Books:
The following books include references to the San Geronimo Valley in various forms. Some of the books listed are available here in PDF form, while others are print only.
Click “View excerpt” for the SGV-specific content and click “View full book” to open the downloadable PDF (or purchase link for non-digitized resources.)
“History of Marin County, California” by J.P. Munro-Fraser - 1880
This history of Marin was written just thirty years after its 1850 inauguration as a county. There is a fair amount of specific information here regarding the San Geronimo Valley and
View excerpt 1: Rancho San Geronimo land grant
View excerpt 2: San Geronimo as a portion of Nicasio township
View excerpt 3: Schools, Saw Mills, San Geronimo, and Gold Mine
View excerpt 4: A letter regarding mines
View excerpt 5: John Calvin Dickson and William J. Dickson
View excerpt 6: Russell A. Rogers, James Roy, Thomas B. Roy
View excerpt 7: William J. Dickson portrait
View excerpt 8: Omar Jewell portrait
View excerpt 9: Topography of Marin, San Geronimo ridge
View excerpt 10: George Boreham
View excerpt 11: The Paper Mill and the Powder Mills
View excerpt 12: Omar Jewell
“Tour of Duty” by Joseph Warren Revere - 1849
Paul Revere’s grandson’s first autobiography discusses his naval explorations throughout California. Though he does not mention the San Geronimo Valley, he details a visit to the Point Reyes peninsula and other areas in the North Bay.
“Keel and Saddle” by Joseph Warren Revere - 1872
Revere’s second autobiographical account describes his farming efforts in the San Geronimo Valley. A subsequent chapter details his enslavement of Coast Miwok Indians who he then forced into labor on his San Geronimo ranch.
“Rodman M. Price of New Jersey: History of a Million Dollar Claim” by S.P. Dewey - 1880
This book addresses the complex legal cases surrounding one early Valley landowner, Rodman Price.
“California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names” by Erwin G. Gudde - 1947
Statewide historical research and analysis of California place names, including entries for San Geronimo and Lagunitas.
San Geronimo Valley Community Center’s 50th Anniversary Community Guide - 2017
The Community Center released this impressive multiyear project in 2017 containing many historical photos, articles, and memoirs.
“The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft. Volume 18. History of California. Volume. I. 1542-1800” by H.H. Bancroft - 1884
This volume from historian Hubert Bancroft is the first in a series studying the history of California. It makes no mention of the Valley but includes information on the early Spanish period, which included contact with the Coast Miwok.
“The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft. Volume 19. History of California. Volume. II. 1801-1824” by H.H. Bancroft - 1885
Bancroft writes of the early mission San Rafael history in this volume of his “History of California” series. No reference is made to the San Geronimo Valley.
“The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft. Volume 20. History of California. Volume. III. 1825-1840” by H.H. Bancroft - 1886
Bancroft’s work is highly colored by anthropocentric attitudes of the era. Despite these prejudices, his work is well researched though at times speculative. This book contains a 1934 map of Marin that includes La Cañada de San Geronimo.
“Golden Dreams: True Stories of Adventure in the California Gold Rush” by Frank Baumgarder - 2020
Early San Geronimo Valley pioneer and lumberman Robert Stedman is one of twelve ‘49ers profiled in this compilation of biographical sketches.
View book on Google Books
Memoirs:
“Resident Deputy Sheriff: In Wild and Woolly West Marin 1964 to 1969 … and Then Some! a Collection of Vivid Vignettes” by Weldon C. Travis
Retired Marin County Sheriff Weldon Travis recalls some of the more colorful aspects of his duties during the Summer of Love era in Marin, with some Valley-specific episodes.
View book on Google Books