Ramona (1884)
Ramona
"The shepherds, the herdsmen, the maids, the babies, the dogs, the poultry, all loved the sight of Ramona." I recently read Ramona, the 1884 novel by Helen Hunt Jackson that launched…
Gente de Razon
Gente de Razòn
Gente de razón is a Spanish term meaning ¨reasonable people,¨or more closely, ¨people of reason.¨ It's the term the colonial Spanish used to differentiate themselves from indiginous peoples they were subjugating…
Map of Pueblo San Jose
California in 1800
I've had a few posts drafted, but was hoping to polish them up a little. I don't seem to be doing that, so I'll just get them up here and…
Conquest, Slavery, Death
I started reading up on California history last year because my son, Kazu, was entering fourth grade, and that's what fourth graders study. Next year, the study US History from…
Kids, what’re gonna do with ’em?
"Two boys drowned an Indian to amuse themselves, but in consideration of their tender years, were dismissed with twenty-five lashes administered in the presence of natives." Bancroft (480) reporting on…
Spanish Galleon
Call me, Ishmael
I've been wandering again in my reading. I took Starr back to the library, and renewed Bancroft, but set him aside, and picked up another book recommended to me: Over the…