Fort Sutter collection

The Fort Sutter collection contains approximately 161 original letters, documents, illustrations and maps, in English and Spanish, mounted in 39 slim, bound volumes covering the years 1845 to 1862. An additional volume entitled "Introductory Volume," contains a printed introduction to the collection, a preface by Edward Eberstadt, as well as an item-level inventory of the letters and documents housed in the collection. Subjects covered in the collection include: Edward M. Kern and his activities at Fort Sutter, chiefly between 1846 and 1847; the Bear Flag Revolt and subsequent military actions; Native American insurrections; the establishment of mail service in California; relief of the Donner Party; and Kern's attachment to the 3rd and 4th Frémont Exploring Expeditions. One of the volumes contains engravings of drawings by Edward Kern and his brother, Richard Kern, made during the Simpson and Sitgreaves Expeditions in the region of the Zuni, Little Colorado, Colorado, and Gila Rivers from 1849 to 1853.