author
C. F. (Charles Fayette) McGlashan
1847–1931
A lively figure in early California letters, this lawyer-editor and historian is best remembered for preserving the story of the Donner Party and helping shape Truckee's public life. His interests ranged widely, from journalism and education to butterflies and astronomy, giving his work an unusual breadth.
1 Audiobook
History of the Donner Party: A Tragedy of the Sierra
by C. F. (Charles Fayette) McGlashan
About the author
Born in Wisconsin in 1847, Charles Fayette McGlashan came to California as a child and became deeply connected with the Truckee region. Over the course of his career he worked as a teacher, journalist, lawyer, and editor, building a reputation as one of the area's most energetic public voices.
He is most closely associated with History of the Donner Party: A Tragedy of the Sierra, a book that helped keep the memory of that disaster alive for later readers. Beyond his writing, he was also known for his interests in natural history and science, especially entomology and astronomy, and for his role in civic life around Truckee.
McGlashan died in 1931. Modern accounts of his life also note that, alongside his literary and historical work, he took part in anti-Chinese activism in Truckee in the 1880s, an important part of his record that should not be overlooked.