ElFaro
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Registered: 9-16-2007
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The Passing of Peter Gerhard
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.
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Barry A.
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Mood: optimistic
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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
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David K
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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
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Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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I know you are well familiar with his work David. I am sure his passing hurts.
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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bajalera
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Location: Santa Maria CA
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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.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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David K
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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
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64849
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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A sample from inside...
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academicanarchist
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Posts: 978
Registered: 9-7-2003
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Peter Gerhard
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]
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