John Sutter and a Wider West

Since the discovery of gold at Sutter's sawmill in 1848, the historical figure of John Sutter has been obscured by his very notoriety. Yet, as demonstrated by the perceptive, freshly-conceived essays in this collection, reappraisal of his full career rewards us with important new insights concerning the Euro-American development of the American West. This volume begins with Sutter's own account of his American experience. Five leading historians then consider particular aspects of his activities: Howard R. Lamar presents Sutter as an entrepreneur; Albert L. Hurtado examines his management of Indian allies and Indian workers; Iris H.W. Engstrand sheds new light on Sutter's relationships with women and children; Richard W. White discusses his role in reshaping northern California's natural environment; and Patricia Nelson Limerick considers Sutter as a prototype for failure in the American West. Demythologizing Sutter while giving him a more secure place in western history, the collective portrait exemplifies revisionist scholarship at its best. Kenneth N. Owens, who organized the series of public lectures on which these essays are based, is a professor of history at California State University, Sacramento. He has also edited The Wreck of the Sv. Nikolai: Two Narratives of the First Russian Expedition to the Oregon Country, 1808-1810. Also by Kenneth N. Owens The Wreck of the Sv. Nikolai: Two Narratives of the First Russian Expedition to the Oregon Country, 1808-1810 0-8032-8615-5 PB GBP9.95