The Hutchings-Newsom collection of letters, documents, artifacts, and ephemera covers roughly 100 years of history between extended family and friends.  Geographical coverage extends from the East Coast, Mid-West, Southern, and Western United States. Beginning in Virginia in 1813, the collection details family settlements from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, and later to California, Oregon, and Washington. A majority of letters center on Missouri (from about 1813-1853) and California (1853-1912). 

This exhibition focuses on the latter half of the collection in which many of the letters and documents originate from Stanislaus County and greater Central and Northern California. This section of the collection provides rare insight into the early history and development of our region along with daily life, social norms and historical events through the words of the various correspondents.  

Get cozy with a popular book!

Book displays will be available during library open hours (check out specific campus library hours on our library hours web page).

For more book reccommnedations, check out our popular books guide.