I thought the first story should be about Newspapers, for without the newspapers our knowledge about what took place in the 1800's would be very slim. There was nothing more important to the men and woman that came to California than to know what was going on both in the their own area, but also back east and around the world.
The first newspaper was started in August 1846 in Monterey, California. The name of the paper was the Monterey Californian, it was started in an old Cigar shop and was printed on cigarette paper (the only paper available). One of their biggest stories was the U.S. declaration of war on Mexico. The newspaper stayed in Monterey for less than a year, due to another Newspaper starting up in California. The Monterey Californian decided it needed to move to Yerba Buena (San Francisco) to compete with the Second newspaper, the California Star. The paper became just the Californian.
The California Star was started by Sam Brannan, who had printing experience from publishing several Morman publications. He brought his small printing press with him, when he immagrated to California with a group of Mormon's in 1846. We will learn much about Mr Sam Brannan in the coming months. He had a very big influence in the history of California. The California Star's editor was Dr. E.B. Jones and it was a weekly newspaper.
Both newspapers operated until May 1848 when the Californian was forced to shut down because it's entire staff had departed for the Gold Fields. The California Star was also forced to shut down in June of 1848 for the same reasons as the Californian.
Sam Brannon sold his interest in the Star to Edward Cleveland Kemple, who had also acquired the Californian. On November, 1848, both papers were merged and operated under the name Star and Californian. By 1849 Robert Semple had aquired the newspaper and changed the name to the Alta California. January 1849 the paper became the first daily newspaper. The paper's name was again changed to the Daily Alta California and was the first newspaper in the West to be printed on a steam press. Some of the papers most noted contributors were Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Four years later there were 57 newspapers and periodicals in California.
The Daily Alta California continued to run it's presses for several decades outlasting many of the rival newspapers in San Francisco at the time. The newspaper ceased operation in 1891.
I hoped that you enjoyed this little bit of history.
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