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San Francisco’s Overlooked Pioneer: William Alexander Leidesdorff

By Damian Bacich

William Alexander Leidesdorff

Although little known today, the name of William Alexander Leidesdorff is enshrined on streets in San Francisco and a town along the American River. He was also one of California’s pioneers of African descent and instrumental in bringing about the American annexation of California.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, Black History, Mexican Rule, U.S. Annexation Tagged With: Black History, Gold Rush, Leidesdorff, San Francisco

Settlers on the California Frontier (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

Who settled California? What was their life like? What were the first towns?

Filed Under: Californios, Daily Lives, European Settlements, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, Branciforte, Californios, Daily lives, Frontier, Hijar-Padrés, King Carlos III, Los Angeles, Pueblos, San Francisco

Soldiers and Presidios in Alta California (with video)

By Damian Bacich

Who were the soldiers that came to Alta California? What was their life like? What were the presidios, and what was their role on the frontier?

Filed Under: European Settlements, Soldiers and Presidios, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, leatherjacket, Military, Monterey, Presidios, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, solados de cuera, Soldiers, Sonoma

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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