The Grass Valley and Vicinity collection contains 56 photographic prints taken circa 1894 by Désiré Fricot. The collection appears to have originally been intended as an album, as two of the mounts are covered in fabric, one of which bears the hand-painted title "Grass Valley, 1894." The collection features views and scenes of the Grass Valley area of Nevada County, California --the most productive gold-mining region in the nation --and reflects various interests of the Fricot family. The town of Grass Valley itself is represented in general views, street scenes, and views of several residences and other points of interest. Also included are several scenes of mines --including the prosperous North Star Mine --and mining; the outlying Deer Creek, Shebley Park, and other natural areas; and a Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad train wreck.

Désiré Fricot (1868-1940) was the son of Jules Nicolas Fricot, a French emigre who became a California mining pioneer. Part of a larger community of French prospectors, the Fricot family owned and operated a number of very prosperous mines in the Grass Valley and Nevada City areas of Nevada County, as well as mines in Calaveras County. They also owned real estate in San Francisco, and were apparently active in French diplomatic and consular activities in California and Hawaii.

56 photographic prints, 20 x 25 cm. or smaller (some mounted, 23 x 28 cm. or smaller); 1 single-page document, 36 x 22 cm.; 2 booklets: 15 x 24 cm., and 18 x 13 cm. 56 digital objects

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Restricted originals. Use of originals only by permission of the Curator of Pictorial Collections, The Bancroft Library.