Across the Plains to California in 1852: Journal of Mrs. Lodisa Frizzell

A firsthand 1852 overland journal written by a woman and later composed while snowbound in the Sierra Nevada recounts an emigrant trek from the Little Wabash River in Illinois across Missouri and the plains to the Pacific Springs at the continental divide. Daily entries record camp routine, weather, food, wildlife, landmarks and encounters along the St. Joseph and Oregon trails, while practical hardships and moments of domestic care and reflection appear throughout. The manuscript is supplemented by route maps and pencil-and-watercolor sketches, and concludes at the midway point of the crossing, offering clear logistical detail alongside vivid visual impressions.