BajaNomad

The Passing of Peter Gerhard

ElFaro - 9-16-2007 at 12:20 AM

Did anyone take notice of Peter Gerhard passing away last year? He was the "Gerhard" in "Lower Calif. Guidebook. A Franciscan scholar, one of the few who could read and translate the Old Spanish. I bring it up because I consult my G&G from time to time and find many tidbits of information relevant to some of todays Baja topics that only he would have had access to.

Barry A. - 9-16-2007 at 07:22 AM

Thank you for that info----------no, I had not heard.

I own 3 copies (different editions) of their book, and I too constantly refer to it as the first "bible" on Baja, at least as far as I am concerned.

Great book, by two great people.

RIP

David K - 9-16-2007 at 09:22 AM

Great historical author... Pirates Off the West Coast of New Spain was another of his works... We are all richer for his writings!

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Minnow - 9-16-2007 at 09:29 AM

I know you are well familiar with his work David. I am sure his passing hurts.

bajalera - 9-17-2007 at 03:47 PM

We have three G&Gs, one of them a battered old book we never leave on a Baja trip without--a permanent source of good stuff. Peter did some research in the archives at Sevilla for my husband, and from reading their letters I got to feel that I knew him.

Another knowledgeable old-timer is gone, leaving Baja the poorer for it.

David K - 9-17-2007 at 08:50 PM

Howard Gulick was the principal author and map maker of the Lower California Guidebook, but Peter Gerhard was given equal billing on the cover... the historical details were very good and we can still use them today, over 50 years after the book was written.

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David K - 9-17-2007 at 08:51 PM

A sample from inside...

Copy of Copy of LCG page 178-9-r.JPG - 35kB

Peter Gerhard

academicanarchist - 9-18-2007 at 01:02 AM

Although Gerhard initiated his interest in the geography of Mexico with the book on Baja California, he later became betteer known for a 3-volume historical geography of New Spain, including one volume on the northern frontier of New Spain. These 3 volumes have become essential for scholars studying colonial Mexico.

[Edited on 9-18-2007 by academicanarchist]