Somos Primos

July 2004, 
Editor: Mimi Lozano
©2000-4

Dedicated to Hispanic Heritage and Diversity Issues
 
Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research

                                           

Content Areas

United States
--3
Surname: Padilla
--23
Bernardo de Galvez
--28
Orange County, CA
--36
Los Angeles, CA
--37 
California
--40
Northwestern US
--71
Southwestern US
--77
Black 
--82
Indigenous
--84
Sephardic
--103
Texas 
--105
East Mississippi
--112
East Coast
--115
Mexico
--116
Caribbean/Cuba
--145
International
--146
History
--158
Family History
 
--162
Archaeology
--164
Miscellaneous
--165
2003 Inde
Calendars
Networking 
Meetings 

END

"50 Years Under God".

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback admires the "50 Years Under God" banner with Rev. Rob Schenck and other clergy. The new banner hangs across the street from the US Supreme Court, and was unfurled the very day the Supreme Court dismissed the suit against the Pledge. Coincidently, it was also the date of the 50th anniversary of the insertion of "Under God."  Sent by Odell Harwell hiridr@sbcglobal.net  


"A nation may lose its liberties in a day, 
and not miss them 
for a century."

Baron de Montesquieu


Somos Primos Staff: 
Mimi Lozano, Editor
John P. Schmal, 
Johanna De Soto, 
Howard Shorr
Armando Montes
Michael Stevens Perez
Rina Dichoso Dungao, Ph.D.
Contributors or Source: 
Gilberto Arteaga
Joyce Basch
Eva Booher
Danielle Brown 
Roberto R. Calderon
Rene Caraballo
Bill Carmena
Dennis V. Carter
Bonnie Chapa
Maria E. Cortez
Johanna De Soto 
Alan Duaine
Miriam Galicia Duarte 

Don Garate
David Cisneros Garcia 
Domingo Garcia
George Gause
Eddie Grijalva
Glenn Harding 
Michael Hardwick
Joan Harmon

Odell Harwell
Elsa Herbeck
Sergio Hernandez
Dara Jones
Joe Martinez, Ph.D.
Armando Montes
Gus Montes
Paul Newfield
Jaime Oaxaca, Ph.D.
Robert Andres Olivares
Cindy LoBuglio
Alex Loya
Gloria Oliver 
Guillermo Padilla Origel, Lic. 
Jose Pantoja,
Willis Papillion
Roberto Pérez Guadarrama, Lic.
Marvin Perkins
Tom Pollino
Joseph Puentes
Angel Custodio
Rebollo
Art Reina
Linda J. Rushton
Michael Salinas
Benicio Samuel Sanchez 
      Garcia, Lic.
Virginia Sanchez
John P. Schmal
Albert Seguin
Howard Shorr
Greg Bernal Smestad, Ph.D.
Bob Smith
Mira Smithwick
Viola Sadler 
Leonardo de la Torre 
        y Berumen, Lic.
Paul Trejo

Phil Valdez, Jr.
Francisco M. Vega
J.D. Villarreal 


                                                       LETTERS:

" I am so happy with "SOMOS PRIMOS." My husband and I moved from Puerto Rico to Michigan ten years ago, and it is kind of hard, starting with some USPS employees. When we start sending mail they were sure that Puerto Rico was part of Mexico (nothing against Mexicans) and it took us a while to let them know that puertorricans are American citizens and that Puerto Rico is in the Caribbean.  

May you keep getting strong and able to show that we as Latinos are together and ready to get the respect that as honest hardworking human being we deserve.  May you have a blessed weekend,  Magda Solano"  Zeugir@aol.com  6/4/2004 

"I always enjoy everything you send me, even if it does not refer to Castaneda.
Thank you, Alice"  DmcAlic@aol.com  6/4/2004 

"Thank you for the work you do to instill in us the urge to find out more about ourselves.
My Full Name is Maria Dolores Armenta Acosta de Martinez.  I like to sign my name this way because I do not want my children to loose track of our last names!!
Maria "    michigander46@go.com  6/5/2004 



UNITED STATES

2004 Heritage Calendar
Medal of Honor Gravesites
WWII Enlistment Records
U.S. Congress, 1822  -1995
Populations Shifts, 1850-2000
San Antonio Population Surging
Ethnic Balance Shifting by Spring
California Hispanics, Majority 2040

Fernando Oaxaca
Schools are "resegregating" 
Dare to Dream

Latino Pre-School Population 
The Poster's Place in Wartime

Military Gravesite Locator  
War Dead Information 
Logging Latinos' Legacy
Workers, Late Shifts Locked Exits  
Sears Policy for military reservists 
Rewriting history (ACLU version) 
Good Idea
AAD Access to Archival Databases
Voices of Civil Rights
Corn Tortillas Losing Popularity
Digital divide might be narrowing   
National Awards, Univision 


Flag of Flowers
Sent by Tom Pollino Sfmemories@aol.com
Aerial photo courtesy of Bill Morson 

The 2002 Floral Flag is 740 feet long and 390 feet wide and maintains the proper Flag dimensions as described in Executive Order #10834. This Flag is 6.65 acres and is the first Floral Flag to be planted with 5 pointed Stars comprised of White Larkspur. Each Star is 24 feet in diameter; Each Stripe is 30 feet wide. This Flag is estimated to contain more than 400,000 Larkspur plants with 4-5 flower stems each for a total of more than 2 million flowers. You can drive by this flag on V Street south of Ocean Ave. in Lompoc, CA, 2 1/2 hours north of Los Angeles.

 

 

Free Calendar 
http://www.homeofheroes.com/calendar/index.html
Sent by Johanna De Soto

Each year HomeOfHeroes.com remembers Veterans' Day with the release of a special calendar for the following year.  Our FREE, DOWNLOADABLE 2004 Medal of Honor Calendar will be available on November 11, 2003, and will remain available throughout the year. This year's calendar is designed to serve as a tribute not only to our Medal of Honor heroes of past generations, but to the heroes of a new generation who serve around the world to defend our nation and our world from acts of terrorism. The Torch is Passed.... ....To a New Generation!

The 2004 Heritage is a unique, full-color, patriotic calendar you and your friends can enjoy all year long.  Every month displays not only holidays and important dates from history, but something new in this, our fourth year of calendar production. 

In each month's calendar from the 2004 edition, you will see the faces and learn the names of some of the heroes of this new generation. 
 

      Though there are far too many for us to highlight them all, we have attempted to find photos and information reflecting a cross-section of those brave men and women of all branches of military service who have received awards for their heroism and sacrifice in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world.  The October page alone (pictured above) will introduce you to eight American soldiers who have received the Silver Star, including two Army captains who are identical twins.


Medal of Honor Gravesites
Another activity of the Home of Heroes is a compilation of the gravesites of Medal of Honor recipients by state.  Their goal is to have a photograph of each gravesite. They are seeking help to accomplish that task.  You can go to any state by substituting the state of your interest in the URL below.  

http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/california.html
Sent by Johanna De Soto


This site can be searched for
WWII Enlistment records. Here is the place to go:
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/search.jsp?file_id=3475&data_layout_id=494&coll_id=null&table_id=893

I received this information from another mailing list and the source is Lynna Kay Sheffield from "Along Our Lines" from Williamson County, Texas.

Now, in order to search it, you *CANNOT* enter the term TX or Tex or Texas for searching in Texas. You have to get the state code which is available clicking on the link next to the entry for that state. Same goes for the county you want to search! The code for Texas is 85, but there are codes for Texas Concientious objector and other such things. The code for Bexar county is 029.

For example, my great grandfather's brother Richard C. Padilla served in WWII. He can be found by just typing in his name as "Richard C Padilla" in the name box and pressing enter. His record will be the only one to come up and then I can click on "Select Record" and then his record comes up showing specific details about his enlistment. I can also choose a "Printer Friendly Version" of this information to either print up as a hard copy or (control-c) copy to my computer. Neat 'eh? 

Danielle Brown  dtxn@yahoo.com
Sent by George Gause  ggause@panam.edu

 


HISPANIC AMERICANS IN CONGRESS, 1822-1995
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 1995
136 Hispanics served in both House/Senate
Analysis and table prepared by Mimi Lozano
(John P. Schmal is preparing an update of this information for August)

Compare date of statehood 
or status of Commonwealth,
 with first year of representation.


NEW JERSEY, 1787   
                    
1993-           Robert Menéndez (D)

NEW YORK, 1788
1978-1990     Robert Garcia (D)
1990-             Jose E. Serrano (D)
1993-             Nydia M. Velázquez (D)

LOUISIANA, 1812
1913-1927     Ladislas Lazaro (D)
1931-1941     Joachim Octave Fernández (D)

ILLINOIS, 1818
1993-             Louis Gutiérrez (D)

FLORIDA, 1845
1822-1823     Joseph Marion Hernández (W)
1989-             Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R)
1993-             Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R)

TEXAS, 1845
1961-            Henry B. Gonzalez (D)
1965-            Eligio "Kika" de la Garza II (D)
1983-            Solomon P. Ortiz (D)
1985-1993    Albert G. Bustamante (D)
1993-            Henry Bonilla (R)
1993-            Frank M. Tejada (D)

CALIFORNIA, 1850
1877-1878     Romualdo Pacheco (R)
1879-1883     Romualdo Pacheco (R)
1963-1993     Edward Roybal (D)
1979-1989     Antonio Lee Coelho (D)
1982-             Matthew G. Martinez (D)
1983-             Esteban Torres (D)
1993-             Xavier Becerra (D)
1993              Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) 

PUERTO RICO 
Commonwealth, 1901

1901-1905    Federico Degetau (IR)
1905-1911    Tulio Larrinaga (U)
1911-1916    Luis Munoz Rivera (U)
1917-1932    Felix Cordova Davila (U)
1932-1933    Jose Lorenzo Pesquera (PR)
1939-1945     Bolivar Pagan (C)
1945-1946    Jesus T. Pinero  (PD)
1946-1965     Antonio Fernos-Isern (PD)
1965-1969     Santiago Polanco-Abreu (PD)
1969-1973     Jorge Luis Cordova Diaz (NP)
1973-1977     Jaime Benitez (PD)
1977-1985      Baltasar Corrada del Rio (NP)
1985-1992      Jaime B. Fuster (D)
1992-1993      Antonio J. Colorado (D)
1993-             Carlos Antonio Romero-Barcelo (NP)

NEW MEXICO, 1912
1853-1857       Jose Manuel Gallegos (D)
1871-1873       Jose Manuel Gallegos (D)
1856-1861       Antonio Otero (D)
1863-1865       Francisco Perea (R)
1865-1867       Jose Francisco Chaves (R)
1877-1879       Trinidad Romero (R)
1879-1881       Mariano Sabino Otero (R)
1881-1884       Tranquilino Luna (R)
1884-1885       Francisco Antonio Manzanares (D)
1899-1901       Pedro Perea (R)
1915-1917       Benigno Cardemas Hernandez (R)
1919-1921       Nestor Montoya (R)
1921-1923       Nestor Montoya (R)
1931-1935       Dennis Chavez (D)
1943-1956       Antonio Manuel Fernandez (D)
1957-1964       Joseph Manuel Montoya (D)
1969--1989      Manuel Lujan, Jr. (R)
1983-            William B. Richardson (D)

ARIZONA, 1912
1991-               Ed Lopez Pastor (D)

VIRGIN ISLANDS, Commonwealth
1973-1979          Ron de Lugo (D)
1981-1995          Ron de Lugo (D)

GUAM, Commonwealth
1985-1993          Ben Blas Garrido (R)
1993                    Robert A. Underwood (D)
New Jersey, no Hispanic representation for 206 years.
Illinois, no Hispanic representation for 175 years.
Texas, no Hispanic representation for 116 years.
Louisiana, no Hispanic representation for 101 years.
Arizona became a state in 1912, no Hispanic representation for 79 years.
Florida, Hispanic representation, one year, 1822-1823, then a lapse of 66 years until 1989.

Puerto Rico, continuous Hispanic representation since it Commonwealth status, 1901.
New Mexico became a state in 1912, but has had representation, on and off since 1853.
All the Hispanic U.S. Senators have been from New Mexico.
1928-1929   Octaviano Larrazolo
1935-1962   Dennis Chavez
1964-1977   Joseph Manuel Montoya



Populations Shifts in Southwest Population, 1850-2000
by Mimi Lozano

These figures are those of the United States census which 
determine the allocated number of representatives.    

1850

 

1870

 

1900

 

2000

               

Louisiana

517,762

Texas

818,579

Texas

3,048,710

California

33,871,648

Texas

212,592

Louisiana

726,915

California

1,485,053

Texas

20,851,820

California

92,597

California

560,247

Louisiana

1,381,625

Florida

15,982,378

Florida

87,445

Florida

187,748

Colorado

539,700

Arizona

5,130,632

N Mexico

61,547

N Mexico

91,874

Florida

528,542

Louisiana

4,468,976

   

Colorado

39,864

N Mexico

195,310

Colorado

4,301,261

   

Arizona

9,658

Arizona

122,931

N Mexico

1,819,046

Source: US Census Bureau Resident Population and Appointment of US House of Representative
To view the state of your interest, use the link below and type in the targeted state. 
http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/resapport/states/arizona.pdf


Louisiana was an extremely important state in the affairs of the United States. In 1850 the population of all the Spanish Southwest territories and Florida together did not equal the population of Louisiana.
The westward movement contributed to population shifts. Louisiana went from first (1st) in population, to second (2nd) in 1870, to third (3rd) in 1900, and to fifth (5th) in 2000.

Texas has remained consistently in the top two positions in population size, first (1st) in 1870 and 1900 and now in second (2nd) place behind California.

California was third (3rd) in population size in 1850 and 1870, but by 1900 had moved to second (2nd) position and in 2000, first (1st) position by a huge margin.

Florida was fourth (4th) in 1850 and 1870, fifth (5th) in 1900 and moved up to third (3nd) in the 2000 data, experiencing, like California a huge population increase, much of the growth Spanish speaking residents.

Colorado and Arizona have each experienced major growth periods, Colorado between 1870 and 2000 and Arizona between 1950 and 2000.

New Mexico remained the least populated of these Southwest states.

Percentage of population increase 1850-2000 
(Arizona and Colorado, figures from 1860)

Arizona 
California
Florida

 53,160
36,578
18,370

%
%
%
Colorado
Texas
New Mexico

10,780
9,810
2,958

%
%
%


Extract:
San Antonio Population Surging 
BY MARK BABINECK Associated Press Writer, 06/24/04
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=16718
 Sent by Elsa Herbeck epherbeck@juno.com
 
San Antonio, buoyed by a steady population influx and plenty of room to spread out, has eclipsed Dallas as the nation's eighth-largest city, according to estimates released Thursday by the Census Bureau. 

At around 1.7 million in population, the San Antonio metropolitan area remains far smaller than that of the Dallas-Fort Worth region, which stands at about 5.6 million and is climbing heartily. 

Still, San Antonio is proud to return to its former glory. The city became Texas' first urban center when Spanish missionaries established it in 1718. It was the state's largest city as late as 1920 before Houston and Dallas surpassed it. 



 Extract:
Ethnic Balance Shifting by Spring
 By Jeff Claassen, Forth Worth Star-Telegram Staff Writer, June 22, 2004
Sent by George Gause   ggause@panam.edu
Source: Domingo Garcia garciadtx@aol.com  and Roberto Calderon beto@unt.edu

Anglos are likely to be the minority in Texas by spring, about two years earlier than originally expected.  The Anglo population is growing more slowly because the flood of newcomers that Texas saw in the 1990s has slowed to a trickle, Texas' state demographer said Monday.

Meanwhile, births, primarily for Hispanics, kept a fast pace from 2000 to 2002.  The more rapid shift in Texas' racial and ethnic diversity means that the state must find ways to improve education, access to health care and job training to remain competitive economically, researchers said.

"A company doesn't want to put itself in a place where it has to hire from a population with more health and education problems," said Mitchell Rice, director of the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute at Texas A&M University. "This affects how we compete not only with the other 49 states but within
the global arena," he said.

Undocumented immigrants are not specifically accounted for, but some of them are part of the Census 2000 head counts that serve as a starting point for the estimates, said Steve Murdock, the state demographer. If the official counts could estimate undocumented immigrants, he said, Anglos would probably already be in the minority in Texas.

The future of Texas' racial and ethnic makeup was just one part of a report on population trends released Monday by Murdock. The report also notes:

Texas is expected to have 36 million residents in 2040, increasing 62 percent from today's 22
million. The United States is expected to grow more slowly, by 49 percent, over a longer time
frame, 2000 to 2050.

Ads and stores aimed at Hispanic customers would be more numerous, and Hispanic politicians would play a much larger role in state government, Rice said. The state will need many more bilingual workers and may need to reassess its move to a smaller government that provides fewer services, he said.

"The state will need more social services than are being provided now," Rice said. "Cutting back on various programs may have a devastating impact on how well the state will fare in taking care of its residents and in how it competes in the global market."

First on the agenda should be improving the education of Texas' Hispanic children, said Terry Clower, associate director of the Center for Economic Development and Research at the University of North Texas in Denton.

"We sometimes get overly focused on getting people with advanced degrees," Clower said. "It's also important to have people doing assembly and other basic jobs who have a good education so they can be trained."

ONLINE: Texas State Data Center, www.txsdc.tamu.edu
Jeff Claassen, (817) 390-7710 jclaassen@star-telegram.com
Knight Ridder | Copyright 2004


NEW STATE PROJECTIONS SHOW 
20 MILLION MORE CALIFORNIANS BY 2050;
HISPANICS TO BE STATE'S MAJORITY ETHNIC GROUP BY 2040

SACRAMENTO - California's population will have jumped by more than 20 million people over 50 years to reach a total state population in 2050 of nearly 55 million, according to long-range population projections released today by the California Department of Finance.

From fewer than 34 million Californians counted in the 2000 Census, the new data indicate that the state is projected to pass the 40 million mark in 2012, and to top 50 million by 2036.
The new projections also show that Hispanics will constitute the majority of Californians by 2040. 

By the middle of the century, the projections indicate that Hispanics will represent 53.6 percent of the state's population, with Caucasians comprising 23.3 percent , the Asian population at 12.1 percent; the African American population at 6.4 percent, the Pacific Islander population at less than one-half of one percent, and Native Americans and people of more than one race 2.1 percent each.

This is the department's first population projection series that separates the Asian race group from the Pacific Islanders race group, and is also the first projection series that includes a multi-race category.

The 2000 Census marked the first time that Asians and Pacific Islanders were listed as separate
racial/ethnic groups, and the first time that respondents were allowed to self-select more than one racial category.

The new projections also show changes in the State's county populations. Los Angeles will remain the largest county in California, exceeding 11 million in 2050. In numeric terms, Riverside County is expected to add more people than any other county with 2.8 million new residents. By 2050, Riverside is projected to overtake Orange County and become the third most populous county behind Los Angeles and San Diego.

San Joaquin County is expected to triple in size and experience the greatest percentage increase over the 50-year period - 201 percent. Other counties with large percentage increases include Merced, Riverside, Placer, and Madera. Seven counties in California - Inyo, Marin, Modoc, Plumas, San Francisco, Siskyou, and Trinity - are expected to have fewer people at mid-century than they did in 2000. The population loss in these counties is for the most part due to natural decrease - the amount of deaths over births. 

By 2050, the new projections indicate that Sierra County will have the highest percentage of Caucasians of any county, and Imperial County will have the highest percentage of Hispanics. San Francisco City and County will have the highest concentration of Asians, San Mateo County will have the highest percentage of Pacific Islanders, Sacramento County will have the largest proportion of African Americans, and Alpine County will have the highest percentage of Native Americans. Californians identifying themselves as being multi-race are expected to have the highest concentration in Inyo County. Whites will remain the majority in less than 40 percent of the counties in California. Hispanics will be the majority race/ethnic group in 20 counties in California.

This is the first Department of Finance projection series to incorporate 2000 Census information.
Compared to the projections released in 1998, these projections forecast 7 million fewer people by 2040, which was the end point of the previous projection series. Projections of the age and sex characteristics of the population will soon be available from the Demographic Research Unit.

Mary Heim, Melanie Martindale and Nicola Standish prepared this population projection series.
California State Department of Finance, May 2004
Demographic Research Unit
915 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 323-4086
Sent by JV Martinez, Joe.Martinez@science.doe.gov

 

 


Fernando Oaxaca – Legacy of an American Statesman
HispanicVista.Com Editorial, May 29, 2004

                                       
            
A founding director of HispanicVista.com, Fernando Oaxaca, after a prolonged illness passed on Friday, May 28. He was accompanied at his bedside by his loving wife, Bertie, his best friend and brother, Jaime, and other family members and close friends.

When we say, "he passed on" we also mean he passed on the baton to a new generation of Americans. First and foremost, Fernando will be remembered as an American statesman. A man of passion for his country and conviction for his principles, with unmatched dedication, loyalty and patriotic fervor Fernando devoted his life to his country. His love for America, adherence to his family values, appreciation for his Hispanic heritage and traditions, his belief in democratic ideals, rule of law, equality and justice - these are the hallmark of his legacy.

Born in el Paso, Texas of Mexican parentage, Fernando always held his parents with the utmost love and respect. He often quoted his father's witty directives that guided him through his life. His strong family values, supplemented by his Hispanic heritage and American work ethic empowered Fernando to become the unique statesman that was his destiny.

After graduating from the University of Texas in 1950 he moved to Los Angeles where he became a successful businessman. He was a co-founder of Coronado Communications, engaged in broadcasting and radio, and pioneered marketing and advertising to the Spanish language consumer. His business success catapulted him to community service and political involvement. He served in the Nixon/Ford White House and became with his close friends, the recognized leaders of the Hispanic coalition of the Republican Party. A position he occupied until his recent illness.

To his credit and honor, Fernando broke ranks with the Peter Wilson California Republican Party when they turned on the defenseless immigrant community. The measure, Proposition 187, was passed by the electorate in an election riddled with biased and inflammatory anti immigrant rhetoric, was declared unconstitutional. And subsequently Fernando was instrumental in bridging the divisiveness with a more compassionate and understanding policy toward the undocumented immigrant working class.

He joined forces with Dionicio Morales, a living role model in the Hispanic community, and became the Chairman of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation. MAOF today is the biggest Hispanic community services institution in the United States. He was also Chairman of the Mexican Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, co-sponsored by the Mexican government and private donations, to promote the Mexican culture and foment cultural exchange between the two countries. Both of these organizations awarded Fernando with their 'Life Achievement Award' - an accolade not previously accorded.

Fernando will be best remembered for his statesmanship. He preached what he practiced. He believed in a welfare system that was a safety net and not an entitlement. He believed in self-help, self-esteem and a work ethic. He believed in government accountability and fiscal responsibility.  He was committed to a democratic society that was governed by institutions grounded on principles of justice and equality - the rule of law. Above all, he believed that America's strength was grounded on family values, love of country and cultural diversity. Had it been possible, he would have endowed America with the gifts he treasured, his fluency in the Spanish and English languages, and his bi-cultural heritage. 

His 'Oaxaca Journal' essays published in HispanicVista articulate, incisive, well documented commentaries espousing his conservative philosophy and ideals. He championed fair treatment and respect for all Americans. His enemy, whom he defined as America's real enemy, is the bigoted supremacist who cowardly drapes himself in the American flag and Christian credo. 

Fernando, hermano, we will continue to champion your cause. You will be remembered by grateful future generations of Americans, of all political affiliations, backgrounds and creeds.

(COMMENTS TO  -- LettersHVC@aol.com)
Sent by brother, Dr. Jaime Oaxaca
[[ Editor: I never had the opportunity of meeting Fernando Oaxaca, but I thoroughly enjoyed his opinions, and clear logic in expressing his ideas. Below is a letter from Francisco Vega written before Fernando’s passing on. ]]

For your information:  

Fernando and I met in 1967 at a meeting of thirteen Latin-Americans, Hispanos, Chicanos, Latinos, and some with the identification of  Other,  in Washington, D.C., with the intent of "getting involved in government".  

As far as I can recall the meeting came about by word of mouth... we were from Florida, California, Texas, New Jersey, Michigan, and several other states.... most of those present had been in service in World War I I, had taken advantage of the GI  Bill for their education and were well-off financially... We arrive on Saturday, looked at the statues and monuments on Sunday, and on Monday went to the National Office of the Democratic Party and they did not want us.  We then went to the National Office of the Republican Party, and they did not want us either. -- -- -

One of my businesses for over 45 years is designing, building, owning, managing cemeteries. .. .   and when we returned to the hotel, I have never been to a worse wake when someone has died. - - - We were down because we felt that we had accomplishments and had a lot to offer.... but it was soon apparent that we did not know politics.

The discussion brought out that we all said we were Democrats; however, not one of us had ever been to the local offices of ANY political party.  People started to leave and five of us stayed and kept on talking.

The five were:  Fernando Oaxca (CA); Martin Castillo, Esq. (CA), Benjamin Fernandez (CA), Manuel Lujan (NM), and Francisco M. Vega (MI&TX).  We organized ourselves as "The Republican National Hispanic Council".    Ben was the first President.  Ben appointed me Secretary, and I refused.  He then said I would be the Historian.  We laughed and I accepted.  The next year we changed the name to "The Republican National Hispanic Assembly".  Ben continued as President and he was then followed by Fernando as our second National President..... 

All this was done without the Republican Party's knowledge.... All five of us assumed the work of  organizing State Chapters in our regions.... I had the five Great Lake States and Missouri..... 

We raised our own funds and in 1968 we walked into the Republican Headquarters in Washington, D. C., and handed a check for over $400,000.00 for the campaign of President Nixon !!! The person that received the check was a man by the name of  Ben Cotton... he was nervous and went to get someone else... the second person thinking that this was some kind of joke by these identifiable minorities was upset, more angry than upset.... and Ben asked him to call the bank to verify the check.... he came back and smiled and was quite nervous... and blurted out, "All right, what do you people want?"- - - Ben, who never was at a loss for words, answered, "We do not want anything, we are cutting ourselves in!! - - -  In 1972, the Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) was formally recognized by the Republican Party as the official political body to represent Hispanics. Saludos,

Francisco M. Vega  PANCHO VEGA13@aol.com

Schools are "resegregating", records show
The Bremerton SUN -- Newspaper 5/17/2004

Dear Editor: In response to your article; Schools are "resegregating", records show, by Thomas Hargrove, 5/17/2004.A bit of history is in order--due to the 50th anniversary of "Brown vs. Board of Education. Its now apparent that there were more then one famous school desegregation case. There was the California class action suit, by a group of Hispanic students/parents--Mendez vs. Westminster School District/1944.Because Mexican children were force to go to an all Mexican
" Unequal school" This suit was ruled in favor of the Hispanic students--making California, the first state to desegregate its schools. These two school desegregation landmark case had glaring similarities. Both cases had the brilliant legal mind and defender of;" Equal Education", Thurgood
Marshall and the defender of Civil Rights--Gov./Chief Justice Earl Warren. Who was the deciding official. Somewhere in the scheme of things---the Mendezs' desegregation case was lost in the shuffle and not given credit for actually giving impetus for Brown vs. Board of Education.

As for the re-segregation of our public schools--that is cause by low-income, single families, changing housing patterns and white flight. It doesn't appear that in the near future--that we are going to re-distribute/or re-locate our low-income minority families. And as the schools reaching 60-to 80% minority--the level of quality education spiral downwards. Which is associated with lack of resources and low teacher/student expectations, parent involvement and negative student learning behaviors. And low ethnic teacher parity.!!

It doesn't appear that we going reach ethnic teacher parity--so the next best thing that must be do is;1-Re-trained our existing teachers in the practice of high teacher expectation of all there students 2-Assure that all teachers educate all of their students--at the same high level--at the same time!!3-Required all parents to sign a parent/student involvement learning contract. Especially, those parents that are not working, on Welfare, Food Stamps and free lunches. These parents have more time for student involvement. And it their children that are academically performing low--according to the WASL test results.

As for the WASL, it evidence last year--that our state had 526 failing schools. Sixteen in our County of Kitsap. According to the No Child Left Behind Act, there were over 9000 failing schools---across the Nation!! We're certainly not moving with " All Deliberate Speed", to provide all our students a equal and quality education.--according to the mandates of Brown vs. Board of Education. Also, it would appear that with over 9000 failing schools, across the Nation--and with
Black and Hispanic students, only attaining academic proficiency at about 35%,in all subject matters. According to National Assessment of Education Progress. This should trigger public outcries of indignation from the NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus--protest marches from Rev. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton. Why the conspicuous absence--is it because of their closed
ties and dependency on the teacher unions??

Willis Papillion
1578 Reo PL., NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
360-697-5378
willis35@earthlink.net
    

    Dare to Dream 
    Robert Andres Olivares
    http://www.freewebz.com/mydreams/

    A 27 year-old past gang member expresses his perspective.


Once upon a time we read about a man who had a dream about the world and what it could one day be, a great man with a dream that all people would one day be equal regardless of race. If I close my eyes, I can see it. A former President referred to it as a shining city on a hill, yet it seems so far away. 

There has been so many different ways that men have tried to get us to pull together. Pan-Africanism is a philosophy that is based on the belief that African people share common bonds and objectives and that advocates unity to achieve these objectives. 

It seems that no matter how far and how often we dream about what we could one day be, we are stuck in purgatory plagued by violence at our own hands. In Barrio communities and Project Complexes young black and Mexican children and teenagers are fighting and killing each other still over color. Red or blue, north or south has taken over and replaced the fight for equality among our young. 

Our young men are taking stands as soldiers fighting over property they inhabit, but shall never own. Most of them will leave their mark on this world in chalk outlines and bloodstains, rather then helping each other survive and succeed as a race. 

It is sad to see how we have become so removed from ourselves, and the goals of the generations before us. Our fathers and grandfathers lived harder lives then we, and had to change the world so we could live in freedom, and yet here we are fighting in a war . . . . Against ourselves. 


Latino Pre-school population

HispanicVista.com Weekly Digest, 6/21/04
http://www.hispanicvista.com/

Data released yesterday by the U.S. Census Bureau about the growth of the nation's Hispanic population underscore the need for President Bush and Congress to invest in initiatives that benefit Latino children, especially in the area of early childhood education. According to the report, Hispanics were the most likely of all Americans to be preschoolers; more than one in ten (10.4%) Latinos are five years old and under. In fact, Latinos are the only racial or ethnic group whose five-and-under population exceeds 10%. 

 

The Poster's Place in Wartime
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/victory

During the First World War, posters were the primary form of public communication; but by 1940 posters had been supplanted by radio, movies, and billboards. Why then did government and private industry turn to posters to rally the public in World War II?

First, people would encounter posters in places that other media couldn't reach--schools, factories, offices, store windows, and other places outside the scope of paid advertising. Second, posters had democratic appeal--they could be made by anyone; they could be seen by all. Both medium and message spoke of democracy, which made posters ideal for expressing American war aims: why we fight, what we fight for. For example, artist John C. Atherton's first-prize poster for Defense Bonds was painted on a 48-foot billboard at one of New York's busiest street corners, 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, July 1941.

To tap the creative energies of American artists, the Museum of Modern Art organized a National Defense Poster Competition in 1941. The contest was sponsored by the museum and two of the government's largest users of posters, the Army Air Corps and the Treasury Department. First prize in the Defense Bond category was won by John C. Atherton, a prominent commercial artist. Atherton's winning design--showing the factory as the front line of decisive action -- was echoed in other posters as America entered the war after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

 

The 1930s had been an era of violent labor disputes. Now the war emergency demanded a change in American industry--not only a switch from consumer goods to war material, but also a change in workers' and managers' attitudes from antagonism to cooperation. The government launched a campaign urging workers to make personal sacrifices to win the war, and individual businesses and labor unions quickly followed suit. Eventually, privately produced posters vastly outnumbered official government-issued posters.

For manufacturers, the war was an opportunity to gain greater control over their work force. In the push for increased productivity, factory managers called for employees to suspend union rules, abandon traditional work patterns, and make sacrifices in the name of patriotism.

Government agencies offered tips on the design and placement of posters in the factory, urging employers to "use enough" -- at least one poster per 100 workers. Plant managers, company artists, paper manufacturers, and others needed little encouragement to carry out this advice; private industry produced vast numbers of production-incentive posters during the war.

 

Nationwide Military Gravesite Locator  
Buried Veterans' Records Now on Web
By Suzanne Gamboa / The Associated Press
[McAllen Monitor, Tuesday, April 13, 2004 / page 4A] 
Sent by George Gause ggause@panam.edu

WASHINGTON – Sally Naporlee turned to the Department of Veterans Affairs to find out more about her grandfather, who served during World War I.

After a few weeks wait for a response, Naporlee learned from the VA that Carmelo Castorina is buried at Pine Lawn National Cemetery in New York.  Unexpectedly, she also learned from VA that her grandmother is buried with him, a privilege extended to veterans’ spouses.

VA has made it easier and faster for the public to get answers about family history, old war buddies or famous war heroes.  The agency put on the Web 3.2 million records for veterans buried at 120 national cemeteries since the Civil War.  The Web site is http://www.cem.va.gov

The VA’s Nationwide Gravesite Locator also has records for some state veterans cemeteries and burials in Arlington National Cemetery since 1999.

Joe Nosari, VA’s deputy chief information officer for Memorial Affairs, said the records used to be on paper and microfilm.  Private companies have put some of the information online and charged for it, but the VA information is free, he said.

Naporlee, of Spokane, Wash., also learned her grandfather served with the Army’s 161 DB unit, enlisting June 24, 1918.  He was honorably discharged December 17, 1918.

The VA’s gravesite navigator includes names, dates of birth and death, military service dates, service branch and rank if known, cemetery information and grave location in the cemetery.  The VA will withhold some information, such as next of kin, for privacy purposes.

The site will be updated daily.  Annually, about 80,000 veterans are buried at national cemeteries.
 
The VA also hopes to add records for veterans whose families requested grave markers from the VA.  Those markers may go to private cemeteries or cemeteries overseas.
War Dead Information 
Sent by George Gause  ggause@panam.edu

The War Dead at http://www.abmc.gov/ is a web site you shouldn't plan on visiting unless you set aside at least a couple of hours to see what is there... many of us have friends and relatives listed amongst the dead and for the youngest ones on this mailing list there are bound to be relatives of those you know.  

The Korean War dead sections has room to have a photograph of each of those who died while in the service and in my viewing only a few cases had a photo.

Mistakes are out there... an example was Chicago spelled Xhicago, doesn't sound like much but it could prevent a relative from finding this soldier... so if anyone has the time to donate to correct some of these mistakes everyone will eventually benefit.

There are partial lists of those who died in many of the following wars: Mexican War, the Spanish American War, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, but not the Vietnam War.

SOURCE: Dennis V. Carter [DennisVCarter1@aol.com]
Extract:
Logging Latinos' legacy, Encyclopedia explores influence on U.S. culture
Peter Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, Jun. 14, 2004
Sent by Howard Shorr  howardshorr@msn.com
 
A group of Arizona State University professors spent three years on a project that will encompass 400,000 words and 500 essays, along with images and photos, in the Encyclopedia of Latina and Latino Popular Culture in the United States. The two-volume set promises its readers a comprehensive look at the diversity among Latinos in the United States and examines well- and lesser-known pioneers in literature, music, art, folklore, religion, geography, sports, politics and food. It is expected to come out in the fall.

Cordelia Candelaria and Peter Garcia, ASU professors and co-editors on the project, enlisted help from 75 writers and focused attention on the three largest Latino populations in the United States: Mexican, Cuban and Puerto Rican.

The writers not only showcased their subjects' popularity but also cited their lasting influence on American culture. Garcia points to Desi Arnaz, a Cuban-born actor who is etched in the minds of many as the passionate and funny musician Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. 

What many fans of the show may not realize is the pioneering role he played in introducing an innovative technique involving three cameras instead of one, making it easier to film sitcoms. Arnaz also shattered perceptions that a Latino man could not play the husband and lead role to his Anglo wife in front of millions. Arnaz, who played the husband of Lucille Ball's character, also was married to the actress in real life. 

"Things like that give a fuller perspective and put some flesh where often we (Latinos) are a caricature," Garcia said. "I'm hoping it will encourage readers to delve deeper."  "For Latinos, there is ignorance within the culture . . . so this will fill in a lot of gaps for many of our students," he said.

Carlos Elvira-Galindo, director of leadership and community relations for Valle del Sol, said it is a "one-stop shopping guide on Latino culture." "It lifts up the contributions made by Latinos and gives some recognition," Elvira-Galindo said.

The encyclopedia cites political accomplishments, like that of Loretta and Linda Sanchez, the first sisters to serve in the U.S. Congress at the same time. Attention is given to locals like Arturo "Arte" Moreno, an Arizona millionaire who purchased the Anaheim Angels baseball team in 2003. 

The encyclopedia also examines the lives of Latinos who dealt with American racism.

Roberto Clemente, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, became the first Latino player in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when he was posthumously inducted in 1973. The proud Puerto Rican embraced his Latino and Black roots and rejected racists who only saw the skin color of him and his African-American teammates. 

About 15 percent of the encyclopedia's content features Latinos who fall outside the Mexican-American, Cuban-American and Puerto Rican sphere, such as Shakira, the crossover star and Pepsi spokeswoman of Colombian and Lebanese descent. 



Extract:
Immigrant Workers Say Late Shifts Often Mean Locked Exits  
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE, New York Times, June 18, 2004
Howard Shorr  howardshorr@msn.com
 
David Sandoval, who cleans the floors of the Met Foods Supermarket in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, walks in through the front door most evenings around 8:30. But when the gates come down an hour later, he says, the door is locked, and he is unable to leave until the manager comes in the next
morning. 

Zeferino Arenas Abundez, who scrubs and waxes floors at a Pioneer supermarket in Clinton Hill, says much the same thing happens to him most nights.  Indeed, he said that when smoke set off the fire alarm at one supermarket he used to clean in the Bronx, firefighters had to saw through a large lock to get in. 

Interviews with janitors, state officials and local organizers who work with immigrants indicate that the experiences of these men and many others are part of a hidden threat in dozens of stores across the city, where concerns about theft trump worries about the fate of workers. 

To prevent workers from stealing merchandise, they say, many stores padlock their rear fire exits, even as the front doors are sealed behind steel gates. 

The Fifth Avenue Committee, a community group in Brooklyn that has helped immigrants for years, says it has taken similar accounts from 11 immigrants who work in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx who say much the same thing goes on at some of the most familiar groceries in the city. The group has identified more than 30 stores that lock cleaning workers in at night. 

David Billig, a spokesman for the New York City Fire Department, said that he had not heard of the allegations, but that the department would look into them. He said it made regular inspections, but did not know how widespread such lock-ins were. Calling the practice illegal, he said, "Obviously, we would not support locking people into places like this." 

According to the late-night cleaners, they arrive - sometimes by themselves, sometimes with a partner - shortly before a store closes, often being paid $60 a day for 10 or 12 hours of work. The storefronts are shuttered by pull-down metal gates, and the back doors, often padlocked during the day, remain locked. 

Mr. Saldaña and other cleaners said they had gone to the Fifth Avenue Committee to complain that the cleaning contractor who employed them was not paying them time and a half for overtime. The committee directed them to the attorney general's office, and when investigators in that office began interviewing the janitors, they said they were surprised to hear about the lock-ins. 

Mr. Arenas said that he was upset that J & J's owner, Julio Navarro, had not pressed the supermarket to stop locking in the workers after some workers complained to him. 

Artemio Guerra, director of organizing at the Fifth Avenue Committee, said, "It's very clear there is a shared responsibility on the part of the contractor and the store manager for the well-being and safety of these workers."  Mr. Guerra added, "This is the type of thing that people don't pay attention to until there's a tragedy." 

"I worry that I will have no place to run if an armed robber comes in," Mr. Juarez said. "In that situation maybe I'd hide in a freezer. And sometimes I think if there's a fire, I'll hide in the freezer." 



 
Sears Policy for military reservists  
Sent by Joyce Basch joycebasch@juno.com

By law, companies are required to hold their jobs open and available, but  nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up...but listen to this!  
  
Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all  benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years. I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. Suggest we all shop at Sears, and be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement it well deserves. 
  
 I decided to check it out before I sent it forward. I sent the following e-mail to the Sears Customer Service Department:  
  
 I received this e-mail and I would like to know if it is true. If it is, the Internet may have just become one very good source of advertisement for  your store. I know I would go out of my way to buy products from Sears instead of another store for a like item even if it was cheaper at the other store.  
  
 Here is their answer to my e-mail......................  
  
 Dear Customer:  
  
Thank you for contacting Sears. The information is factual. ! We appreciate your positive feedback. Sears  regards service to our country as one of greatest sacrifices our young men  and women can make. We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear  at this time.  
  
 Bill Thorn, Sears Customer Care  
 web center@sears.com  1-800-349-4358



Rewriting history (ACLU version)

Sent by Bill Carmena JCarm1724@aol.com
 
--I received  this from a Friend---

Today  I went to visit the new World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. I got an unexpected history lesson. Since I'm a baby boomer, I was one of the youngest in the crowd. Most were the age of my parents, veterans of "the greatest war" with their families. It was a beautiful day, and people were smiling and happy to be there. Hundreds of us milled around the memorial, reading the inspiring words of Ike and Truman that are engraved there.

On the Pacific side of the memorial, a group of us gathered to read the words President Roosevelt used to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor: "Yesterday, December 7, 1941-- a date which will live in infamy-- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked."  One woman read the words aloud: " With confidence in our armed forces, with the un-bounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph." But as she read, she was suddenly angry. "Wait a minute," she said. "They left out the end of the quote. They left out the most important part. Roosevelt said 'so help us God."

"You're probably right," her husband said. "We're not supposed to say things like that now."
"I know I'm right," she insisted. "I remember the speech." The two shook their heads sadly and walked away.  Listening to their conversation, I thought to myself, "Well, it has been 50 years. She's probably forgotten."

But she was right. I went home and pulled out the book my book club is reading. It's "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley. It's all about Iwo Jima. I haven't gotten too far in the book. It's  tough to read because it's a graphic description of the battles in the Pacific. 

But right there it was on page 58. Roosevelt's speech to the nation. It ends "so help us God."
The people who edited out that part of the speech when they engraved it on the memorial could have fooled me. I was born after the war. But they couldn't fool the people who were there. Roosevelt's words are engraved on their hearts.



Good Idea  

Albert Seguin ASeguin2@aol.com 

You may have heard in the news that a couple of Post Offices in Texas have been forced to take down small posters that say "IN GOD WE TRUST," The law, they say, is being violated. 
The suggestion has been made to write "IN GOD WE 'TRUST " on the back of all our mail. 
If you like this idea, please pass it on and DO IT. 



AAD Access to Archival Databases 

NARA . . . ready access to essential evidence
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/title_list.jsp
Sent by Bob Smith Regriffith6828 
  
AAD has approximately 400 data files with millions of records available online, but how do you know which one will be of interest to you? To assist you, NARA has grouped the series available in AAD in eight ways. Select one type of list below, click "Submit" and you will see all the relevant series grouped in that way. Click on a series title, and you will get more information about the series, including links to information about the data files in the series. 

Voices of Civil Rights

Dear Organizational Leader, AARP and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) would like to invite members of your organization to be a part of history and a part of Voices of Civil Rights. 

Voices of Civil Rights is a multifaceted, year-long collaborative effort to create the world’s largest archive of firsthand accounts of the Civil Rights Movement. Already more than more than 1,200 stories have been submitted to the project. You can view some of those stories now on the Voices of Civil Rights website at www.voicesofcivilrights.org

Your members’ experiences and memories are an important part of American history and an important part of the Voices of Civil Rights. That’s why we’re asking you to share with your members this invitation to add their personal civil rights memories to the Voices of Civil Rights project. To submit a story, in 500 words or less, go directly to www.voicesofcivilrights.org.  

Stories also may be submitted to the address below. 
AARP / Voices of Civil Rights
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC  20049

For more information or to schedule a presentation on Voices of Civil Rights for your members, please contact: Ben Morgan, Voices of Civil Rights Outreach Coordinator bmorgan@aarp.org
202 434 6107

The entire Voices of Civil Rights collection will be donated to the Library of Congress, as a tribute to those who witnessed or experienced America’s quest for equality and as an educational resource for generations to come. 



Corn Tortillas Losing Popularity 

Sent by JV Martinez  Joe.Martinez@science.doe.gov


Status-conscious Mexicans are starting to turn their backs on what has been the chief staple of the diet since before there was even a country called Mexico: the corn tortilla. While Americans wrap
tortillas around grilled meats at a record pace, the increasingly urbanized and globalized Mexican consumer is moving on to sliced bread, processed foods and a little more protein, nutrition experts
and industry officials said. "This is partially a status issue," said Salvador Villalpando, a researcher at the National Institute of Public Health. "The tortilla is considered a rural foodstuff."  Advertising for bread, chips, cookies and cakes is driving consumer tastes, he added.

Average tortilla consumption has fallen 15 percent in four years, according to new figures from the Mexican Chamber of Corn Processors. The average urban Mexican consumes 185 pounds of tortillas a year, or about 1,700 tortillas. The figure four years ago was 215 pounds, or nearly 2,000 tortillas. Rural consumption has fallen as well. And while the drop amounts to less than one tortilla per day per person, industry officials say the trend is alarming for the 4,000-year-old maize disc. The tortilla is still Mexicans' No. 1 source of calories. But Jose Enrique Tron, the corn chamber director, said rising incomes have made meat a bigger part of diets. Another factor is the
government's lifting of tortilla price controls five years ago. Sales have fallen as prices have doubled and quality has suffered. "The tortillas in the United States . . . are better than those in Mexico
City," Tron said.  Source: Dallas Morning News: 06/08




Extract:
The digital divide might be narrowing. 
Colleen McCain Nelson -- The Dallas Morning News
HispanicBusiness.com, June 21, 2004 
Study Finds More Minorities Surfing Web Waves for News

Minorities are logging on in greater numbers, making cyberspace a more ethnically diverse place, according to a new study. And blacks and Hispanics increasingly are surfing the Web for their news. 

Four years ago, the percentage of minorities online lagged behind whites, but a study issued last week by the Pew Research Center found that the gap has shrunk. Now, nearly two-thirds of whites and Hispanics and 61 percent of blacks use the Internet. 

The study also found that nearly one-third of Hispanics log on for news - a larger percentage than whites or blacks. 



National Journalism Excellence Awards Announced: 
Univision Network Receives Two Edward R. Murrow Awards

Fifth Time The #1 Spanish-Language Network Is Recognized With Prestigious Honor

Miami, FL--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--June 24, 2004--Univision Communications Inc. (NYSE: UVN) today announced that the Univision Network, the leading Spanish-language television network in the U.S., has been honored for its excellence in journalism with two prestigious 2004 Edward R. Murrow Awards. The first and only Spanish-language network to ever receive this national award, the Univision Network has now been honored a total of five times by the Radio-Television News Directors 
Association (RTNDA). This year, "Univision News" was recognized in the category of Videography and Univision's daily newsmagazine "Primer Impacto" was recognized in the category of Outstanding News Series. 

Univision received two out of the 11 awards given in the category of Network Television, with the other nine awards going to CBS (3), NBC (2), ABC (2) and ESPN (2).

 

SURNAME  Padilla

        Tratadistas genealógicos como Julián del Castillo en “Historia de los Reyes Godos”, (1582) Francisco Rades y Andrade, en su crónica de las Ordenes de Caballería de Santiago, Calatrava y Alcántara”, 1572; Gonzalo Argote de Molina en “Nobiliario de Andalucía”, 1588: Luis de Salazar y Castro, en “Historia Genealógica de las Casa de Lara”, 1696; Juan Félix de Rivarola, en su “Monarquía Española”, 1736; el padre Antonio Ramos, en su “Descripción Genealógica de la casa de Lara”, 1696; Juan Félix de Rivarola, en su “Monarquía Española”, 1736; el padre Antonio Ramos, en su “Descripción Genealógica de la Casa Aguayo “, 1781 y otros muchos autores de reconocido prestigio son unánimes en afirmar que el apellido Padilla es uno de los más antiguos y nobles que existieron en Castilla, ya que en el año 


1033 aparece don Diego Núñez Padilla (sic) como confirmador en un privilegio dado a la Iglesia de Oña, Burgos, por el Rey don Sancho. Después, en 1166, figuran en documentos de esa fecha los hermanos don Nuño Gutiérrez de Padilla y don Gonzalo Gutiérrez, quienes dotaron y fundaron el Monasterio de San Miguel de Villamayor de la Orden Premonstratense fundada en San Norberto, siendo originarios aquellos del lugar de Padilla de Yuso, en la Merindad de Castrogeriz, Burgos, donde esta casa solar tuvo tantas preeminencias, que el “pecho” de la Martiniega se cobraba por mitad entre el soberano y los de este linaje.

En las crónicas de su época, se relatan las batallas que sostuvo el Conde Soberano de Castilla contra el Rey Almanzor, en los principios de la segunda mitad del siglo X, señalándose en ellas que por su Alférez Mayor don Godomiro de Padiella o Padilla, poblador de las villas de Padilla de Suso y de Padilla de Yuso en tierras de Treviño en la repetida provincia de Burgos, de las que tomó su nombre, diciéndose que de don Alvaro de Padilla, hijo de aquél, procedió este esclarecido apellido.

En el repartimiento de Sevilla realizado por el Rey don Alfonso X “el Sabio” en 1253, se hace memoria de don Gutiérrez González de Padilla, caballero de mesnada, el que fue heredado con importantes tierras.

En una vieja historia de la Orden de Calatrava se habla de don Garci Gutiérrez hijo de don Gutierre Gómez y de su mujer doña María Suárez, quien fundó y dotó el Monasterio de Monjas de San Felices, en Burgos, por el año de 1219, indicándose en esa narración que entroncaron después con la casa de Lara y los Castro en la mitad de ese siglo, procediendo estos caballeros del linaje de Padilla.

Por el libro Becerro, resulta que don Pero López de Padilla “el Viejo”, fue padre de don Juan Fernández de Padilla y de otros hermanos que florecieron en el tiempo de Alfonso XI, por cuyo mandato se escribió dicho libro donde se asentaron las Behetrias de las Merindades de Castilla, a mediados del siglo XIV, donde se acredita que don Pero López de Padilla “el nieto”, fue casado con doña María González de Leyva, por lo que heredó parte del lugar de Coruña en Santo Domingo de Silos, comprando lo que le toco de él a los demás herederos y fundando allí su casa y mayorazgo. De esta persona se hace memoria, entre otros Caballeros que fueron testigos el año 1304, en la sentencia arbitraria del Rey Fernando IV de Castilla y el Infante don Alonso de la Cerda, sobre los Reinos de Castilla y León, según lo refiere Jerónimo de Zurita en su “Crónica o Anales del Reino de Aragón”, 1621.

Son multitud los Padillas notables de la antigüedad pudiendo citarse entre ellos a: Don Diego García de Padilla, Maestre de Calatrava; doña María Díaz de Padilla, en quién el Rey Don Pedro I “el Cruel” tuvo un hijo y tres hijas de las cuales una se llamo doña Constanza y casó en Inglaterra con el Duque de Alencastre, que la hizo madre de la Reina doña Catalina de Castilla, como esposa de don Enrique III, ambos padres de don Juan II de Castilla, 1405-1454; don Juan Fernández de Padilla, Señor de la Casa de Padilla, Coruña y Calatañazor, Camarero Mayor de la casa de Castilla, quién se desposó en 1339 con doña Mencía Manrique, Señora de Santa Gadea y de otros lugares, más tarde Adelantado Mayor de Castilla del Consejo de Juan II y Ayo del Príncipe Don Alonso, fundador de San Felices de Amaya y de la Asunción de Almagro, Ciudad Real, en la Orden de Calatrava; don Martín de Padilla natural de la ciudad de Valladolid, primer Conde de Santa Gadea por Merced de Felipe II, en 1586, Adelantado Mayor y Perpetuo de Castilla, Señor de Valdecaray. Comendador del Corral de Caracuel y de la Orden de Calatrava; don Pedro López de Padilla, que en su esposa doña Isabel Pacheco tuvo a don García de Padilla, Comendador de Lopera y de Malagón en la Orden de Calatrava, Clavero, Comendador Mayor y Tesorero de ella, primer refrendario de la Cámara del Emperador Carlos V, de sus Consejos de Estado y de Justicia, Letrado de las Cortes, Presidente de las Ordenes de Calatrava y Alcántara y del Consejo de Indias, así como gran bienhechor del Monasterio de Frex del Val.

Don Antonio de Padilla y Bobadilla, Alcaide de las Fortalezas de la villa y Peña de Martos, Jaén, Señor de Noves y Mascaraque, en Toledo, Mayordomo de Felipe IV, su Gentilhombre de Boca, creado Conde de la Mejorada por Felipe III en 1617; don Juan de Padilla nacido en Toledo hacia 1490, uno de los Jefes de las famosas Comunidades de Castilla nombrado Capitán general del ejército comunero, quién después de varios combates con los realistas que dirigía el Conde de Haro, cayó prisionero de estos en Villalar, Valladolid, siendo decapitado junto con sus compañeros de armas don Francisco Maldonado y don Juan Bravo, en 1521,por orden del Emperador Carlos V; doña Rosa de Padilla y Chaves, viuda de don Cristóbal Ximénez-Herradura y Hurtado de Mendoza, Regidor Perpetuo de Antequera, Málaga, premiada por Felipe V el 12 de marzo de 1739,con el Condado de Colchado, y don Francisco de Borja Fernández de Padilla y Arias de Saavedra, que recibió de Isabel II el Condado de Casa Padilla, por Real Despacho de 27 de mayo de 1856,como recompensa a sus servicios en el desempeño de los cargos de Corregidor de Puente Geníl, Córdoba y de Alférez Mayor de su ayuntamiento.

Aunque hay autores que señalan origen gallego a esta estirpe, lo cierto es que desde hace varios siglos aparece ya en ambas Castillas, antes de que los principales nobiliarios hablen de asentamientos galaicos, e inclusive los genealogistas portugueses dicen que en su país hubo ramas de los Padilla desde muy antiguo, todas procedentes de Castilla, afirmando que su solar estaba en un lugar próximo a Castrogeriz, en Burgos, añadiendo también que tenían vinculación con la Casa Real española y de otras naciones europeas.

En 30 de abril de 1530 y en 23 de agosto de 1532,respectivamente, don Juan III de Portugal expidió sendas certificaciones de blasones a caballeros de este apellido, en cuyos documentos está señalado el origen castellano.

Ante la Sala de los Hijosdalgo dela Real Chancillería de Valladolid, acreditaron su noble origen, don Antonio de Padilla, vecino de Atienza, Guadalajara, en 1565; don Cristóbal de Padilla, morador de Miranda de Ebro, Burgos, en 1534,y don Juan de Padilla, estante en Valdorros, en dicha provincia, el año 1557.

Los Padilla están presentes en Andalucía desde los principios de su reconquista, con importantes afincamientos en las provincias de Córdoba, Jaén, Sevilla y Cádiz. Tuvieron un destacado papel en la toma de la ciudad de Baeza, Jaén, en 1227,donde el año 1467 era Clavero de la Orden de Alcántara don García de Padilla que tenía a su cargo la custodia y defensa del convento de la misma.

Son innumerables los miembros de este linaje que probaron su nobleza de sangre en las diferentes instituciones nobiliarias españolas, Reales Maestranzas de Caballería y Real Chancillería de Granada, en el transcurso de varios siglos así como en el Santo Oficio y los diferentes ayuntamientos de las villas y ciudades de donde fueron residentes, cuya enumeración sería interminable.

Las armas mas generalizadas de los Padilla, que incluso han venido utilizando los de este linaje en México desde la época de su conquista, se describen así:

EN CAMPO DE AZUR TRES PADILLAS DE PLATA, Y EN TORNO A ELLAS NUEVE MEDIAS LUNAS DEL MISMO METAL.

Así se confirman por los diferentes tratadistas que al principio de este trabajo se citan.

Corominas, en su “Diccionario Crítico (1954),dice que esta palabra procede de Padiella, del latín “patella”, diminutivo de “patina”, fuente, cacerola, denominación del castellano que se aplicaba a una especie de horno donde se cocía el pan.

El primer Padilla que pisó territorio americano, fue don Gregorio Don José Gregorio de Padilla Villalobos, natural de la ciudad de Sevilla, el año de 1512, quien al parecer se asentó en Santo Domingo.

Don José Gregorio de Padilla y Estrada, Gómez de Arratia y Niño de Castro, natural de la ciudad de México, ingresó en la Orden Militar de Calatrava el año 1741, siendo el cuarto poseedor del título de Santa Fe de Guardiola, por su propio derecho, y fue cónyuge de doña Juana María de Cervantes y Gorráez, hija legítima de don Juan Leonel Gómez de Cervantes, mayorazgo de su casa, y de doña Francisca de Gorráz.

Don Juan Ildefonso de Padilla y Gómez de Arratia, Guardiola y Guzmán, padre del anterior, nació en la isla de Santo Domingo y también fue calatravo en 1691.Había contraído nupcias con doña Micaela Gregoria de Estrada y Niño de Castro, segunda titular de la citada dignidad nobiliaria. Este, a su vez, hijo de don Juan de Padilla y Guardiola, Castrejón y Guzmán, que vio la luz en Sevilla el año 1643, quien igualmente fue admitido en la expresada Orden, en 1682; desempeñó los cargos de Alcalde de Lima, Oidor de la Audiencia de Caracas y de la de México, recibiendo en premio a su servicios, el título de Marqués de Santa Fe de Guardiola, otorgado por Carlos II, el 6 de marzo de 1689.

Este linaje es uno de los más ilustres que se avecindó en la Nueva España, donde emparentó con las familias mas prominentes del pais en todas sus épocas. Merecen atención las ramas establecidas en Guadalajara y Tepatitlán, en hoy Estado de Jalisco. Del primero de estas lugares procede el Capitán don Diego de Avila y Padilla, que en su enlace con una Señora de apellido Dávila tuvo, entre otros hijos, a don Diego de Padilla y Mota, Corregidor de Ixcatlán en 1663, y a don Lorenzo de Padilla y Mota, con igual cargo en la capital tapatía el año 1647. También hubo otros asentamientos, de los que se hará detallada mención al final de este trabajo.

Don Gaspar de Padilla y Guzmán, desempeñó el cargo de Alcalde Mayor de San Juan de Teotihuacan, en 1709; don José Padilla y Estrada, el de Corregidor de la ciudad de México, en 1729; don Ignacio de Padilla, Obispo de Mérida, Yucatán, en 1753,y don Pedro Padilla, Oidor de la Real Audiencia de México, según consta en el padrón dela capital efectuado en 1753,en el que se dice residía en la calle de San Francisco.

El Bachiller don Nicolás de Padilla y Maldonado, de Pátzcuaro, hizo información de su “limpieza de sangre, ante el Santo Oficio dela Inquisición de México, 1717, con la finalidad de obtener el cargo de Comisario del mismo. En 1800, don Antonio de Padilla, tenía el cargo de Ayudante Mayor del Regimiento de Infantería de Toluca, y en la misma fecha don Vicente de Padilla era Teniente de Dragones Provinciales de la Nueva Galicia.

Una línea de los Padilla procedente de Jerez de la Frontera, sentó sus reales en la región de la Nueva Galicia, posiblemente en la primera mitad del siglo XV, cuya continuada genealogía es como sigue:

Don Bartolomé Martínez Dávila, natural de la expresada ciudad, poseedor allí de la casa de San Salvador, quien se distinguió en la derrota del príncipe musulmán Abdelmelic, descendiente de los Ávila o Dávila afincados en Jerez después de su conquista por don Alfonso X “el Sabio”, en 1255, que también concurrió al cerco y toma de Algeciras en 1342, y al sitio de la plaza de Gibraltar, casado con doña Leonor de Padilla, conforme aparece en las ejecutorias ganadas por don Jerónimo y por don Martín Dávila, sus descendientes, de 1562 a 1564 y 1679, de quienes procedió como su legítimo hijo don Juan Bernalte Dávila, Señor de esta casa en la collación o parroquia de San Salvador, quien sirvió a don Juan I en la batalla de Aljubarrota, librada el 15 de agosto de 1385, y a don Enrique II en las guerras de Portugal, de 1396 a 1398. Otorgó su última voluntad el 15 de octubre de 1439, mencionando a su cónyuge doña Leonor García de Sigüenza, por cuya alianza entró en la casa de Dávila el donadio de Villamarta.

De los anteriores consortes fue vástago don García Dávila “el de la Jura”, vecino de la collación de San Lucas, Regidor de Jerez por merced de Juan II, personaje de gran representación de su tiempo, jefe del bando del Marqués de Cádiz, en 1469. Cuando los Reyes Católicos entraron en aquella población el 7 de octubre de 1547, llevando la población, pidió a los monarcas jurasen y confirmasen los privilegios de la repetida ciudad, a lo que estos accedieron, quedándole de ahí el sobrenombre referido. Con sus ocho hijos concurrió a las guerras de Granada y dispuso su testamento el 6 de octubre de 1486. Casó en primeras nupcias con doña Leonor Gutiérrez de Padilla, Alcaide de Arcos de la Frontera y Mayordomo de Jerez, desposándose en segundas con doña Francisca de Hinojosa, en la que no dejó descendencia.

Don Lorenzo de Padilla Dávila, hijo de los mencionados don García Dávila “el de la Jura”, y de doña Leonor Gutiérrez Padilla, se dio las manos el 30 de julio de 1492 con doña María de Vera, hija de don Gonzalo Pérez de Gallegos y de doña Beatriz de Vera, y siguiendo una costumbre muy usual en su época, adoptó Padilla como apellido de varonía.

Fue su hijo primogénito, don Fernando o Hernando de Padilla Dávila, Caballero y Comendador de la Orden de Santiago, Continuo de la Real Casa del Emperador Carlos V, Veinticuatro de Jerez y Alcalde de Tempul, quien armó a su costa una armada para combatir a los infieles en Berbería. Después, sirvió como Capitán de Caballos en la guerra de Túnez, y más tarde se trasladó a las Islas Canarias, donde efectuó su enlace con doña Leonor de Machicao por 1515, la que testó en 1566, hija de don Fernando de Machicao y de doña Constanza de Rivas. Tuvieron, que se sepa, cuatro hijos, siendo el mayor de ellos don Lorenzo de Padilla Dávila o Padilla Machicao, nacido en la cuna de sus mayores, que después de estar como Capitán en Flandes, pasó a la Nueva Galicia, siendo el fundador de la hoy ciudad de Lagos de Moreno, en 1563, celebrando su himeneo con doña Mariana de Temiño y Velasco, en la que engendró, en Guadalajara, a don Diego de Padilla y Velasco, Alcalde Mayor de Lagos, fallecido en su lugar de origen y cónyuge de doña Ana de la Mota y Vera, ambos progenitores de don Lorenzo de Padilla y Mota, de la misma naturaleza que su progenitor, también Alcalde en 1647 y Regidor, que en su mujer doña Josefa Arias de Orozco y Valdés, engendró al Capitán don Cristóbal de Padilla y Arias, igualmente jalisciense, el cual se trasladó a la región alteña, en Xalostotitlán, siendo con su esposa, en aquella parte del país, genearcas de dilatada e importante descendencia, que al correr del tiempo y después de vivir varias generaciones de esta rama en el rancho denominado “El Águila”, se diseminaron profusamente por la zona, especialmente con motivo de los movimientos insurgentes y otras situaciones políticas y militares .En León, principalmente, y en otras poblaciones del Estado de Guanajuato, existen numerosa descendencia procedente del tronco estudiado.


Extract from BLASONES Y APELLIDOS, 828-page book by Fernando Muñoz Altea
In its second edition, the book can be ordered from blasones@mail.com or at
P.O. Box 11232, El Paso, Texas 79995  or by contacting Armando Montes AMontes@Mail.com

 

Bernardo de Galvez

Descendant of Moctezuma
The Louisiana Territory
Los Islenos Heritage
Website with Incorrect History 
Santa Barbara Historic Trust 
Spanish, War for Independence

 

Source:  The Cajuns  http://www.thecajuns.com/lahist.htm
Sent by Joan Harmon juanday@charter.net



A Descendant of Moctezuma at the Battle of Mobile,  1780

http://book-smith.tripod.com/montezuma.html