Ea. “La California” - 1902 Day-Book Page last modified:
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Estancia “La California”
1902 Day-Book

This is the 14th diary that has survived the years, however, like the others, it has suffered from damp.

English-Spanish: During the first six months, the entries are written mostly in English (per handwritting, very likely by William O. Benitz), with short notes and animal death counts in Spanish (per handwriting, by 2 ohers but not W.O.B.).  Apparently Willie delegated the record-keeping to his mayordomo and others on July 1st.  From that date on the entries are made entirely in Spanish.  Per handwriting, few to none were made by Willie.

Background:  The background image is John Schreiber’s lithograph of “La California”, which he drew in 1878.

Reference Pages:  To aid the reader with Spanglish terminology, unfamiliar names (people & places), and old measures (weights, distances, currencies, etc.) we have provided a set of: Reference Pages.  We recommend you have these available — they will open in a second window or tab.

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PDF files:

Click on a title below to download a PDF file containing images of the actual diary pages.  Many blotter pages have comments, some aligned with dates on the facing diary page.  We transcribed onto the blotter pages comments that are difficult to read (written in faint pencil).

Front Cover & pages; Entries for Jan. & Feb.
Front Cover & printed information pages; and January & February entries.
Size: 7.4mb.
March & April
Daily entries for March & April.
Size: 5.4mb.
May & June
Daily entries for May & June.
Size: 4.5mb.
July & August
Daily entries for July & August.
Size: 3.5mb.
September & October
Daily entries for September & October.
Size: 4.3mb.
November & December; Back pages & Cover
Entries for November & December, and Back pages & Cover.
Size: 5.8mb.

Transcription:

January

Spanglish speakers!  Please help us transcribe these diaries so others can enjoy them as well!  For example, see 1899.


© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)