Sac History Happenings: Epidemiology of Disaster: The Donner Party, 1846-47

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

February 9, 2012

Epidemiology of Disaster: The Donner Party, 1846-47

The story of the Donner Party remains to this day an important chapter in California's history. Beginning their overland trek from Missouri in the spring of 1846, the party eventually comprised 90 individuals, approximately half of whom died of cold and starvation by journey's end. Yet the force of mortality did not act equally on all in the group. Dr. Stephen McCurdy, Director and Professor of the UC Davis Master of Public Health program in the Department of Public Health Sciences and a member of the Sierra-Sacramento Valley Medical Society, will address an often overlooked aspect of the Donner Party: it's epidemiology.

Dr. McCurdy has a long-standing interest in teaching and history. While searching for ways to keep medical students interested (and awake) for discussions of epidemiology and statistics, he was inspired to use the Donner Party experience to illustrate key concepts in these disciplines. Dr. McCurdy will address risk factors and lessons that are relevant even today.

This address will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 at the Medical Museum, Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society, 5380 Elvas Avenue in Sacramento

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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