Aaron Augustus Sargent — early resident of Nevada City, newspaper editor, lawyer, congressman, senator and United States Ambassador — has returned home.

At least, his papers have.

Sargent was drawn to California during the Gold Rush, but soon turned to the newspaper business.

He studied law under the prominent Nevada City lawyer, Niles Searls. When he finally got into politics, he found his life's work.

Sargent's great-grandchildren — siblings Bill and John Sargent and Jan Lamphier — have placed the family's collection of correspondence, memorabilia and other materials at the Nevada County Historical Society's Searls Library.

The materials will be catalogued and indexed to make then available to the general public and researchers interested in the life and times of one of western Nevada County's most prominent citizens.

Also included in the collection is correspondence of Mrs. Sargent, a prominent suffragette, with Susan B. Anthony, one of the most famous women in United States history.

The Searls Library is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 214 Church St.,, across from the Nevada County Courthouse in downtown Nevada City. The telephone number there is (530) 265-5910.

Pat Chestnut is a volunteer with the Searls Library.