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Three Californianas You Should Know

By Damian Bacich

The early history of California is made up of many remarkable women. Fortunately, some of them left behind stories that give us important glimpses into life in frontier times.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, Californios, Hispanic Heritage, Mexican Rule, Women in California History Tagged With: Apolinara Lorenzana, Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Josefa Carrillo, Juana Machado, San Diego, women

“The Americanos Played for Keeps”

By Damian Bacich

The Battle of San Pascual

In his memoirs about life in rancho era California, José Jesús López describes how his father joined the “California Army.”

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Los Angeles, Pio Pico, Primary Sources

Bad for the Lungs but Wonderful for Memories

By Damian Bacich

If doors and windows were primitive in Californio homes, you can also imagine that furniture was not much better.

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Los Angeles, Primary Sources

Life in Rancho Era Los Angeles: Hardships and Joys

By Damian Bacich

José Jesús López grew up in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in the 1850s, in the neighborhood of *El Paredón Blanco* (today’s Boyle Heights).

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Los Angeles, Primary Sources, Rancho Era, Ranchos

The Forgotten Lives of a California Adobe

By Damian Bacich

Preserving historical landmarks means more than just saving old buildings. It often means preserving the link to the lives lived there.

Filed Under: Californios, Field Trips, Hispanic Heritage, Mexican Rule Tagged With: Daily Lives (Standard 5)

Adopted by Indians: A True Story (Review)

By Damian Bacich

Author: Thomas Jefferson Mayfield Editor: Malcolm Margolin Illustrators: Hilair Chism, Rick Jones Paperback: 144 pages Publisher and Year: Heyday Books, 1997 As we perused the gift shop of a local history museum, I noticed my son was reading one of the books. Of course, if my children find a book about history that interests them, I pay […]

Filed Under: Books, California Indians, Daily Lives Tagged With: Bay Area, California Indians (Standard 1), Choinumne, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Native Americans, Primary Sources

Life at a California Mission: A Native American Perspective

By Damian Bacich

In the 1830’s, a young man named Pablo Tac wrote about his experiences growing up at Mission San Luis Rey. It is one of the only firsthand accounts written by a Native American who lived at a mission.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, California Indians, Daily Lives, Indians featured, Native Americans, Primary Sources, Resources Tagged With: Agapito Amamix, Antonio Peyri, California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), Luiseño, Native Americans, Pablo Tac, Pala, Primary Sources, San Diego

Settlers on the California Frontier (Part 2): The Californios

By Damian Bacich

What type of culture developed among settlers in Alta California? What did they call themselves? How did they live under Mexico and Spain? And how did they respond to American rule?

Filed Under: Californios, Daily Lives, European Settlements, Mexican Rule, Mexican War for Independence, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), U.S.-Mexico War

Indian Life at the California Missions — Santa Inés

By Damian Bacich

How did native people live at Mission Santa Inés? What was daily life like? What languages did they speak? What foods did they eat? How did they dress?

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Primary Sources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Chumash, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Mission Santa Inés, Santa Inés, Santa Ynez

Native American Life at the California Missions: An Overview

By Damian Bacich

Indian Life at the California Missions

How did native people live at the Spanish missions in Alta California? What were their jobs? What did they eat? An in-depth look at Native American life in the California missions.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, California Indians, Daily Lives, Indians featured, Spanish Missions Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), Native American Jobs

Indian Life at the California Missions – San Miguel Arcangel

By Damian Bacich

One of the things people often ask about is what life was like on the California missions, especially Indian life. Some of the most important accounts of California Indian life at the missions come from the Interrogatorio (Questionnaire) that the Spanish Government sent to the priests of the California Missions in 1813.

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), featured, Mission San Miguel, Primary Sources

I’m Dr. Damian Bacich, and I started the California Frontier Project. Learn more about me and the project here.

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Latest Articles

  • Three Californianas You Should Know
  • Mission San Francisco Solano: 10 Interesting Facts
  • Leidesdorff’s Legacy: Land and Struggle
  • San Francisco’s Overlooked Pioneer: William Alexander Leidesdorff
  • The Luiseño of Southern California
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