Abstract
Statement of Problem
During the last half of the nineteenth century locally published newspapers were the principal and primary source for the dissemination of public information in Nevada County, California. The social history of Nevada County lacks a discussion, analysis, and comparison of those newspapers. The purpose of this work is to provide an account of what information those publications contained, how that information was obtained, how it was presented, and how it affected local society.
Sources of Data
Primary materials consulted were available files of the newspapers themselves, especially the Grass Valley Union, Nevada [City] Daily Transcript, Nevada [City] Democrat, Grass Valley Telegraph, and Grass Valley Republican. Additional primary sources included directories of Nevada County published during the study period. Secondary sources, such as Harry L. Wells' History of Nevada County, 1880, various Nevada County Historical Society bulletins, books on the history of journalism in California, were read for general bibliographical and background information.
Conclusion Reached
Local newspapers were relied upon heavily by residents for local, national, and international news, as well as feature stories and advertising. Newspaper formats and methods of acquiring news changed slowly during the study period. These newspapers are invaluable sources of biographic, economic, social, and legal history of the study period.