluvial Gold Deposits of California". It begins:… more

BOSTON DAILY JOURNAL, Jan. 6, 1849 

* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners

Page 2 has: "California Items" which mentions a group  of 20 soon to head there: "...mostly young men of… more

BOSTON DAILY JOURNAL, Jan. 10, 1849 

* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners

The front page has: "Gold Region" noting in part: "...such astonishing news from California that they… more

BOSTON DAILY JOURNAL, Jan. 11, 1849  Page 2 has several Gold Rush reports under the heading: "California Items" including: "...number of passengers who have already sailed, or are on the point of… more

BOSTON DAILY JOURNAL, Jan. 12, 1849 (misdated as Jan. 11)

* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners

Page 2 has several nice reports from the California Gold Rush under the heading:… more

DAILY EVENING TRANSCRIPT, Boston, Jan. 13, 1849 

* California gold rush - 49ers

Page 2 has an article: "From California" which includes: "...the price of gold dust in the 'diggins' had  fallen… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 13, 1849  

* California gold rush - 49ers
* United States Congress - statehood ?

The front page has over a full column headed: "The Gold… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Jan. 20, 1849  The front page shows: "The Islington New Market". Inside has 4 prints on the: "Gold Mine In Brazil".
Perhaps the best prints are the five… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 1849  

* Early in Abraham Lincoln's political career
* Slavery related U.S. Congress vote "nay"

Page 3 has much reporting from the… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 22, 1849  Page 4 has one & one-third columns taken up with reports concerning the gold situation in California. Under the heading:… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 1849  Page 3 has half a column headed: "From California" which is a letter depicting: "...a vivid and life-like picture of the state of things in… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 26, 1849  The bottom of page 3 has: "Movements For California" noting in part: "...company is being formed at Boston to visit the gold mines of… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 27, 1849  
Page 3 has three items concerning the California Gold Rush headed: "How They Go!" and: "State of Society in the Gold Region" with a report… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 1849  
The front page has nearly two columns taken up with a detailed article: "Gold Hunting In California, in the Sixteenth Century".
Page 7 has… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 30, 1849  The top of page 3 has: "One of The Boys In California" which has a prefacing note: "The following amusing epistle we find in the Toledo… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 1849

* California gold rush
* Hardships for 49ers

 Page 3 has: "For California" which reports of several ship heading to California.… more

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Feb. 3, 1849  The top of page 3 has a column headed: "Mode Of Extracting Gold From the Ore"  being a timely article given the recent discovery of gold in Calif.… more

ILLINOIS JOURNAL, Springfield, Feb. 7, 1849  Page 3 has two articles concerning the California Gold Rush.
"California Items" is mostly concerning the passengers at Chagres, Panama, mid-way on their… more

THE HOME JOURNAL, New York City, February 10, 1849 

* California gold rush

Page 3 has a report headed: "A Golden Joke" which focuses on a letter from San Francisco which includes in part:… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 15, 1849  Page 3 has a wonderful and more than full column report headed: "Internal Route to California" which begins with a letter written by 3… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 16, 1849  Most of the front page is the: "Speech of Mr. Wm. B. Preston On the Formation of a New State out of the Territories of California and… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 1849  

* Gold discoveries in village of San Francisco

The front page has: "The Grand Inauguration Ball, at the City Hall Saloon". Page… more

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, Columbia, South Carolina, Feb. 21, 1849  

* Rare antebellum publication
* California Gold Rush report

Not only a rather rare antebellum title, but page 2 has California… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 21, 1849  

* Early in Abraham Lincoln's political career
* Addresses United States Congress

Page 3 has much reporting from the "House of… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 1, 1849  Half of the front page, all of page 2 and much of page 3 are taken up with an interesting discussion in the Senate on: "The New… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 15, 1849  Page 3 has: "The Voice of The West" which has a report on the inaugural of President Taylor. Also: "From California" which includes a… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 22, 1849  

* California gold rush - 49ers
* Mormons at Salt Lake City
* Mormonism - emigration

Two-thirds of a column on page 3 is taken up… more

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, March 24, 1849  Page 3 has: "The Gold Region" with the latest from the California gold rush. A few bits include: "...Emigrants were flocking in by the… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 24, 1849  Page 3 has: "Crossing The Isthmus" being a letter on the challenges of crossing at Panama to reach the gold fields of California.
… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 29, 1849  

* John C. Fremont
* Fatal 4th expedition

The top of the front page has a nicer account headed: "Col. Fremont--A Distressing Report"… more

THE FLORIDIAN & JOURNAL, Tallahassee, Florida, March 31, 1849 

* Early California gold rush report
* Rare title from pre-civil war Florida

A nice & rare opportunity for a very early newspaper… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., April 7, 1849  

* John C. Fremont
* Fatal 4th expedition

Page 3 has over half a column headed: "From Santa Fe" which includes a letter on Col.… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., April 9, 1849  The entire front page & a portion of page 2 are taken up with the: "Speech of Mr. Jas. McDowell On the Formation of Governments for New… more

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., April 10, 1849 

* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners

Page three has "Gold" which begins: "We notice that many person doubt the reports of… more

NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, April 10, 1849  A front page article is headed: "Piracy In the Pacific" which has some interesting particulars. Also on the front page: "The New Coinage" which reports on the… more

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., April 11, 1849  Page 3 begins with: "From California" which is a letter beginning: "I have just returned from an exploration of the gold region &… more