1938: June 19-July 7
California, Here We Come!: The Journey as told by Lillian E. Dalziel
On the beautiful morning of June 19th, 1936, four Honored Ladies set out by automobile to attend the Supreme Council, Order of Amaranth, at Los Angeles, California.
We were a happy foursome as we bade farewell to our dear relatives and friends who had gathered at the Hurlburt home in Peacock Lane to wish us bon voyage. The gifts they brough us helped make that day a memorable one.
-Page 7, MC318, Califonia Here We Come… Travelogue, UC Davis Archives and Special Collections
MC318 California Here We Come… Travelogue, Archives and Special Collections.
Lillian Dalziel (1870-1957) was a lively woman who traveled with four friends from Oregon to Los Angeles, California, to attend the Supreme Council, Order of Amaranth. According to the Oregon chapter of The Order of the Amaranth, it is a “fraternal organization composed of Master Masons and their properly qualified female relatives.” Lillian held the position of grand matron from 1927-1928. Therefore, the Order was a big part of her journey.
In her travelogue, Lillian denotes herself as the “Supreme Brain Trustee,” in charge of documenting and narrating their trip. The choices she makes in the travelogue show the unique qualities of her personality while also capturing glimpses of her friends’ personalities. With each page, the journey of four women traveling alone reveals the experiences available to female tourists in different parts of California.
The caption on the postcard reads: “On the Mt. Hood Loop Highway -149.” The caption below it reads: “Sunday 8:10 A.M. June 19-1938. California, here we come.”
MC318 California Here We Come… Travelogue
MC318 California Here We Come… Travelogue
Right: Page 22 of the travelogue with a quote about friendship.
MC318 California Here We Come… Travelogue
There are various mementos from the Annual Assembly Supreme Council Order of the Amaranth in Los Angeles, California. This includes the program with the schedule of events and more information about the Order of the Amaranth. Lillian’s dedication to the Order is reflected through these mementos and other mentions of the Order throughout the trip.
MC318 California Here We Come… Travelogue
Lillian’s account documents various aspects of her journey: all of the stops they took, their impressions of the locations, and any prior connections she and her friends might have had to the locations they visited. In the end, the women traveled 3,166 miles in total and spent $99.78 in total for their trip.
MC318 California Here We Come… Travelogue
MC318 California Here We Come… Travelogue
Overall, Lillian’s journey reveals a lot about what it was like to travel as a woman through the West Coast and documents the locations they felt safe in.