I was pretty excited to happen on an anouncement today regarding two noted California Historians and authors who will be speaking on the California Gold Rush at The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) and California Council for the Promotion of History (CCPH) at their joint annual meeting in Sacramento 9-12 September 1998. I realize this is a little late and some of you may already be aware. I highly recommend Hollidays _The World Rushed In_ pub. 1981, and I am currently reading Starrs _Americans and the California Dream 1850-1915, pub 1973. Both are wonderful accounts of the gold rush era in California. Here is the blurb about the upcoming meeting: The annual meeting theme, "It's A Living: The Business of History," has provided a stimulus for program sessions and workshops that will excite, educate, and entertain. Program sessions have been developed to speak to the needs of the small, mid-size and large history organizations. The sessions will be highlighted by our keynote speaker, Dr. William Ferris, the recently appointed chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He will provide his insights on NEH and its future service to the field. And, noted historians, Kevin Starr and J.S. Holliday, will speak on the California Gold Rush that is being celebrated this year as part of California's Sesquicentennial. These are just three of the nationally recognized individuals that will address attendees. The program sessions and workshops cover a wide range of topics such as collaborations, exhibitions evaluations, historic houses, technology, administrative issues, research, and fundraising. Also, special events and tours have been planned to introduce meeting attendees to the richness and beauty of California while exploring its intricate history. For more information about the annual meeting, see the AASLH home page on the web,http://www.aaslh.org/ or contact the AASLH office, 530 Church Street, Suite 600, Nashville, Tennessee 37219, 615-255-2971, fax: 615-255-2979.