Readers will find this First Series affords a valuable insight into California history-- in particular, its Indians, gold mining, and Chinese population. W.C. Bartlett, Ina Coobrith, Benjamin P. Avery, J. Ross Brown, Prentice Mulford, Edward Rowland Sill, and Daniel Coit Gilman are but a few in the long list of contributors. In 1883, a Second Series emerged. (cf. American Periodical Series Online, 1740-1900).