sargentodiaz
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Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Absence
Well, it's hard finding time to log on here.
I recently rediscovered a prolific historian Herbert Bancroft who wrote in the late 1800s lots of books about American Indians and the history of
various states - California one of them!
I read one of his tomes for the first few centuries of California history but am now in the middle or reading/translating his tomes for the years 1826
to 1848. What I mean by that is, that when they digitized them, they were unable to carry over some of the 19th century typesetting [1884] that
resulted in things like Jos6 actually being José. So, while trying to keep track of things, I also have to edit each sentence. And that doesn't even
include the copious footnotes of his actual reading of documents dating from the period.
And, what I'm learning is amazing! The first, about the government in Mexico wanting to make California a penal colony I posted recently on my blog.
But now, I'm wading through rebellions against the various Mexican governors, disputes between southern and northern groups that even resulted in both
sides sending armies against one another. Familiar names turn out to be of Californians from both sides, a number of them the offspring of soldiers
arriving in California with Governor Portolá.
And, it also covers a time when friars arrive from Zacatecas and are assigned to take over the northern missions while the friars there are sent to
the south. And, a president of the missions is accused of treason and shipped off - the remainder under the threat of being removed because they were
born in Spain.
From 1769 to 1821, California existed with little or no discord, what little existed being disagreements between the rights of the friars and the
military. The inhabitants relied on the good provided by the missions - all that existed when Mexico came and took the missions away from the friars!
[The same thing happened in Baja and you can see the results today]
In any case, just explaining and will get back when I can.
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BajaBlanca
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Sounds fascinating!
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David K
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Hi Dale, long time no hear!
Feel free to drop me an email regarding the book re-write, if you are still proceeding with that coarse. I am in the process of moving, so the paper
with my notes on your m/s is in a box, but I think you know the issues as we discussed them.
Keep up the history posts here on Nomad, as well as TalkBaja and the History forum... The past can be forgotten if the story tellers stop talking!
Thank you!
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Osprey
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Dale, thanks for coming back to give us some good Socal and Baja history stuff. I think you're referring to HUBERT Howe Bancroft, historian and
ethnologist who filled a very important life's library of info on the old west.
Hope you'll find time to slug through what's left of his 49,000 volumes of work that remain today for deep investigating and reporting. Thanks again
and happy digging.
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sargentodiaz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Hi Dale, long time no hear!
Feel free to drop me an email regarding the book re-write, if you are still proceeding with that coarse. I am in the process of moving, so the paper
with my notes on your m/s is in a box, but I think you know the issues as we discussed them.
Keep up the history posts here on Nomad, as well as TalkBaja and the History forum... The past can be forgotten if the story tellers stop talking!
Thank you! |
The publisher recently sent me a proof copy of Book Three that I'm supposed to review. And, as posted, I'm busting my chops on this Bancroft
information. So, the novel is in the pile and I will get to it when I ever get the chance to.
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sargentodiaz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
Dale, thanks for coming back to give us some good Socal and Baja history stuff. I think you're referring to HUBERT Howe Bancroft, historian and
ethnologist who filled a very important life's library of info on the old west.
Hope you'll find time to slug through what's left of his 49,000 volumes of work that remain today for deep investigating and reporting. Thanks again
and happy digging. |
Well, I've made my way to Chapter XXI of Book XX of his series on the History of California with another 6 to go. THEN, I will have to go back and
sort everything and everyone out in order to summarize it to include in Book Four of Father Serra's Legacy.
My head is spinning from all this! 
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Osprey
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Thanks for not giving up on a very difficult task. Us fiction writers need all the help historians can give us. He compiled personal histories,
interviewed people of the day, made informed guesses about ethnicity that today either are panning out or missing the mark; either way his efforts put
us miles ahead of where we might have been without stalwarts like him (I'll be glad to include you in that long and honorable list if you begin to see
yourself as an historian) and not a daydreamer like me my kind.
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sargentodiaz
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Probably the most amazing part of reading these tomes are the footnotes!
A woman goes to the city council to complain of she and her family suffering because her husband is gambling away all their money.
Outlying rancheros constantly under attack by marauding Indians running off livestock. No soldiers available to go after them.
Pio Pico highly upset because another member of the ruling party doesn't give him the courtesies to which he thinks he is due.
And on and on and on - PLUS detailed accounts.
And, I had no idea that the land upon which the Presidio of San Diego stood was sold off for $40!
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David K
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Isn't history great!?
The next series of books that followed Bancroft were from Engelhardt... who didn't think too kindly of Bancroft's opinions on the church!
Have you picked up a copy of Journey of the Flame? This is a 1933 version very much like the contents of your novel:
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Bajahowodd
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We Fiction Writers
| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
Thanks for not giving up on a very difficult task. Us fiction writers need all the help historians can give us. He compiled personal histories,
interviewed people of the day, made informed guesses about ethnicity that today either are panning out or missing the mark; either way his efforts put
us miles ahead of where we might have been without stalwarts like him (I'll be glad to include you in that long and honorable list if you begin to see
yourself as an historian) and not a daydreamer like me my kind. |
Sorry Jorge. Couyldn't help myself.
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Osprey
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Howard, how else am I ever gonna learn? Thanks
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sargentodiaz
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To DavidK - thanks - will check them out!
It's been very clear to me that Bancroft held a great deal is disdain for the friars, even going so far as to state their leadership of the missions
was a form of slavery. He posts a great deal about the friars complaining to the various government entities about the treatment of the Indians and
the destruction of the land.
And, for the one case of a friar reportedly acting unpriestly with Indian women, he almost gloats over it.
My task is going to be hard - relating how the once bountiful missions went to ruin due to secularization and the awful plight of those who had once
placed their love and faith in the Europeans who had torn their world apart.
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