California
Mission Studies Association
ANNOTATED LINKS
| ASSOCIATIONS, MUSEUMS, PARKS |  1698 San Miguel Bell |
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| BIOGRAPHICAL WEBSITES | |
INDIVIDUAL MISSION
WEBSITES
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| OF RELATED INTEREST ARCHAEOLOGY THE ARTS BIBLIOGRAPHIES CONSERVATION & PRESERVATION GENEALOGY MAPS NATIVE CALIFORNIANS NORTHERN BORDERLANDS ORIGINAL SOURCES PRESIDIOS PUEBLOS RANCHOS WOMEN |
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| PICTORIAL RESOURCES | |
| TEACHER RESOURCES TEACHERS: Helpful information is italicized. Also please see the Mission Directory for School Tour & Teacher Information. |
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| Since many school children, parents, and teachers use CMSA's links pages, every effort is made to ensure that the links are child-safe. Sometimes, however, unknown to CMSA, website owners make changes that may lead to objectionable material; please INFORM THE EDITOR if this should occur. Appropriate action will be taken | |
- Anthropology Dept., Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: Chumash Life
Newly created by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, this site features Chumash food, medicine, myths, games, dances, language, and a 13,000 year time line. Many graphics.
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles Archival Center
Contact information for the Archival Center for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, located at Mission San Fernando, and a description of its holdings.
- Archives of SPANBORD@ASU.EDU
Spanish Borderlands message board (SPANBORD) archive, February 1995 to present, arranged by month and year, topics listed alphabetically within each month.
- California History Online
Online survey of California history from the earliest times to the 1930s, by James J. Rawls in cooperation with the California Historical Society. The chapters are available in by clicking on icons on the annotated timeline which appears on the home page, or by clicking on the Text Only link.
- California Missions Foundation
Homepage of the California Missions Foundation
California Preservation Foundation
- CALIFORNIA STATE HISTORIC PARKS
- Los Encinos State Historic Park
In the city of Encino, southern California. Address of the park, visitor information, history, calendar of events, links to other historic sites and museums.
Los Encinos SHP Docents Association
Photographic tour of the Vicente de la Ossa Adobe; a wealth of historic photos of local places and people (including many which would be of special interest to genealogists), calendar of park events, contact information.
- Fort Ross State Historic Park
The official State Parks website. Basic visitor information plus links to the Fort Ross Interpretive Association and to the Warehouse Reconstruction project.
- Fort Ross State Historic Park
The Sonoma County Historical Society won an award for this site in 2002. In addition to park visitor information, it contains lengthy articles on the Russian American Company, the Fort Compound, Native Americans (both Kashaya and Alaskan), the Ranch Era, and a chronology. There is also a large educational opportunities section; one on natural history of the region; another on archaeology; and various reference and pictorial materials both. And, if you are curious, links to current weather at Fort Ross, Sitka, Alaska, and Irkutsk, Russia.
First Pilgrimage to Fort Ross Amusing account of a pilgrimage made in 1925 by a group of San Francisco Eastern Orthodox Russian Americans in hired taxicabs. Neither the pilgrims nor the taxi drivers realized what an uncomfortable adventure lay ahead.
Fort Ross in California was founded by Vologodians
Explorers and businessmen from the Vologda Oblast (province) of northwestern Russia led the way in expansion to America. An example was Ivan Kuskov, the first commandant and founder of Fort Ross.
Fort Ross Chapel Withdrawal of National Historic Landmark Designation
History of the chapel and the Fort in general. The chapel was granted a National Historic Landmark designation but lost it after a fire.
Fort Ross Quotations
Short descriptions of the diverse peoples who lived at Fort Ross and of the sea otter hunting and trade.
The Russians at Fort Ross
A bibliography of selected items located in the Sonoma State University Library.
Windmill's New Breath of Life
In addition to the buildings within the stockaded walls of Fort Ross, there were numerous structures outside, including two windmills. This article is about the construction of a model of one of them by a Russian historical architect.
- Monterey State Historic Park
Visitor information (hours, addresses, etc.) with links to the Customs House, the Larkin House, the Cooper-Molera Adobe, First Theater and many other Monterey historic sites
- Olompali State Historic Park
- Coast Miwok village located near Novato in Northern California.
- Pío Pico State Historic Park
- Basic visitor information from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation.
- El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
Location, history, and visitor information for this downtown Santa Barbara park.
- California State Office of Historic Preservation
- California Studies Association (CSA)
CSA is a broad-based non-profit tax exempt (501(C)3) organization dedicated to an exchange of ideas about California's past, present and future. Its activities include monthly seminars, a newsletter, and an annual conference.- Coro Hispano de San Francisco
A choral group which is part of the Instituto de Musica de California (a non-profit 501-C (3) public benefit corporation.)
- The Franciscans
Web page for the Franciscan Friars of the Santa Barbara Province. Explains who the Franciscans are, their spiritual vision, and their work. There is also an extensive links page to Catholic Web sites.
- Hispanic/Mexican Heritage Sites in California State Parks
An inventory of 127 California state parks properties with a connection to the Spanish or Mexican past, e.g. a state beach which was once part of a rancho, or the Anza-Borrego Desert crossed by Fages in 1772, or one of Fremont's camping places during the Mexican War. Arranged alphabetically.
- House Museums, Open Air Museums, and Ship Museums in Southern California
Information, addresses, and phone numbers of many historical adobe houses and other structures, listed by county. Links also to local historical organizations.- Junipero Serra Museum
- Presidio Park, San Diego
- Monterey County Historical Society
- Museum of the City of San Francisco
"First Church in San Francisco...," ( 1925 article in the Diamond Jubilee Edition of The Bulletin) and also links to these other articles from various periodicals, 1862-1926: "Biography of Junipero Serra...;" "The Founding of the Mission Dolores"; "Missions of the Spanish Era Had Wide Influence"; and "Ranch and Mission Days in Alta California" by Guadalupe Vallejo, in two parts.
- Society of California Archivists
- Society for California Archaeology
Resources for California archaeologists; information about the society, membership, meetings and events, and job resources
- Society of Architectural Historians, Southern California Chapter
- Ventura County Museum of History and Art
Subject Index to The Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly,
Volumes 1-30, (1955-1985)
- Welcome to Historic Santa Barbara
Home page for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. Links to El Presidio de Santa Barbara, Adobes in Santa Barbara, the Trust itself, La Purisima Mission, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and more. Visitor information also.
- Biographical Sketches
Short biographical sketches of people who have played prominent roles in San Diego history. Includes some early Spanish explorers as well as later rancheros, politicians, and Native Americans.
Juana Briones' Home Threatened
Traces the passage of ownership of this 1846 or 1847 adobe and, in some detail, the history of its builder, Juana Briones de Miranda. The adobe's current owners wish todemolish the structure.
Site Of Juana Briones de Miranda Home on Rancho La Purísima Concepción
Scroll down to #524 for information on this Santa Clara County State Historical Landmark.
- California Faces: Selections from the Bancroft Library Portrait Collection
More than 1200 portraits of Californians from the mid-19th century to the 1990s. In the left frame, click "Container Listing" and scroll down to find subjects from the Mexican period such as Juan Bautista Alvarado, Juan Bandini, Josefa Carrillo, Cave Johnson Couts, Richard Henry Dana, William Goodwin Dana, Jose Antonio Estudillo, Pablo de la Guerra, Manuel Micheltorena, Andres and Pio Pico, M.G. Vallejo and his son Platon, and many others. . Part of the Berkeley Digital Library "California Heritage" site. More from this site in Pictorial Resources listed below.
- Dumetz, Francisco.
Mallorcan-born missionary to California 1771-1811; founder of Mission San Fernando.
- "Doña María of Adobes." An article from the CMSA Newsletter by California State Parks historian Glenn Burch about Doña María Candelaria López.
- Señan, José Francisco de Paula
Catalonian-born Franciscan who served at Missions San Carlos and San Buenaventura and was also President of the mission chain.
- Serra, Junípero.
Junípero Serra
Biographical description
Junípero Serra, The Founder of California Very brief description, in the Museum of the City of San Francisco Website
People in The West - PBS Series (Contains Lesson Plans)
Father Junípero Serra, Mariano Vallejo and many other biographies. (Click on "People"at the top) .
Site of Junípero Serra's Cross, Landmark 113
- SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS IN SAN FRANCISCO
Online edition (copyright Ron Filion) of William Heath Davis's classic account of Mexican-and early American period California.
- The Vallejo Family: A Military History of Early California
A plain account of the military and political careers of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and his brother Salvador. Part of the California Military Museum website.
- Animated Map of Mission Formation
Created by Ed Stephan, this superb map shows the sequence of mission construction up the California coast, together with the exact founding dates for each mission.
LA NUESTRA SENORA DE LA SOLEDAD
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Timeline
Not only a timeline 1769-1963 but also a floorplan of La Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
The history of this lonely and misfortune-plagued mission, the 13th in the chain, from its foundation to 1845, by the Monterey County Historical Society.
LA PURISIMA
- Brief Highlights of Mission La Purisima Concepcion
- Concise history from foundation through its reconstruction by the CCC in the 1930s and its deeding to the State of California. Excellent black and white photos document the reconstruction process. PDF file.
- La Purísima Mission SHP
La Purísima Mission State Historic Park
The official webpage of this very popular state park, located near Lompoc. The site's features include: an Historical View (either in brief or in detail); an extensive Picture Tour; a Fourth Grade Projects support page; Tours; and Activities (a schedule of events held at the park.). There are also directions and a map on how to reach the mission.
SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA
Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission
The Friends of Historic San Antonio Mission group is dedicated to the preservation of the two Salinan missions, San Antonio de Padua and San Miguel Arcángel. This nicely illustrated site is about the organization, the missions, and other historic structures located in and around Fort Hunter Liggett (which surrounds Mission San Antonio). Maps.
Mission San Antonio de Padua
General information about the mission and about how the region's Salinan Indians have endured into the present.
Mission San Antonio de Padua - Archaeo-Physics Survey
Images and data derived from electrical resistance, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and magnetic field gradient surveys of adobe remains of married neophyte housing at Mission San Antonio de Padua.
Mission San Antonio in Fort Hunter Liggett
Twenty-six outstanding color photos of Mission San Antonio de Padua and the natural surroundings. Each is a clickable thumbnail.
SAN BUENAVENTURA
San Buenaventura Mission
The official Website of the mission.
Mission San Carlos Borromeo (Carmel Mission Basilica)
Homepage for the Mission San Carlos in Carmel, Califoria's second mission (established 1770). Sections of this site include History of the mission, Ministry Services, Directions/Map, photographs, scale drawings and a ground plan of the church.
SAN DIEGO DE ALCALÁ
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Official website of the mission. Sections include Mission History; Mission Compound (a ground plan of the mission); Questions and Answers; Fourth Grade Information (e.g. on Naming of the Mission, Photographs, an image of this mission's cattle brand, a description of Early Mission Life, and Interesting Facts) and Booking Tours. Events and other parish information are also to be found.
PLANS FOR THE OCCUPATION OF UPPER CALIFORNIA A NEW LOOK AT THE "DARK AGE" FROM 1602 TO 1769 by Donald C. Cutter
Despite many beliefs to the contrary, Spanish interest in the colonization of Alta California did not die after the Vizcaino expedition not to be reborn until the Portola-Serra expedition of 1769.
THE OCCUPATION OF THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO DE ALCALA by Iris Wilson Engstrand Narrative of events from the departure of the two-pronged sea-land expedition to Alta California, 1769 to the establishment of Spain's foothold at San Diego."Sociopolitical Aspects of the 1775 Revolt at Mission San Diego de Alcala: an Ethnohistorical Approach" by Richard L. Carrico
San Diego Historical Society article in The Journal of San Diego History
SAN FERNANDO
History of the San Fernando Mission A sponsored site with good content and many links to other mission resources.
Mission San Fernando Rey de España - September 8, 1797 An informative and attractive site which sketches out the mission's history from its 1797 foundation through the discovery of gold nearby in The 1840s.
San Fernando Valley History Timeline (1769-2002) An encapsulated view of how the San Fernando Valley gradually changed from the time when spaces were open and nature was intact through its accelerating development once American developers got their hands on it.
Santa Clarita Valley History in Pictures: Asistencia de San Francisco Javier at Castaic Junction Traces the history of this site which began as an estancia (mission ranch), then became an asistencia (mission out-post attached to Mission San Fernando) and in the Mexican period was a rancho granted to the del Valle family. An undated photo shows eroded adobe walls at the site.SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS
Luis Argüello's Tombstone
Large photo of the stone and its inscription
Mission Dolores
1905 photo (pre-earthquake) of the mission and next-door basilica
Mission Dolores—Altar
A Quicktime VR movie (panorama) of the altar and the church interior.
Mission Dolores Cemetery
Excerpts from San Francisco newspapers 1862-1891 about changes at the cemetery.
Mission Dolores Murals
Centuries-old murals revealed in Mission Dolores.
Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) State Historic Landmark 327
Photos of plaque and mission, visitor information
San Francisco Cemeteries
Today there are only two cemeteries within San Francisco City limits, and one of them is at Mission Dolores. This site will tell you why. A link will take you to four photographs of the mission and its cemetery.
Lagoon and 1906 Mission
Map showing location of Mission Dolores and the natural lagoon which, by the time of the 1906 Earthquake had been built upon. A historic photo illustrates the results. (Mission Dolores, however, was on solid ground and was not damaged it the quake.)
San Francisco de Asis (Mission Dolores)
A series of photos of the mission and its neighborhood today.
San Francisco Earthquake 1906
1906 photo showing an intact mission next to ruins of the modern basilica. (Compare to 1905 photo in link above.)
San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection
From the San Francisco Public Library
San Francisco Streets Named for Pioneers
Mission Street follows the old Camino Real from Mission Dolores to San Jose, but what were the origins of other early San Francisco street names? This site neatly covers the subject trom A to Z, plus a category of Miscellaneous Streets (where you will find Mission Street)
SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO DE SONOMA
Mission San Francisco de Solano (Sonoma Mission)
Official mission website.
Sonoma Mission
Brief historical account and mention of 1953 archaeological findings. color pictures of exterior and interior.
Sonoma State Historic Park (SHP)
Basic visitor information; wireless internet access is now available at Sonoma SHP as well as at Monterey SHP and San Juan Bautista SHP. Follow this link for more information.
SAN GABRIEL ARCANGEL
Agua Mansa: An Outpost of San Gabriel, 1842-1850
After 1834, the lands of ex-Mission San Gabriel were granted out to Californio rancheros. San Bernardino archivist R. Bruce Harley. in an article from the CMSA Newsletter details how in the 1840s portions of ranchos in the Santa Ana River Valley were settled by Hispanic farmers from New Mexico.
The San Bernardino Estancias
California missions scholar R. Bruce Harley explains a failed effort to get Rancho San Bernardino reclassified as an asistencia to Mission San Gabriel.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
The Barrel Organ at Mission San Juan Bautista
Extensive set of quotations, both primary and secondary, on the history of music at the missions in general and San Juan Bautista's barrel organ in particular.
Indian Family Housing at Mission San Juan Bautista Report of archaeological work on State of California Parks property near the mission church. Text by state archaeologist Glenn Farris.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Cliff Swallow
From the online National Wildlife Federation Field Guides, here is a description and photo of the swallow of San Juan Capistrano legend; click on "spring migration" for a map of the migration route from Argentina northward. Some of these plucky little birds stop off in southern California and others push on to Alaska and northern Canada.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Short historical description, links to mission preservation programs, hours, fees, school report information, map, events calendars and more
SAN LUIS OBISPO
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa: History
Includes a historical description and an extensive time-line.
SAN LUIS REY
Contributions to Luiseño Ethnohistory Based on Mission Register Research (pdf) Article by John R. Johnson and Dinah Crawford in the Fall 1999 issue of the PACIFIC COAST ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY. Maps, charts, bibliography. The baptismal, death, and marriage records have been lost for Mission San Luis Rey, but the authors have used computer technology and two early 19th century census registers from the mission to recreate the information. They point out the implications of their work for the study of community history and of Luiseño family lineages.
The Outposts of Mission San Luis Rey About the asistencias (sub-missions) and ranchos attached to Mission San Luis Rey but scattered over 1000 square miles in today's San Diego and Riverside counties, allowing some Indian converts to continue to live in their native villages. Among these outposts were San Antonio de Pala and Las Flores. Informative footnotes.
Pala Asistencia (Mission San Antonio de Pala)
Although often referred to as a mission, San Antonio de Pala was a sub-station of Mission San Luis Rey and did not have a resident priest in the Hispanic period.
Welcome to Mission San Luis Rey History of the mission, links to related sites and information about the mission cemetery, the retreat center and its calendar, the mission museum and the gift shop.
SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL
SAN RAFAEL ARCANGEL
Mission San Miguel Arcángel
Official website of the mission, which functions today as a parish church and is still in Franciscan hands. The site includes an excellent calendar of events, news, and images of the mission. Click on The Mission icon for articles on the Salinan people and the history of the mission and its buildings.
The History of Early Mill Valley
In 1834, Irishman John Thomas Reed became a citizen of Mexico, opening the way for him to receive the land grant Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio. There he built a saw mill (hence the origin of the place name Mill Valley). He married into the Sanchez family and briefly was administrator of Mission San Rafael. The rancho was subdivided among his four children after his premature death in 1843.
History of the Church of Saint Raphael Historical account of Mission San Rafael from its foundation as an asistencia (mission outpost) for San Francisco's Mission Dolores. A small chapel sits on the site of the original mission church which disappeared in the early American period. Today's parish church of Saint Raphael lies across a courtyard.
SANTA BARBARA
The 1812 Santa Barbara Earthquake: Padre Señan's Report
Effects of the earthquakes of 1812 (no mention of tsunamis)
"California Earthquakes--Reminiscences of an Old Trader on our Coast"
Quotation from an 1864 report of a big wave off Refugio Bay in 1812. The account is dramatic but the site's author emphatically points out it lacks first hand corroboration.
December 21, 1812 Southern California Tsunami - Santa Barbara Narrative
An 1856 account of the tsunami's effect on Santa Barbara; although flooding reached a half-mile inland, damage to the pueblo was not great. "
The History of the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library."
Cres Olmstead in an article from the CMSA Newsletter explains the history of the library's holdings.
Old Mission, Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara The Santa Barbara, California, Earthquakes and Tsunami(s) of December 1812
One or two tsunamis were generated by earthquakes in the Santa Barbara region in December, 1812. How large they actually may have been or how much damage was done is unclear, however.
Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library Address, telephone number, daily schedule, access policies, and description some of the Archive-Library's holdings.
Study: Tsunami Could Hit L.A. (Discovery Online, 1999)
The 1812 tsunami in the context of recent discoveries by geologists.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
Statement of the purposes and activities of this non-profit organization whose projects include the Castro Adobe and the Santa Cruz State Historic Park.
Mission Santa Cruz at Holy Cross Parish
Click on the Mission Santa Cruz bell icon
Santa Cruz Mission Adobe
Construction details of a Native American row house (neophytes' living quarters).
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Programs and other activities at the park. Page sponsored by the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park: Archaeological Excavations for Public Use Facility ConstructionSANTA INES
Capuchin Franciscans and Old Mission Santa Inés
Since 1924, Mission Santa Ines has been staffed by the Friars Minor Capuchin; this site explains who the Capuchins are and what they do.
Old Mission Santa Inés A large site with excellent color photos, an extensive and detailed page on the history of the mission from the pre-Mission Era into the 1990s, and informative pages related to parish business. Also tourist-related information about the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang, nearby towns, and a map.
The Santa Ines Mission Mills
History of mills built below the mission to grind grain and to process woolen cloth.
CALIFORNIA'S "TWO LOST MISSIONS" (COLORADO RIVER)
Site of Mission La Purísima Concepción, 1780-81.
California Historical Landmark #350 Immediately across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona.
Site of Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer. California Historical Landmark #921 North of Mission La Purísima Concepción. Two missions established on the California side of the Colorado River, across from Yuma, Arizona in 1780 but destroyed in a Native American uprising in 1781. Their founder, Fr. Francisco Garces, and other Spanish occupants were killed; the Spanish government did not reassert its claim to the area, thus losing control of the strategically important Yuma Crossing and cutting the land route between coastal California missions and Central Mexico.
The Yuma Massacre of 1781 Chapter 9 of the online edition of DESERT DOCUMENTARY by Fr. Kieran McCarty, this webpage contains the previously unpublished first-hand account of the massacre by one of its survivors, the wife of the commander of the Colorado settlements. The last moments in the lives of Fr. Francisco Garces and the other missionaries are described in vivid detail.
ADOBES
The Andres Pico Adobe
Located in today's Mission Hills, this adobe was built by Andres Pico (brother of Governor Pío Pico) in the 1830s and lived in by his son and family until the late 1890s.
Dana Adobe, Nipomo, California
In 1839 this rancho adobe was built by Captain William G. Dana, a cousin of the author of the classic TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST, William Henry Dana. The adobe is currently owned by the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society. The nonprofit Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos has organized an active docent program, with the result that many school groups visit the adobe. The website includes histories of the rancho, a timeline, and a guide for docents. It also contains a full schedule of naturalist-led hikes, annual Heritage Day festivals, and other family events.
Earth Architecture
"The EARTH ARCHITECTURE website focuses on architecture constructed of raw earth and serves as a database for the discussion and dissemination of events, resources, and images of earth architecture in the context of contemporary architecture culture." This website takes a look at adobe and rammed earth architecture around the world; its useful search function will bring up many articles specific to historic adobe structures in California.
Monterey Area Adobes and Other Early Buildings
A listing of Monterey historic adobe structures, many with clickable links to historical information and addresses. Also includes a map of downtown Monterey.
Olivas Adobe Historical Park
Contains the adobe of Rancho San Miguel operated by the city of and open for tours.
Peralta Adobe
The oldest building in California's oldest pueblo, today one of San Jose's history museums.
Friends of Pio Pico State Historic Park. (Whittier)
Information on school tours, children's activities, events, a virtual tour of the park, a biography of Pio Pico and Pico family genealogy.
The Ramon Peralta Adobe Historical Site Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park Basic visitor information: address, operating hours, maps, etc.
ARCHAEOLOGY
THE ARTS
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
CONSERVATION/PRESERVATION
Technical Preservation Services for Historic Buildings, National Park Service
GENEALOGY
MAPS
NATIVE CALIFORNIANS
NORTHERN BORDERLANDS: THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, BAJA CALIFORNIA, AND NORTHERN MEXICO
ORIGINAL SOURCES
American Journeys
This site contains more than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American exploration by Viking, English, French, Spanish, Russian, and American explorers. Relevant to California are documents from travels by Ulloa, Cabrillo, Drake, Vizcaíno, Kino, Rezanov, Choris, and Duhaut-Cilly. Explorers of the Southwest are also well-represented. In addition to the document search feature there is an image search page, an advanced search page, and a large section for teachers. In the latter, help is offered in choosing a topic for student research and in forming a lesson plan, incorporating geography in a lesson, guiding students in interpreting the material, and dealing with sensitive material.
Documentary Relations of the Southwest (DRSW) Master Bibliography and Index (University of Arizona)
Early California Population Project
From the Huntington Library, this website will be useful to a wide variety of scholars: community and family historians, anthropologists and ethnologists, social historians, demographers. The information is drawn from baptism, marriage, and burial records of California's missions.
Documents from the Spanish & Mexican Periods
A virtual collection of documents and maps from the California State Archives and across the Web. Clicking on "Transcriptions of Original Documents" on the side bar will bring up the following texts:
The Mexican Colonization Law of August 18, 1824
Regulation for Colonization of Mexican Territories, November 21, 1828
Excerpts from the Diary of John A. Sutter, 1838-48
Michaeltorena's [sic] General Land Title, December 22, 1844
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, July 4, 1848
Ranch and Mission Days in Alta California, by Guadalupe Vallejo, December 1890; Life in California Before the Gold Discovery, by John Bidwell, December 1890 California Before the Gold Rush, William T. Sherman Memoirs, 1891
Mission 2000 National Park Service historian Don Garate has translated masses of original Spanish documents to create this searchable database of Pimería Alta mission records of baptisms, marriages, and burials. For the serious scholar.
San Gabriel Mission Matrimonial Investigation Records
In Hispanic California, couples wishing to marry in the Roman Catholic Church were required to undergo notarized interviews, stating that they were free to marry. Digitalized documents for 165 of these investigations (called diligencias matrimoniales are available on this website. Most are from Mission San Gabriel for the period 1788-1861. The collection is indexed by the names of both grooms and brides; included among them are the names of four Native American women. These documents were part of the William F. McPherson Collection and were given to Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library in 1964.
Using Primary Sources on the Web
A brief guide designed to provide students, teachers and researchers with information to help them use and evaluate the quality of primary source materials that can be found on the web. The proliferation of web sites from a wide variety of sources requires the careful evaluation of a site before it is considered reliable.
PRESIDIOS
Bibliography for Presidios & Soldiers in the Californias & Northern New Spain
Compiled by Michael R. Hardwick of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
Leon Campbell, "Colonial Life in Spanish California During the North American Revolution"
Although Californians' knowledge of the American Revolution was slight and their participation was indirect, scholar Leon Campbell shows how presidio soldiers, in their own cultural context, shared similar dreams of self-determination and a better way of life. Footnotes and bibliography.
Monterey's First Years: The Royal Presidio of San Carlos de Monterey
History of the colonial-era Monterey presidio from its foundation in 1770 to its abandonment after 1846. Includes a short bibliography. Text includes other links such as a list of the Spanish governors and a short history of the Royal Presidio Chapel.
The Funston Avenue Archaeological Research Project at the Presidio of San Francisco ~ This contains some of the same information and graphics as the National Park Service link listed above (Presidio of San Francisco - Funston Avenue History) but adds the perspective of the archaeological team which has been working there since 1999. Within the text is the team's Management Summary and a link to the final report of the 1999 research season. "
The Presidios of Alta California."
A paper by CMSA Website Editor Sasha Honig
Spain's Role in the American Revolution from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean
California's financial involvement in the American Revolution (a donation of over $4,000) is very briefly noted in the larger context of multiple ways in which Spain aided the American side against Great Britain. Extensive bibliography. "
The Use of Presidio Hill"
Using San Diego's Presidio Hill as its focus, this essay by two San Diego Historical Society curators describes some of the area's political, economic, and cultural changes which occurred after the coming of theSpaniards. This includes a sketch of pre-contact Tipai-Kumeyaay culture, the religious-political significance of the missions, the coming of the Mexican period, and the decay of the presidio after the foundation of a new population center at the base of the hill (now known as Old Town).
Web de Anza
This site focuses on the two overland expeditions by Juan Bautista de Anza to Alta California, 1774 and 1776. Its rich content includes the texts of historic diaries, letters, and reports (Anza, Font, Garces, and Moraga); maps (both historic and modern); scholarly articles; photos; bibliographies; and a page for teachers. Created by the Center for Advanced Technology (CATE) at the University of Oregon.
PUEBLOS Weaving The Water Web: Evolution of the Legal Framework for Water Resource Development in California A paper presented by Drs. Christine M. Rodrigue and Eugenie Rovai to the Southern California Environment and History Conference , Sept. 21, 1996, at California State University, Northridge. Conference Topic: Southern California before 1900: Landscape, Climate, and Ecology California has, the authors say, the most complex systems for the management of water resources in the United States. After discussing English common law, riparianism and Gold Rush-era appropriationist practices, made up by miners on the spot, they tackle the complicating role of Spanish pueblo rights, especially as they affected the growth of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They also examine regional land use changes as they reflected access to limited water resources.
- IN GENERAL
LOS ANGELES
The Prideful Mission and the Little Town: Los Angeles
The story of how the peoples of Mission San Gabriel, founded for religious reasons, and the civilian, secular pueblo of Los Angeles eventually "mixed into a world famous city."BRANCIFORTE
Time Line for the Establishment of the Pueblo de Branciforte
Chronology of exploration and settlement of Branciforte 1542-1797Villa de Branciforte
The Villa de Branciforte was founded in 1797 by Governor Diego de Borica of California on orders of Viceroy the Marqués de Branciforte. It was the third of Alta California's three pueblos. The settlement existed as a separate township until 1905, when it was annexed to the city of Santa Cruz.
SAN PASCUAL INDIAN PUEBLO
Captain Jose Panto and the San Pascual Indian Pueblo in San Diego County, 1835-1878.
San Pascual was one of a handful of Indian towns established after secularization of the missions in the mid 1830s. Panto successfully defended it against squatter encroachment, but with his accidental death in 1874, the townspeople could no longer resist and were forced out.
RANCHOS
Bouquet Canyon
Who would have guessed that the name of Bouquet Canyon (Santa Clarita area) comes from "Rancho del Buque" (Ship Ranch), an 1845 Mexican land grant? Photos taken from the 1870s to the early 1900s show the progressive decay of the rancho's original adobe (known as the Suraco Adobe after a later owner of the land). Also featured is a photo of the Suraco family and a 1920s Automobile Club map showing the area.
California Longhorns Vs. Texas Longhorns of Yesteryear and Today-- A Comparative Study The title sums it up. On the website of CATL: California Association of Texas Longhorn Breeders
California's Ranching History,1774-1848 Contains a long section detailing Mexican legal procedures for acquistion of a land grant. Of interest to genealogists would be names of all the children of Jose Maria Pico and their spouses, plus considerable information on Pio Pico.
Camulos Emphasizes the connection between Camulos and the popular novel RAMONA; not only does it include the complete text of the book, but several articles and an abundance of pictures relevant to the legend.
Castaic 1886 photo of decendents of the Cordova family, said to have settled in the Castaic area in 1835. This webpage also includes photos of Tatavium artifacts.
The Historic Dominguez Rancho Adobe
In 1784, Juan Jose Dominguez received the Rancho San Pedro, one of the largest in the Los Angeles area; in 1827, nephew Manuel Dominguez built the present adobe, today a museum. Manuel Dominguez became an important political figure in the Mexican government; the famous Battle of the Dominguez Ranch (Battle of the Old Woman's Gun) took place on his land. The city of Carson is named after a grandson, John Manuel Carson.
History of Longhorns in California From the introduction of long-horned cattle into California in 1769 to their proliferation on the missions, the development of the hide and tallow trade, secularization and the rise of the ranchos, the impact of the Gold Rush on the cattle business, especially on Southern California, demise of the long-horned herds in California due to combination of drought and introduction of fattier British breeds by non-Hispanic ranchers. Footnoted.
Mexican Land Grants by County Lists Mexican land grant titles confirmed by the U.S. Government in the second half of the 19th century in these counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma. Consists of tables with the following information: Grant Numbers, names of the ranchos and the patentees, patent dates, and acreages in each rancho.
The Past in California's Landscape
CSU Northridge geography professor David Hornbeck discusses the importance of the rancho in California history.
Rancho Camulos National Register of Historic Places Nomination
Detailed history of Rancho Camulos, owned by the del Valle family for nearly a century. Discusses at length the architectural significance of its large adobe and compares it to other Southern California adobes (the Estudillo House, Rancho Guajome, Las Flores, Los Alamos, and others). Many references to the Ramona story.
Rancho Camulos Museum Extensive information on the history of the Camulos Ranch of Southern California and the museum now located there. Once part of grazing and farmlands attached to Mission San Fernando, it was held by the del Valle family for many decades and became intimately associated with the Ramona legend. Now the property contains an open-air 40 acre museum which has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Information about hours, tours and events, and future plans of the museum are included on the website.
Rancho Los Alamitos
A brief history of this Long Beach area rancho and an online lesson plan
Rancho Los Cerritos (Long Beach)
History, including timeline 2000-3000 B. C. to 1988. Maps from the original Nieto land grant map through stages of development to 1954. The site includes an extensive section on the rancho's education program and speakers' bureau along with phone numbers for booking a tour or borrowing an educational trunk.
Ranchos of California Rancho Santiago de Santa AnaInformation on the Grijalva, Yorba, Peralta, and Sepulveda Families
WOMEN
Briones, Juana
Indian Women Performing Spanish Mission Song
Recorded June 1939, an unaccompanied mission song performed by Native American women of San Antonio de Pala, an asistencia of Mission San Luis Rey.
WOMEN AND THE CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA, 1542-1840: CODES OF SILENCE By Virginia M. Bouvier. Reviewed by CMSA Board Member Robert M. Senkewicz.
Women and Power in Alta California: 1790-1835
Women as forces for acculturation, social stability, population growth, and economic development in early California. Illustrated; extensive bibliography.
California Highways Trails and Roads: El Camino Real
Official state definition of “El Camino Real,” History of the highway with list of missions, pueblos, and presidios which were sited along it plus information about the preservation movement to mark the route with cast iron bells. Links to more bell information.
- Four Still-Franciscan Missions
Only four of the twenty-one missions founded by the Franciscans 1769-1823 remain in Franciscan hands today. This site contains links to each of them: San Antonio de Padua, San Miguel Arcángel, Santa Bárbara, and San Luis Rey de Francia.
- A Mission Record of the California Indians
A translation by Alfred Kroeber of answers to the 1811 questionnaire sent by the Spanish viceroy to California missionaries asking questions regarding the Mission Indians, their traditions, and conditions at the missions. Missionaries at sixteen missions responded, some more completely than others.
- Monterey Bay Area Missions
A brief overview of San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, San Antonio de Padua, Santa Cruz, Soledad, San Juan Bautista.
- The Spanish Plant Name Quiz
Do you know the Californios' names for these California native plants: Larkspur? Popcorn Flower or California Poppy? For the Spanish names for these and other native plants, check out this site from the California Native Plant Society, Milo Baker Chapter (Santa Rosa).
- University of Michigan "Making of America" Website: California Missions
Images of pages from late 19th century books and journals documenting America's social history. Searchable: for example, typing in "California Missions" will lead to pages from works dating from the late 20th century which contain a mention of California missions and sometimes include pictorial material.
- A Virtual Tour of the California Missions
Although it is under construction, this site will eventually include 21 missions and some asistencias. It has many features lacking in other multi-mission sites: in addition to historical text for each mission, the author includes an aerial photo, a road map, and a link to a topographical map of the region; some GPS readings are given as well. A navigation bar appears at the bottom to guide the viewer to more material, including high quality photos and in some cases, a diagram of the mission layout. Those who have the proper software, can enjoy an audio feature, a recording of the bells of San Luis Obispo rung by bellringer Mathew Herrera in February 2004 for attendees of the California Mission Studies Conference. A Native Californian Bear song appears elsewhere in the San Luis Obispo section.
- Alice Iola Hare Photograph Collection (1900-1912)
Santa Clara Valley resident Alice Iola Hare's interest in missions led her to photograph many missions and adobe structures. Scroll through the container list to find these images.
- Built in America: Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER)
A searchable Library of Congress site. By entering the keywords "California mission," you will gain access to a wealth of historic black and white photos for all of those missions listed. The photos are fabulous, but even better, measured drawings (floor and ground plans, elevations, etc.) are also included for 12 missions and one asistencia; these include: San Francisco de Asís, San Luis Rey, Santa Barbara, San Buenaventura, San Diego, San Gabriel, San Luis Obispo, San Antonio de Padua, San Juan Capistrano, the Pala asistencia, San Juan Bautista, San Miguel, and San Fernando. Copyright and other restrictions should be noted for use of these images.
- California Missions and Adam Clark Vroman Collection
California Museum of Photography - University of California, Riverside Homepage.
Click on Collections, then use Site Search for California Missions. One return will lead to historic mission photos by Adam Clark Vroman; a second return, entitled simply "California Missions" will yield additional historic photos by other photographers, accompanied by an historical essay, a fact sheet on each of the photographers, and a clickable map.
- California Mission Sketches by Henry Miller, 1856
Thirty-eight sketches called the "earliest known attempt to depict the Missions in a series." Part of the Berkeley Digital Library "Online Archive of California."
- Franciscan Missions of California - Photographs, ca. 1876-1882
Click "Container List" to access 35 prints by Carleton E. Watkins (1829-1916), in the Bancroft Library Collection, U.C. Berkeley. The site also contains a biography of Watkins. Part of the Online Archive of California (OAC).
- Illustrated Glossary of Terms Relating to California Missions & Other Hispanic Sites
A short guide to elements of art, architecture, agriculture, crafts, and other features of mission life, illustrated with clickable color photographs.
- Indian Women and Priest at Pala Mission
Photograph.
- Juan José Fustero. Piru, California
Photo of Juan José Fustero who claimed to be "the last of the Piru (Tatavium) Indians."
- Juan José Fustero: Death Certificate
Supersize copy of his death certificate. "Exact date [of birth] unknown;" date of death: June 30, 1921; causes: Nephritis and Old Age.
- Kroeber (Alfred L.) Ethnographic Photographs of California Indian and Sonora Indian Subjects, 1901-1930
Photographic images of subjects from 12 California Indian tribes, including the Yokuts and the Luiseño, taken by Alfred Kroeber in the early 20th century. Additional information on the collection is in an article entitled "Alfred Kroeber and the Photographic Representation of California Indian" by Hearst Museum anthropologist Ira Jacknis. This site is part of the University of California Online Archive of California.
- Magic Lantern Slides - The Berkeley Geography Collection
Home page for an extensive selection of historical photos, some of which are of missions. Organized by geographical regions. For instance, scroll down to Central Coast and South Coast Ranges and you will find images of Mission Carmel, Mission San Antonio de Padua, San Miguel Mission, and San Luis Obispo, or down to Southern California for Santa Barbara, San Juan Capistrano, and others.
- Marquis McDonald Photographs
Finding aid for Baja California mission photographs, taken 1949-50, which now may be found in the Marquis McDonald Papers in the Mandeville Special Collections Library, Geisel Library at the University of California San Diego. The collection consists of 163 photographs of 47 sites or images.
- Miscellaneous California and Mexico Views, ca. 1880-1889
Click "Container List" in the left frame to see images by San Francisco photographer I. W. Taber of Mission Carmel. Part of the Berkeley Digital Library "Online Archive of California."
- Miscellaneous Views of California Taken by I.W. Taber, ca. 1890-1899
Group 2 contains one image of Santa Barbara Mission and one entitled "A Mexican family group, Mission San Juan Capistrano." Part of the Berkeley Digital Library "Online Archive of California."
- The Mission Era: California Under Spain and Mexico and Reminiscences, ca. 1850-1878
Click "Container Listing" in the left frame to see 49 water colors of the California missions by artist Edward Vischer (1808-1878). Organized in 6 groups in the right frame. Part of the Berkeley Digital "Online Archive of California."
- MISSION SAN XAVIER DEL BAC by Helga Teiwes, text by Bernard L. Fontana
A photographic essay on the Desert People and their church. (A complete online version of the original University of Arizona printed book)
- Presentations
A series of PowerPoint presentations by Robert H. Jackson on Hispanic Luso-American colonial history which have been converted to Adobe pdf. files.
- San Diego History Pictures
Links to pictures of San Diego Presidio, Mission San Diego de Alcala and Old Town; also a short bibliography. University of San Diego student project.
- San Fernando Valley History Digital Library
Searches may be made in this treasure-house of historic photos and maps by entering a term in the search box (land grants, adobe, San Fernando Mission, etc.) or by clicking on a list of suggested topics. In either way, many serendipitous discoveries lie ahead while exploring this site. Click on thumbnail images to view an item and its description. Produced by California State University Northridge.
- Santa Barbara Views ca. 1875
Click "Container Listing" in the left frame to see images of Santa Barbara adobes and one of the Mission. Part of the Berkeley Digital Library "Online Archive of California."
- Santa Clarita Valley History in Pictures
Articles include a timeline and two concise histories of the Valley; many photos and maps.
- The Spanish Missions and Vistas of Baja California
Large collection of photographs of the Baja California missions.
- Three Views of the San Gabriel Valley
Click "Container Listing" to see three views of Mission San Gabriel, one of an adobe house, and one of the "Old Mill." Part of the Berkeley Digital Library "Online Archive of California."
- USC Digital Archive
Search more than 100,000 images.
- Views Related to Water Supply Methods in California Missions, 1945
Click "Container Listing" in the left frame to see 27 photos and taken or collected by Berkeley professor Frank Adams; includes photographs of agricultural tools, dams, cisterns, etc. plus views of Missions La Purisima, San Luis Rey, Carmel, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Sonoma and San Antonio. Also pictured is Vallejo's adobe at Petaluma and Russian farmland at Fort Ross. A blueprint of Santa Barbara's old mission dam is also here. Part of UC Berkeley's Digital Library "Online Archive of California."
- Virtual Reality Panoramas of California Missions"
Virtual Panoramas (Click image to see a 360 degree view.)
The work of G. Donald Bain, Director of the Geography Computing Facility at the University of California, Berkeley. Part of a travel website called Virtual Guidebooks.
- Virtual Reality Panoramas of Spanish Missions
More Virtual Panoramas from Don Bain's Virtual Guidebooks; images from Arizona, New Mexico, and Baja California.
TEACHER RESOURCES WITHIN THIS SITE:
Illustrated Glossary of Terms Relating to California Missions,
Article - "A Day in the Life of A Friar"
Article - "Horno Construction Techniques ..."
Book Review of LIVE AGAIN OUR MISSION PAST
Also, please see the Mission Directory for School Tour & Teacher Information highlighted in blue.
- Acorn Mush
- How to make this most Californian of Native American dishes.
- American Journeys
This site contains more than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American exploration by Viking, English, French, Spanish, Russian, and American explorers. Relevant to California are documents from travels by Ulloa, Cabrillo, Drake, Vizcaíno, Kino, Rezanov, Choris, and Duhaut-Cilly. Explorers of the Southwest are also well-represented. In addition to the document search feature there is an image search page, an advanced search page, and a large section for teachers. In the latter, help is offered in choosing a topic for student research and in forming a lesson plan, incorporating geography in a lesson, guiding students in interpreting the material, and dealing with sensitive material.
- Built in America: Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER)
A searchable Library of Congress site. By entering the keywords "California mission," you will gain access to a wealth of historic black and white photos for all of those missions listed. The photos are fabulous, but even better, MEASURED DRAWINGS (FLOOR AND GROUND PLANS, ELEVATIONS, etc.) are also included for 13 missions and one asistencia; these include: San Francisco de Asís, San Luis Rey, Santa Barbara, San Buenaventura, San Diego, San Gabriel, San Luis Obispo, San Antonio de Padua, San Juan Capistrano, the Pala asistencia, San Juan Bautista, San Miguel, San Fernando, and Santa Inés.
Copyright and other restrictions should be noted for use of these images.
- California Missions.
A project of Stephanie Clark's 4th-5th grade class at Lakeshore Alternative Elementary School, San Francisco, CA
- California Missions Resource Center
Richly illustrated and informative site; among its many features are an interactive map, a timeline 1769-1848 which integrates California and eastern U.S. history 1769-1848; a quiz based on visual clues; samples from mission music CDs; multiple pictorial resources; and a FAQ section.
- The California Missions On-Line Project
A useful site for teachers and students alike. For teachers there are down-loadable resource pages and for students there are pages for every mission followed by a short self-scoring quiz tailored to the specific site. Videos, other graphics, and some audios. Created by a 4th grade teacher in partial fulfillment for his Master's degree in Educational Multimedia at Cal Poly Pomona
- Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change
Using Rancho Los Alamitos (in Long Beach) as its focus, this extensive lesson plan is suitable for development of teaching units on the history of Spanish, Mexican and early American California. Includes maps, site and floor plans, photographs, and readings, all accompanied by questions for students. Part of the National Park Service's Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plans series.
- The Cyber Serra Mission Project
- Early California History: An Overview. The American Memory. Library of Congress.
A textbook-like series of concise chapters of California history from earliest times to the turn of the century. Includes Spanish and Mexican California and the Missions.
- Las Californias, 1697-1834, Missions, Presidios, and Pueblos of Alta and Baja California
A new CMSA resource for teachers and students: a poster size map of the missions and other Spanish settlements in both California and the Baja California Peninsula. Reasonably priced.
- Learn California.Org
"... the electronic resource for students, teachers and everyone else interested in California history! ..." This site covers California history from earliest times to the present, and contains these two useful sets of materials on the Spanish and Mexican periods for teachers:
Documents from the Spanish & Mexican Periods
Conquest of California 1846-1848
Unfortunately, there are no lesson plans for this time period.
- Mission Santa Cruz at Holy Cross Parish
Click on the Mission Santa Cruz bell icon on the home page for materials written especially for elementary school students.
- San Diego County Mission Quiz
From the San Diego Historical Society website.
- The Spanish Missions of California
A project by two Mission Viejo High School students
The Spanish Missions of California. A Resources Website
A very useful website for teachers and parents, developed by teacher and technology specialist Tricia Weber at Mission Carmel’s Junípero Serra School. Teachers will especially appreciate her Lesson Plan Ideas, which include alternatives to the traditional mission model building project.
- State Standards
Spells out the State of California's curricular standards for the teaching of the history of the
pre-European, Spanish, and Mexican periods. Also includes reading standards.
Study of the Portola Expedition 1769
An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan. This lesson plan lays out curriculum for two weeks of instruction, and is aimed at grade levels 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Why and How I Teach With Historical Fiction
While this article does not directly deal with California history, there is much good advice on how to integrate good historical fiction into a social studies program. From Scholastic Magazine.
- Ventura County Museum of History and Art
Ventura County Museum School Outreach
Information on how to book docent school visits and list of the 5 available outreach programs, grades K-4; online registration form optional.
- Your Mission: The Last Mission
An imaginative problem based learning project in which students receive a letter from a mythical "Office of the Vatican," directing the establishment of one last mission in Alta California. Their assignment: to choose a site and submit a report on its geography, native people, and natural resources. The website includes an extensive teacher's guide as well as guidance to students in their research
Please note that annotations for the sites listed
are copyrighted by CMSA and may not be reproduced, republished, or
transmitted without express permission of CMSA. ©
CMSA. All rights
reserved.
Last updated 11 February 2008