Life's Sunbeams and Shadows: Poems and Prose with Appendix Including Biographical and Historical Notes in Prose.Volume One.Introduction By Frank M. Pixley

Publisher's maroon cloth, gilt lettering, somewhat dulled on spine. Kurutz, California Gold Rush Bibliography number 491: "A;;endix A consists of Pelton's recollections of his life in California at the time of the Gold Rush. He was principal of the Phillips' Free School in Andover, Massachusetts, when he received news of the gold discovery. He determined to go to California to establish public schools, and 'there be a schoolmaster without interference, and employ my own methods in my own way.' He srote, 'I was bountifully supplied with books, maps, globes, some school furniture.' With his wife, he took the ship New Jersey around Cape Horn to San Francisco. In the port city, he recalled meeting such notable pioneers and Mrs. Eliza Farnham, J.J. Warner and Frank Soule. Pelton claimed to have established the first public school in California on December 3, 1849, in the Baptist Chapel on Washington Street. The second portion (Appendix B) consists of articles about Pelton from early newspapers, reproduction of archival documents concerning the first public school, testimonials, and a list of pioneer pupils. According to Norris, the book was published under the patronage of Leland Stanford. Only volume 1 was published. The introductions consists of Frank Pixley's narrative of his trip across the plains and colorful descriptions of the miners." 260 pages.…