
website of Katie Willmarth Green	writer/historian/genealogist

Like a Leaf Upon the Current Cast

Like a Leaf Upon the Current Cast Like A Leaf was my first book, coming after years as a journalist and writer of briefer works in various other capacities. It came together quickly, of necessity, when a scattering of a dozen historic sites were suddenly threatened with destruction by the US Forest Service -- including Shady Flat, my childhood home. Intimate knowledge of the locale, a lifelong involvement in historic preservation efforts elsewhere, a wealth of research experience from being a professional genealogist for years, and lots of righteous indignation, combined to bring forth this book in 2001.

It is now in its revised, greatly fattened-up, third edition. To my certain knowledge, copies have gone to live in all the major libraries of Western Americana in the US, to individuals in many states, to the Mormon Library in Salt Lake City, to Canada, England, Bulgaria(!) and Ireland. After all, people flocked to the Gold Rush from all over creation (then mostly went home again within two years), and the topic of the Gold Rush continues to fascinate more than 150 years later.

To protect my reputation as a crusading journalist, for this book I felt compelled to probe uncomfortable subjects overlooked or avoided by previous Sierra County historians :

Native Americans (Maidu or Nisenan) -- little attention and no respect had been paid to those who first occupied the land, save to repeat the ridicule and lies written by the Gold Rush invaders. The Indians wuz robbed!
Women -- the role of women, except as domestic icons, was previously ignored, and their contributions and legal status in and out of marriage was left undocumented. Come forth, ladies, into the light of day!
Immigrants -- previous histories were silent about the plight of immigrants, especially the non-Northern European ethnic and racial groups, who suffered discrimination of the harshest sort and were deprived of basic civil rights. These are some of the nastiest chapters in Gold Country history!
Environment -- the environmental devastation wrought by mining and timbering was largely undescribed and unreported (although early photos tell the tale.) The earth will never be the same. Read it and weep!
US Forest Service -- treats some of the successes, excesses and missteps of the USFS, as the agency has groped (since 1897) for a workable multi-use "management plan" for our public lands in Tahoe National Forest, one that might also honor and protect historic sites under their stewardship. Long way to go!
The offbeat stories -- small settlements and isolated, more modestly-producing mines were ignored, although many of the wildest or most endearing, colorful characters and events were connected to these places. They live again!