David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64568
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Dr. Michael Mathes, author of dozens of Baja history books and articles has died
Here is an article from the CAREM newsletter:
Mr. Hernan Ibanez Bracamontes, president of EL CORREDOR HISTÓRICO CAREM, A.C., announces the passing of Dr. Michael W. Mathes, on August 13 at 9.30 am
in Lubbock, Texas.
For this organization his passing is not only the loss of a great friend, but also the loss of a respected partner, our tour guide, and an honorary
member.
Thanks to Dr. Mathes, an Office of INAH settled in Mexicali, BC; he always insisted that the archaeological findings of Baja California should be
registered here in this state and not in Sonora. Later he suggested to Julia that Bendimez Paterson, head of that office, invite community members to
work side-by-side to rescue and preserve our state's historical relics. And thus the birth of the Historic Corridor of the Californias, and
subsequently in 2003, the birth of EL CORREDOR HISTÓRICO CAREM, A.C. in Tecate.
This is an example of his vision and interest in passing on history.
His last project continues today as 'a work in progress': seeking to have EL CAMINO REAL of the Californias (both Upper and Lower California) declared
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
CAREM Historical Corridor, AC, in coordination with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the State Secretariat of Tourism
(SECTURE), plan to continue working on this important project until it becomes reality.
Those that make up this Organization miss Dr. Michael W Mathes dearly -- his interesting talks, his stories, his jokes, his wisdom and great people
skills, and his love....Rest in Peace our Friend.
[Edited on 9-4-2012 by David K]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Here's one of his translations:
http://www.historyoftequila.com/libroscjv/originanddevelopme...
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3689
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Way back in the 70's I was a member of the Commission of the Californias- headed by Lt. Gov Mike Curb.
Mike Mathes was at many of our meetings and was a fantastic resource. He was especially helpful in our work on the Cultural and Social Committee.
Intensely intellectual, but also very amiable and so strong in his commitment to Baja and to Mexico
RIP MM
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64568
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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This might have been his last Baja book, 2009:
In a copy sent to me by Zella at CAREM, Dr. Mathes was kind enough to autograph it to Baja Angel and I.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3792
Registered: 2-9-2004
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I was so privileged to have spent 6 days with Dr. Mathes on a mission trip organized by CAREM. Dr. Mathes spoke for hours each day on the history of
Baja CA, the missions; his recall of details, names, dates was incredible. He was the ultimate Baja historian. Sad news.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64568
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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"spoke for hours each day on the history of Baja"
Did you retain it or would a handy book with a page of basic history and a page of photos, for every mission... in your hands, be helpful?
Thanks!
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3792
Registered: 2-9-2004
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I couldn't have retained it all - way too much detail. Lecture data was reinforced by actually being on site, visiting museums, and seeing artifacts
and structure. Dr. Mathes spoke for hours each day, but in one-hour or so segments over the course of the day and at the various locations we toured.
The concomitant historical data was one aspect; the travel destinations, the company of others interested in the missions, general comraderie made for
a special trip.
[Edited on 9-14-2012 by BajaNomad]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64568
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thank you for the photos! My neck was getting sore, so I hope you don't mind my edit of it!
Please see your u2u, regarding the tour, thanks!
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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A great loss to all Nomads. RIP
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2394
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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he sounds like an amazing man, how old was he on his passing
RIP
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3792
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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Thanks for rotating that, David. I swear, I did that - 3 times. And improved contrast and brightness. And resized them.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64568
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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See and hear Dr. Mathes as he is presented an award at the Bancroft Library... go to minute 54:30 of the 1 hr. 2 min. clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI95zPDg-CI
[Edited on 9-13-2012 by David K]
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3792
Registered: 2-9-2004
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He was 76:
W. Michael Mathes, a major historian of Baja California, dies at 76
W. Michael Mathes, a major historian of Baja California who was awarded Mexico's Aguila Azteca medal, has died at 76. Tijuana historian Mario Ortiz
Villacorta reported his death in Monday's Frontera newspaper.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported that the Plainview, Texas, resident died Aug. 13 in Lubbock.
He formerly taught at the University of San Francisco, and was awarded the Aguila Azteca, Mexico's highest honor for non-natives, in 1985.
He recently wrote a book sponsored by the Tecate historical assocation CAREM. It is called "The Land of Calafia: A Brief History of Baja California."
"He is the guy who knows every rock in Baja California," Lilia Corral de Kellenberger, a co-founder of CAREM, said last year. CAREM's media room at
its museum in Tecate is named for Mathes.
He was working with CAREM and the National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) and the Baja California Tourism Ministry to apply for UNESCO
world heritage status for El Camino Real de las Californias.
Mathes, who also was director of the Biblioteca in Guadalajara, had been scheduled to deliver a talk Oct. 27 at the sixth Early San Diego Regional
History Conference on “From Sinaloa & Sonora: the Families of the First Soldiers in Alta California.”
Mathes, who helped lead fund-raising tours for CAREM, also wrote articles for the Jounal of San Diego History. According to a CAREM media release, he
successfully lobbied for INAH to have offices in Mexicali so that federal actions involving Baja California's historic sites did not have to go
through an INAH office in Sonora.
A memorial may be held for Mathes in Pasadena in the next month.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64568
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Doug for fixing Cindi's photos!
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