In June 1867, the San Francisco Elevator-one of the nation's premier black weekly newspapers during Reconstruction-began publishing articles by a Californian calling herself -Ann J. Trask- and later -Semper Fidelis.- Her name was Jennie Carter (1830-1881), and the Elevator would print her essays, columns, and poems for seven years.

Carter probably spent her early life in New Orleans, New York, and Wisconsin, but by the time she wrote her -Always Faithful- columns for the newspaper, she was in Nevada County, California. Her work considers California and national politics,...