The Californian (1860s newspaper)

The Californian was a San Francisco literary newspaper published weekly from May 28, 1864 until February 1, 1868.^[1]

History

The Californian was started in May 1864 by publishers P.J. Thomas, A.A. Stickney and John Collner.^[1] Charles Henry "Inigo" Webb was the first editor, and Fitz Hugh Ludlow was one of the first contributors. The publishers sold the enterprise to Captain Ogden at the beginning of September 1864. Bret Harte was given the post of editor, and Mark Twain was hired at a high salary of $50 per month as a writer, twice as much money than he received for his much more difficult work as a reporter at the Call. Harte contributed articles as well, and the periodical jumped to the fore among its competitors in the San Francisco Bay Area.^[2] Further contributions by Twain were his condensed novels Whereas and Lucretia Smith's Soldier. Ina Coolbrith submitted several poems to The Californian.

The Californian held a rivalry with The Golden Era, which had previously been the main literary outlet in the area for more than a decade.^[3]

After a period of rest at Lake Tahoe, Webb resumed editing duties in November 1864. He continued in this role until April 1865.^[1] One of Twain's pieces for The Californian was submitted in December 1865, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". This story and others were later published in a book of the same title.^[4][5]

Webb had become both owner and editor of The Californian. By 1866, however, Webb disassociated from the publication and returned to the East Coast after his irreverent tone and burlesque style which frequently targeted California life and Californians did not endear him to his audience.^[6] Writer and poet James F. Bowman then served as de facto editor.

Ambrose Bierce's first contribution to The Californian was in September 1867, a poem entitled "The Basilica". He followed with his first non-fiction essay, "Female Suffrage", in December.^[7]

Charles Warren Stoddard was brought on board late in the life of The Californian. Stoddard expected to write articles, but instead kept the books and mailed subscriptions. Stoddard and Bierce became good friends.^[8] In 1867, Stoddard wrote a book of poetry entitled Poems. Bowman wrote a grandiose review of Stoddard's work in The Californian, then turned around and savaged both Stoddard and his earlier review, writing anonymously in the de Young paper Dramatic Chronicle.^[8]

References