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Ramona, the Novel that Changed California: Interview with Jonathan Alcántar
The novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson sparked an interest in California’s Mission Era that attracted visitors from all over the country. But Jackson’s novel was much more than nostalgia for a bygone era — it was a cry for human rights. The story of the author, her work and how Cuba’s most famous exile caused it to echo all over the Americas. Jonathan Alcántar Dr. Jonathan Alcántar is Assistant Professor of Mexican-American Studies at Northern Colorado University. He is an expert on the novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson, and its impact throughout the Americas, especially through poet José Martí’s Spanish translation. Episode Highlights To Learn More
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Indian Life at Mission Santa Cruz
What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission Santa Cruz? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 12th Spanish Mission. Where is Mission Santa Cruz Located? Mission Santa Cruz is located near the northern coast of Monterey Bay, on the west side of the San Lorenzo River. It had probably the smallest population of all of the missions, and eventually was neighbors with the town of Villa de Branciforte, founded by the Spanish government in 1797. Villa de Branciforte was one of the three towns or pueblos established during the Spanish period in California. The others were the pueblos…
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The Spanish Legacy in California and the Mexican War for Independence
This is a special episode of the California Frontier podcast. The shoe is on the other foot this time, and I am the one being interviewed. My host is Jordan Mattox, a California junior high school teacher passionate about California history. He has an excellent podcast appropriately titled “History of California.” In this session, we talk about the Mexican War for Independence, the legacy of Spain in California, colonial policy, and learning languages. I hope you are going to enjoy this conversation . Afterward, head over to History of California Podcast on Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/jordanmattox-99235683) and subscribe. Once again, I want to thank Jordan for giving me this opportunity. I really…
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The Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: Interview with Elisabeth Rareshide
The story of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island was made famous by Scott O’Dell’s novel The Island of the Blue Dolphins. In this episode of the podcast, we learn more about her real life with archeologist Elisabeth Rareshide, along with a new exhibit at the Mission Santa Barbara museum. Elisabeth Rareshide Elisabeth Rareshide is a historical archaeologist working on a PhD in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her overarching research interest is to understand when, why, and how people decide to reject, accept, or innovate as they navigate new intercultural and power dynamics, particularly in the context of colonialism. Her current research…
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The Levitating Cross at Monterey and the Beginnings of California
The California frontier is full of reports of the marvelous or miraculous events that defy scientific explanation. Historian Skyler Reidy has been investigating curious stories of the mission era, and he helps us make sense of them. Skyler Reidy Skyler Reidy is a PhD candidate in the history department at the University of Southern California. His dissertation analyzes material religion in nineteenth-century California, and argues that settler colonialism drove secularization in the state. Skyler has also published work on the origins of Pentecostalism, and has spoken to academic and public audiences about the history of the California missions. Skyler was born and raised in Encinitas, California, and now lives in…
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California Missions: 50 Interesting Facts
The California missions are home to fascinating stories and interesting facts. The following is a list 50 things you might not know about the missions– but there are many more to discover. Pirate Raid In 1818, a French privateer named Hippolyte Bouchard (known in Spanish as Hipólito Bouchard), led a series of raids along the coast of Alta California. Bouchard attacked the Presidio of Monterey and attempted to raid the presidio and mission of Santa Barbara, as well as Mission San Juan Capistrano, before returning to South America. Indian Cowboys Some of the earliest vaqueros (cowboys) were Native Americans working on mission ranchos. Vaqueros had a high social status at the missions, and many later…
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Native Knowledge in Colonial Latin America: Interview with Ezekiel Stear (Part 2)
As the Spanish Empire become more consolidated, language and writing became more and more important — both for the Spanish government and for native peoples. In part 2 of this interview we learn how indigenous people in Colonial Spanish America preserved their knowledge in the face of restrictive government policies. Listen to Part 1 Highlights of Part 2 To Learn More Books Websites Listen to all podcast episodes
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Aztec Memories and the Florentine Codex: Interview with Ezekiel Stear (Part 1)
The story of the Spanish missions in California has its roots in 16th century Mexico. There, Franciscan friars and their native partners sought to record the memories of Aztec elders before their culture was changed forever. The information they collected is contained in the Florentine Codex. Ezekiel Stear Dr. Ezekiel Stear is Assistant Professor of Spanish at Auburn University. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, has studied Nahuatl (the language of the Aztecs) and is an expert on indigenous texts from the area of Central Mexico. Highlights of Part 1 To Learn More Websites Books
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Indian Life at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 4th Spanish Mission. Who Founded Mission San Gabriel? Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was the 4th mission established in Alta California. The mission was founded on September 8, 1771 by Fr. Junípero Serra along with Fr. Pedro Benito Cambón and Fr. Ángel Somera. Frs. Cambón and Somera became it’s first resident priests. Where is Mission San Gabriel Located? Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is located about 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and was established near the San Gabriel River, where the Tongva…
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“Follow the Money”: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 2)
In this second part of the interview we learn about what studying economic history can reveal about the past. In particular, we learn about California’s early connections to the Far East, and how competition over the fur trade created some unusual rivalries and alliances. Highlights of Part 2: Listen to Part 1 of this interview. To Learn More:
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Missions and Misconceptions: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 1)
The story of the Spanish missions in California isn’t always what it seems. By delving into Mexico’s National Archives, Dr. Marie Christine Duggan uncovered facts that provide a unique inside view of mission life. From murder trials to Indian militias, we talk about some of the lesser-known aspects of California mission history. Marie Christine Duggan Marie Christine Duggan is an economic historian and Professor of Global Economic History at Keene State University in New Hampshire. She studies how market forces shaped human lives in 18th century Spanish California and 19th century Mexican California. Dr. Duggan grew up in Berkeley, California and finished her education at the New School for Social Research in…
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Land Grants in Alta California
The story of land ownership in modern California begins with the practice of Spanish land grants. Beginning in the 18th century, Spain allowed farming and ranching by private individuals in California. In the 19th century the Mexican government continued and expanded the program. Land Laws in Spain The laws and customs about who could own land and how it could be used in Alta California originated in medieval Spain. The most important medieval law code was called the Siete Partidas or “Seven Chapters,” by King Alfonso X of Castile (1221–1284). Alfonso was known as El Sabio or “The Wise,” because not only did he write laws, but he ordered the translation of works of…
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Early Exploration of California (Part 1 of 2)
Why did Spanish Explorers Come to California? Spanish mariners began exploring the Pacific coast of North America in the early 16th century in hopes of finding new civilizations to join their empire.
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How Did California Get its Name? You Might be Surprised
The name “California” comes from a 16th century Spanish novel that involves a warrior queen named Calafia. But the name also has much deeper roots that connect North African pirates and a medieval epic poem.
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California Frontier Podcast: Welcome to Season 2
The California Frontier Podcast is back! Our first season was short — interviews with journalist and travel writer Maggie Espinosa about her pilgrimage to all 21 of the Spanish missions in California, and with Greg Bernal Smestad about his quest to preserve the Californio traditions pass on to him by his grandmother. Both were very well-received and many people have asked to hear more episodes of this podcast, and rightly so. Season 2 of The California Frontier Podcast will be a mix of content about important topics and stories related to California’s early heritage, as well as interviews with interesting people who have something to contribute to our understanding of…
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The Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War (or the U.S. – Mexico War) was the conflict that took place between 1846 and 1848 and caused Mexico to lose close to half of its territory and the U.S. to acquire what is today Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and California. The Spanish in North America and the Treaty of San Lorenzo Since the 16th century, the Spanish had been present in North America. Many of the Spanish-held territories eventually became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, which encompassed what is today Mexico. In the northeastern parts of the continent, France and England vied for control of the territory. With the Independence of the…
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Native Americans of Southern California: the Kumeyaay
The Kumeyaay are indigenous people who live on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California. They traditionally spoke languages related to each other, and many were connected to Mission San Diego de Alcalá. The Kumeyaay Name In times past, because the Kumeyaay were spread over such a large territory that they simply identified themselves with their individual clan or family. The name Kumeyaay (or Kamia) originally to referred to people in the south of the territory. After the Spanish arrived in the 18th century, many Kumeyaay from different clans came to be associated with Mission San Diego de Alcalá. The Spanish therefore referred to them…
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Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
What did Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo do and why is he important? Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo is best known for being the first European to successfully navigate the Pacific coast of what is today California to points north of the San Francisco Bay. During the voyage, he and his men disembarked at several points and made direct contact with the Native American inhabitants of the coast and Channel Islands. The account that he and his men wrote about their voyage was the also first written description of the west coast of North America and its peoples. Where was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo born? Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was born around the year 1500, but…
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Ranchos in California: The Spanish and Mexican Eras
For many years ranchos defined the early California lifestyle. Their impact remains with us today.
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9 Ways the Missions Impacted California
How did the Missions Affect California? Much of the culture of California has its roots in the history of the Spanish missions. And although the missions were only fully active for about 60 years, their presence had a major impact on many areas of life in California. In this article we’ll talk about some of the most important. Spanish Place Names Among the first things that visitors to California notice are Spanish names of cities, towns and other landmarks. Places like San Francisco, San Diego and San Juan Capistrano all take their names from missions and their patron saints. Many other geographic names come places associated with the missions, such…
