The core of this collection consists of 64 letters from Elisha Cotton Winchell to his parents and siblings in Missouri. Winchell moved to California from Missouri during the "Gold Rush" to establish his law practice while others were seeking riches in the gold fields. The first was written to his mother as he was making preparations to leave Missouri and the final one was to his sister shortly before his death, over 60 years later. Over half of the letters were written during his first few years in Sacramento and describe the citizens, society and culture of the new city as well as the climate and scenery of the Sacramento Valley. Additional materials in the collection include three engravings depicting the region clipped from an 1850s magazine as well as drafts of Mr. Pfaff's thesis. The collection also contains Winchell's photos of Tulare County and San Francisco.