SOMOS PRIMOS: Dedicated to Hispanic Heritage and Diversity Issues

Dear John (Inclan):
Cheers from Auckland New Zealand. Thanks for sharing your considerable work on the net. Your website is of great help to me. Neil.S. http://www.somosprimos.com/inclan/pedrogonzal.htm

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The articles in Somos Primos are always interesting. My son and I just returned from a trip to TN and KY. We went to visit my brother-in-law who will be 98 years old the 24th of this month. He is in assisted living, and is doing very well for one so old. He is living in Simpson Co. KY, which is close to the TN border. Franklin is the name of the small town that he lives in and I was told that it has about 4,000 people. Well they had two Mexican restaurants there! We had lunch in one of them and the food was good. They have a lot of Spanish speaking people living and working there-which surprised me. I just wanted to pass this on to you.
Marciel Woods MarcielHWood@cs.com
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Mimi, I'm impressed of the information one can find at Somos Primos, it's an amazing tool to us.
Thank you and congratulations,
Luis G. Dessommes Zambrano
ingedis1@ggp.com.mx
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Thanks again for sending me the newsletter. I continue to be amazed at the plethora of information you provide.
Marion Sheppard mqsheppa@uci.edu

Thank you for this table of contents. My goodness, what a rich and informative issue. It really amazes me how you put all this information together. Your efforts have done more to educate on the Spanish/Mexican culture than a million text books and college course. Muchas gracias por su trabajo !!
Hugs Galore, Pablo Trejo
pgbluecoat@sbcglobal.net
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Hi my name is Javier Martinez and I am a history teacher at Paramount H.S. and at East Los Angeles College. I am very happy to have come across you site. I like it and it offers my students plenty of research material. Good luck to your future efforts.
Javier Martinez javier0077@yahoo.com
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Hi Mimi,
Wow! You have come a long way. Such beautiful stories and essays sent your way, and so informative. Plus lots of information on our Hispanic heritage, that one never tires of. So much to learn and get educated on. Keep up the good work. Yours truly, Barbara Lozano
roseleaf05@yahoo.com
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Mimi: as always, a great monthly release. I don’t know where you find the time. Keep up the great work.
Dennis Keesee Bermudez denniskee@cox.net

Oscar Chapa Recognized for a 60 years of Community Service November 16, 2005, Stockton, California San Joaquin Lions Club
Oscar and Pat Quigley, Past International Director of Lion's Club International
An ad hoc committee of the San Joaquin Lions organized a special dinner to recognize Oscar Chapa who "during his 47 years with the Lions Club was named Lion of the year ten times", stated Pat Quigley. I want to publicly thank Rick Macias, Carol Hadley, Eric and Lynette Chapa for organizing this very special night. As Mayor Edward J. Chavez said "a very unusual man. What the world needs is more men like Oscar." I am proud to say that Oscar Chapa is my uncle. Mimi


International President's Certificate of Appreciation Awarded to Oscar Chapa
Text: In recognition of the Passion to Excel in serving the Association To affirm the appreciation and gratitude of Lions Club International, I have hereunto affixed my signature during this Lions year 2005-2006 ASHOK MEHTA International President
OTHER AWARDS RECEIVED United States Congressional Special Certificate California Legislature San Joaquin County Sheriff Board of Supervisors City of Stockton St. Mary's Interfaith Dining Hall
		United States Congressional Recognition delivered by Nicole Goehring, District Director for U.S. Congressman Richard Pombo
TEXT BELOW
California Legislature Assembly Resolution By the Honorable Greg Aghazarian, 26^th Assembly District; and the Honorable Charles S Poochigian, 14^th Senatorial District; Relative to commending Oscar Chapa Whereas, On November 16, 2005 Oscar Chapa will be honored by the Stockton-San Joaquin Lions Club for his years of service to the organization and his exemplary record of community service, and it is appropriate at this time to highlight his many achievements and extend to him the special recognition of the public, and Whereas, A community activist since arriving in Stockton almost 60 years ago, Oscar Chapa is a charter member of the Stockton San Joaquin Lions Club and has served the Club as President from 1968-1969, held various officer and board positions, is a Melvin Jones Fellow, and was selected as Lion of the Year ten times, and Whereas, Born on December 15, 1917, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Oscar Chapa moved with his family to Texas in 1921 and , four years later, they relocated to Los Angeles, California and Whereas, First serving in the United States Army National Guard, Oscar Chapa also enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, where he obtained the rank of Master Sergeant and Whereas, Moving with his wife, Alice Reynoso, and children, Dena and Eric, Oscar Chapa opened Mexico Café with his sisters, Elia and Estella, in 1947, and Whereas, Operating taco stands in various county fairs over the years, as well as the California State Fair in Sacramento, Oscar Chapa owns Oscar’s Catering Service which opened for business in the mid 1940’s , and Whereas, During his 47 years of service to the Stockton-San Joaquin Lions Club, Oscar Chapa has chaired fundraising projects which include tamale and enchilada dinners, the Cioppino Feed, and the St Patrick’s dinners; and Whereas, Committed to improving the quality of life for others, Oscar Chapa has served the community by removing the old roof of the Blind Center, driving truckloads of donated food and clothing to orphanages in Mexico, contributing used ambulances to small towns and annually chairing a project started in 1977 which provides lunches for the volunteers of the Su Salud Health Fair; and Whereas, For many years, Oscar Chapa served weekly at the St Mary’s Dining Hall and as a member of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Air Posse, he made himself and his airplance available in times of need; and Whereas, Oscar Chapa is known to frequently increase the Stockton-San Joaquin Lions Club’s contributions to various charities and, as a lifetime member, he continues to advise and inspire all the members, now therefore be it Resolved by Assembly Member Greg Aghazarian and Senator S Poochigan, that Oscar Chapa be commended for the significant contributions that he has made to the people of the local community and throughout the state, and extended sincere best wishes for continued success in the future.
Members Resolution No 3166 Dated this 16^th day of November, 2005 (signed) Honorable Greg Aghazarian 26^th Assembly District (signed) Honorable Charles S Poochigan 14^th Senatorial District Lorena Gonzalez, District Representative for Assembyman Greg Aghazarian California Legislature Assembly Resolution.

Board of Supervisors Certificate of Appreciation	presented to Oscar Chapa Lions Club Honoree for your outstanding contributions and public service to the community and Stockton/San Joaquin Lions Club October 21, 2005 Steven Gutierrez, Chairman, First District Dario L. Moreno, Vice-Chairman, 2nd District Victor Mow, Third District Jack I. Sifglock, Fourth District Leroy Ornelas, Fifth District Members of the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Joaquin, Stockton, California Carlos Villapudua, Legislative Aide for Supervisor Steve Gutierrez delivers the Certificate of Appreciation

Lions International Past Director Pat Quigley, keynote speaker delivered the address.
Oscar Chapa was born Dec. 15,1917 in Monterey, Mexico. Family migrated to Texas in early 20's then later to the Los Angeles area and established permanent residence. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force during WW II and elevated to the rank of Master Sergeant by the time of discharge at the end of the war. Oscar moved to Stockton in the mid 40's, started a partnership business with his 2 sisters by opening a Mexican Restaurant named the "Mexico Cafe". The Concession Manager for the State Fair, a steady patron at the cafe invited him to open a Taco Stand at the fair. This was the start of a successful business that expanded with Taco Stands at county fairs throughout the state as well as the state fair that continued for 53 + years. STOCKTON-SAN JOAQUIN LIONS CLUB After many meetings with various citizens of the community (mainly Hispanic) and the perseverance of Emil Fimble, Angel Cruz, and Joe Reyes of the now known Stockton Host Lions, the San Joaquin Lions Club was born. Oscar Chapa: One of 19 inducted as Charter Member in 1958. He is the only active Charter Member. With his invaluable experience and equipment has taken the chairmanship to most of the dinner fundraising projects the club has undertaken. He Chaired the Tamale and the Cioppino Dinners of the past, and our continued annual Corned Beef and Cabbage, and Enchilada Dinners. Another major club project he chaired annually was providing lunches for the volunteers of the "Su Salud" Program headed by Dr. Vicuna. This program started in 1977 with the serving of a few hundred lunches and expanded annually to the County Fair Grounds where we were serving approximately 2700 volunteers. For many years he has volunteered to serve weekly at St. Mary’s Dining Hall. As a past member of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Air Patrol, had made himself and his airplane available in times of need. He is known to frequently increase the clubs contributions to various charities by either matching or just increasing the clubs donation. As President in 1968-69 was very instrumental in doubling the membership to 58, and has held various officer and board positions throughout his entire membership. He is the senior of 3 generations of active members in San Joaquin Lions which includes son, Dr. Eric Chapa; Daughter-in-law, Lynette Chapa; and Grandson, Craig Chapa. A rarity in any service organization. AWARDS: LION OF THE YEAR 10 TIMES MELVIN JONES FELLOW LIFETIME MEMBER 1989 Happily married to Alice for 63 years. 2 Children: Dr. Eric Chapa, and Dena Rupert, Retired SUSD Teacher. 3 Grand Children and 2 Great Grand Children

Sent by Annabelle M. Garza, Kleberg-Kenedy County CSCD
Deputy Director of Administration, (361) 595-8558 x126

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ? To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here.
They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier, You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell."

~Author Unknown~

The Dream Act
Sent by JV Martinez Joe.Martinez@science.doe.gov

On Friday, November 18th, a bipartisan coalition of senators re-introduced the DREAM Act as S. 2075. The bill is a continuation of the S. 1545, originally sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). The current sponsors of S. 2075 are Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Richard Luger (R-IN). The other cosponsors include Norm Coleman (R-MN), Larry Craig (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), John McCain (R-AZ), and Barack Obama (D-IL).

If passed, this bill would allow U.S.-raised undocumented immigrant children the opportunity for in-state college tuition as well as provide them with an opportunity to regularize their immigration status. This bill would become a law if passed by both houses of Congress and the President before the end of 2006.

"The DREAM Act will provide an opportunity for thousands of very bright children in this country who have the potential of being tomorrow's professionals," said LULAC National President Hector M. Flores. The Act would also permit long time resident immigrants, of good moral character who have stayed in school to receive conditional status, which will be lifted after completing college or two years of military service. It is only after completing one of these requirements that the conditional relief would become permanent.

The passage of the DREAM Act will increase the educational attainment among Latinos in the United States, and in turn, our nation's economy will thrive. "Brought here by their parents, having grown up in America, most of these students consider themselves American," added Flores. This legislation is an investment in our future and will actually help the economy through higher tax revenues in the long run. "If more students go to college then that means a stronger workforce which can only help our nation," concluded Flores.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

Hispanics Subgroups Differ by Age
July 2005, http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?fpa=0&id=24123

Distinct age differences emerge among Hispanic subgroups. More than 20 percent of Cubans are 65 or older, while a scant 4 percent of Mexicans are in that age bracket. On the other hand, 37 percent of Mexicans and 31 percent of Puerto Ricans are younger than 18, compared with just 20 percent of Cubans. Similarly, Mexicans have a lower median age of 24.7, while Cubans have a median age of 42.7, much higher than the median age of 35.9 of the total U.S. population.

Hispanics Still Trailing in Bachelor's Degrees
by Michelle M. Martinez, November 3, 2005
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?fpa=0&id=26497

More Hispanic students are going to college, but they still lag behind Anglos in obtaining bachelor's degrees, a study by the Pew Hispanic Center has found. The study, released in November, found that because Hispanic students are more likely to attend two-year institutions than Anglo students, they are less likely to earn bachelor's degrees.

"It's still the case in Texas that when you look at whites, they are more likely to go to four-year schools," said Richard Fry, senior research associate for the Pew Hispanic Center and the study's author. "More of them are going to get bachelor's degrees. More of them are starting at four-year schools."

In Texas, the gap between Hispanics and Anglos earning bachelor's degrees did not grow during the period studied -- 1996 to 2001 -- as it did in other heavily Hispanic states. Fry studied seven heavily Hispanic states -- Texas, California, New York, Arizona, New Jersey, Florida and Illinois. Those states educate about 80 percent of the nation's Hispanic college students.

The study shows that, nationally, 18 percent of Hispanic students who started at a two-year college earn their bachelor's degree, compared with 47 percent who start at a four-year college or university. "If you start at a two-year school, you're less likely to finish," Fry said.

Source: Copyright (c) 2005, San Antonio Express-News

RESEARCHERS TALLY COST OF EDUCATIONAL FAILINGS
The United States could recoup nearly $200 billion a year in economic losses and secure its place as the world's future economic and educational leader by raising the quality of schooling, investing more money and other resources in education, and lowering dropout rates, reports Alan Richard. Researchers presented evidence at a symposium held at Columbia University that the nation' health-care, crime, and welfare costs could be devastating in the decades to come if the inadequate schooling received by too many American students isn't vastly improved. Cecilia E. Rouse, a professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University, shared data showing that lower earnings among dropouts could cost the United States about $158 billion in lost earnings and $36 billion in lost state and federal income taxes for each class of 18-year-olds. Higher achievement also could help reduce crime, said Enrico Moretti, an economist. A 1 percent increase in graduation rates nationally would correlate with about 100,000 fewer crimes annually in the United States, Mr. Moretti estimates. Such a step would save the nation $1.4 billion a year in law-enforcement and incarceration costs, he said. Mr. Moretti's research suggests that increasing graduation rates by 10 percentage points would correlate with a 20 percent reduction in murder and assault arrest rates. "It's hard to think of a better reason for investing in public schooling," he said. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/11/02/10adequacy.h25.html

Latest Texas Attrition Data Released
From: BAlvarez@LULAC.org
Contact: Brenda Alvarez 202-833-6130 balvarez@lulac.org
Christie L. Goodman 210-444-1710 christie.goodman@idra.org

San Antonio (November 4, 2005) – Texas schools are failing to graduate two of every five students – meaning schools lose a student every four minutes. The Intercultural Development Research Association released detailed findings today from its latest study showing that the high school attrition rate is 36 percent. In Texas for 2004-05, almost half of Hispanic students, two out of five Black students, and one of five White students were lost from public school enrollment. County-level figures are available online at www.idra.org. As it releases its 20th annual attrition study, IDRA is unveiling a “Quality Schools Action Framework” at a statewide invitational summit November 4-5 in San Antonio convened by IDRA and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). At the summit, invited community members and educators from across Texas are coming together to catalyze immediate and long-term action to increase school holding power.

“The dropout rate among Latino students is of crisis proportions. Among the various Hispanic ethnicities, Mexican Americans have the lowest level of educational attainment with barely half graduating from high school,” said Hector Flores, LULAC national president. “We must challenge the country to secure the future of our young people and of the United States. The goal of this summit is to gather a strong basis of best practices to increase the much-needed improvement for our Texas schools and spread the anticipated success of the summit to the rest of the nation.” The framework, developed by IDRA executive director, Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, gives tools for communities and schools to work together to strengthen school holding power and ensure success for all students.

“It is high time that Texas take a new course. Our high schools lose more than one out of three of their students before graduation. This lack of school holding power affects every Texan,” said Dr. Montecel. “Most dropout prevention programs fail either because they are too narrow or because they blame students and parents for the problem. What we know, though, is that schools themselves must change to increase their ability to engage and educate students through to graduation. Parents and communities have played vital roles in every school reform effort – from fighting for fair funding to making sure that students are not ignored because of the language they speak. Communities and their neighborhood public schools can work together to guarantee that every child graduates from high school.”

IDRA research shows that between 1985-86 and 2004-05, 2.2 million secondary students have been lost from public school enrollment in the state, costing the state over $500 billion in foregone income, lost tax revenues, and increased job training, welfare, unemployment and criminal justice costs.

Visit http://www.idra.org to view the report, attrition by county and background information.

Two recent examples of the persistence of Anti-Spanish Legends in media.

The first was an article was written by Knight Ridder Newspaper reporter Banks Albach.

The first paragraph of a newspaper article in the Orange County Register about Pre-Columbian artifacts on display at the Smithsonian, Nov. 12th.reads:

"Washington * A horde of pre-Columbian gold artifacts that the Spanish conquistadors would have killed for went on view in Washington this week, including some made more than 2,000 years ago that had never before left South America."

Leaving that phrase out would not have affected the information in anyway, but the writer felt quite safe in demeaning an entire nation with a superfluous personal addition.

That phrase could just as easily have been instead . . . colonial English privateers, Dutch plantation owners, German merchants or Portuguese slave traders, some of whom within each group were engaged in horrific, nefarious businesses to gain riches, but the writer felt historically sound in identifying the Spanish.

The aspect that identifies it as an anti-Spanish legend is that it is totally unnecessary to include the phrase, and it perpetuates a negative, anti-Spanish attitude.

Second example: Western Lifestyle September/October 2005

A very brief article (4 paragraphs) by Morgan P. Yates, Mission Restoration

Third paragraph: "Spanish colonizing efforts relied on three institutions: presidios (forts), pueblos towns), and missions. The Franciscan friars gathered California Indians into the mission system, where they endured the depredations of disease and the strains of adjusting to lives of servitude greatly different from their previous existence. The pressures led to a catastrophic decline in their population."

Yates places the entire blame for the decline of the California Indian population on the life style under the Franciscan friars.

However in a chapter on mining in California . . . Sent by Johanna De Soto
the reduction of the Indian population came after the missions had been secularized and were not longer functioning.
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/departments/espm/env-hist/studyguide/chap8.htm

CHAPTER 8
MINING CALIFORNIA'S EARTH IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Chapter Outline
I. Gold Mining in California
A. Ecological effects of gold mining: timber depletion by gold miners; landscape degradation and river debris in hydraulic mining disrupt fishing and farming; mercury used in gold and silver amalgamation pollutes rivers; air and water pollution is associated with gold miners' camps.
B. Exogenous factors disrupting California lands
1. Population: Cyclical patterns emerge--exploration; growth of frontier towns or boom towns, followed by decline and ghost town. Pattern is related to relative abundance and rate of exhaustion of nonrenewable resource base. Gold rush provides dramatic example:

California population in:
1848 14,000 non-Indians and 100,000 Indians;
1849 100,000 settlers;
1852: 250,000 settler and 50,000 Indians;
1860: 380,000 settlers;
1900 Indians are reduced to 15,000

Mexico's Secularization Act of the California Missions was in 1835. The data above shows the Indian population was estimated as a healthy 100,000. It was after California was overrun by Easterners and other immigrants entering California as gold seekers that the population of the Indians was reduced by 85%.

California became a state on September 9th, 1850.
Between 1849 and 1900, 730,000 immigrants entered California.

This article falls into an anti-Spanish legend. The brief 4-paragraph article, entitled Mission Restoration, did not have to include the Franciscan Friars. It added nothing to the subject of Mission Restoration. The writer used one paragraph filled with unsupported historical data and makes a wide totally inaccurate personal generalization, perpetuating a negative anti-Spanish attitude.

Les envío copia del escudo de mi familia, el primer archivo es un escaneo de la foto-copia del original y otro es uno que arreglamos para que tuviera algo de color.....

Éste escudo viene de la familia DESSOMMES-RÉGNIER de Nueva Orleáns que se decían según ellos parientitos de Louis XV por el lado de los RÉGNIER....quién sabe si ésto era verdad, un descendiente de ellos, mi primo Bob DESSOMMES dice a manera de burla que él "nunca vió coronas en su familia".

Les dejo el escudo, a ver si los que conocen de heráldica me pueden dar su opinión al respecto ya que se ha buscado sin éxito en Francia el registro de dicho escudo.

Existe un anillo que tiene un escudo de los DESSOMMES-RAMOS, mi rama, desgraciadamente las personas que tienen dicho anillo, no han querido (ó no les interesa) compartir éste escudo con un servidor, así que no lo he visto.

Saludos,
Luis G. DESSOMMES ZAMBRANO ingedis1@ggp.com.mx
Monterrey, Mexico

My great-great-grandfather Honoré Dessommes (1826-1878) fought in the American civil war. He was Sergeant and Captain in Guyol's Company Orleans Artillery of the Louisiana Artillery in the Confederate Army.

Around 1865, at the end of the civil war, Honoré Dessommes and other members of his family moved from New Orleans to Matamoros, Tamaulipas. They opened a few family business. That is how the name DESSOMMES arrived to Mexico.

My ancestors moved a lot between the late 1700's and the decade of 1840's, when they finally got settle in New Orleans. They lived in the following places:

1. Saint-Domingue, before the "night of fire".
2. La Havana, before 1810 (although some information I found says that the DESSOMMES moved to New Orleans after the "night of fire").
3. New York, between 1810-1820, they are listed in the city directories
4. La Havana again, between 1820 and the decade of 1840's.
5. New Orleans, from 1840 to nowadays.

Unfortunately, I haven't established yet the activities of the family in Saint-Domingue (Plantations maybe?), New York, La Havana and New Orleans. I have tons of information about the activities of the in-law families, or friend families of the DESSOMMES, but nothing specific about them.

They moved to Mexico for economic reasons. This was at the end of the civil war (1865), when the port of New Orleans was blockaded by the Union. A lot of New Orleans business men did the same.

In Matamoros the family had a Jewellery and a Munitions store. But the big business was a wine import house, they imported from France wines from Bordeaux, Moët & Chandon champagne, liquors, etc. And they were also in the cotton business, their operations include Matamoros, Monterrey, Saltillo, Parras and La Laguna area.

What happened to these business?, I don't know. My great-great-grand-father Honoré Dessommes died in Matamoros in February 1878. After that, his widow, Marie Louise RAMOS and her two children didn't returned to New Orleans, instead they moved to San Antonio, Texas. Why?, I don't know. What I can tell surmise is that they must have had a hard time there because Marie Louise, a widow with two children had to work.

[[ Editor: This information was shared by Luis through eventos@genealogia.org.mx. This resulted in a comment by George Gause who wrote:

"Interesting. MY ancestors moved from today Haiti to Charleston, South Carolina at the same time and for the same reason. FINALLY something I can identify with!!!!!" George Gause ggause@utpa.edu ]]

Sharing a Communication between two Sons of the American Revolution, Both men have been tireless leaders in recognizing the historical contributions of the Spanish soldiers to the American Revolution, as authors, lecturers, activists, and advocates . .   we owe them much.

Estimada amiga Mimi:

I thought you might enjoy this exchange of emails between Granville Hough and me.

What a great man that Dr. Granville Hough! He is the most indefatigable researcher and prolific writer I know. How nice it would be to meet him--and shake his hand--personally!

Thanks, too, to Mimi Lozano, for publishing the Granville Hough collection in her excellent Somos Primos online magazine, thereby making them readily accessible to a world of people!

Con mucho aprecio y estima,

Robert H. Thonhoff   prof001@sbcglobal.net

Mon, 07 Nov 2005
Robert Thonhoff wrote:

Dear Dr. Hough, my esteemed friend and colleague: I have just had opportunity to skim through the voluminous Granville Hough articles in this month's issue of /Somos Promos./ What a wealth of information!

Thank you, sir, for all that you have done to enlighten Americans--indeed, people over the world--as to "the rest of the story" how our United States of America won its War of Independence, from which we we gained the freedom and opportunity that we still enjoy--and defend--today.

And thank you for your decision to permit your works to be published in the /Somos Primos Online Magazine,/ which makes them universally available.

You have left a monumental legacy, sir, for which I thank and commend you.

Sincerely yours, Robert H. Thonhoff
prof001@sbcglobal.net
Karnes, Texas

Dear Robert:

Thank you for your comments and support. I have almost finished compiling all published lists of American mariners during the Rev. War. When I was working my way across country with the Spanish soldiers and sailors, and when I got to the West Indies, I found I knew little about
the American maritime activities of the war. I have worked on the lists three years now and have 8000 vessels and 50,000 mariners (or mariner supporters, suppliers, owners, etc.) To this I will add the remaining Spanish soldiers I can identify in the Western Hemisphere, separately, and what French I can find. As we are getting immigrants from every South American country, we must be getting soldier descendants.

With my regards, Granville W. Hough.
gwhough@earthlink.net
Laguna Beach, California

Spanish Contributions to the American Revolution Sent by Bill Carmena JCarm1724@aol.com http://www.southcoastsar.org/SpanishSoldiers.htm#hl


Spanish Involvement in the American Revolution History Lessons Learned During the Search for Spanish Soldiers and Sailors The Galvez Project Rosters by Presidio A helpful Web Site for further Research References for Spanish Soldiers and Sailors of 1779-1783 Spanish Louisiana Flag of 1781
PATRIOTS OF PUNTA DE LAMPAZOS By Granville Hough, Ph.D. During the American Revolutionary War, the Viceroy of New Spain retained control of all military units in Nuevo Leon and Nuevo Santander (Tamaulipas), which means he controlled the Rio Grande River settlements all the way upriver to present-day Laredo, Texas. Control of other units on the northern Spanish border, from Laredo westward to the Pacific Ocean, and northward from that line were consolidated under the Commandante, Provincias Internas. Under this arrangement, Punta de Lampazos, Nuevo Leon, near Laredo, TX, was the northmost post for the Viceroy’s units, actually those of the Governor of Nuevo Leon. During the war years of 1781-83, the Governor of Nuevo Leon had one cavalry company of six esquadra (squads) in Monterey, the capital, and one at Punta de Lampazos, under a mayor and Captain, who also had six esquadra. The members of the company at Punta de Lampazos have names similar to those who settled in Texas; indeed, some members of that unit probably joined in moving across the Rio Grande River. (The names of the Monterey company have been published previously, so the following will be those who served at Punta de Lampazos. The squads varied in size from 10 to 20 soldiers each. All who served during the time period are shown below alphabetically on one list. The names are found in Documentary Relations of the Southwest, records 3044, 3045, 3046, 3047, and 3048, actually monthly rosters from 1781 through the end of the war, Sep 1783.) Alejandro de Abrego, 2nd Esquadra. Juan Joseph de Abrego, 4th Esquadra (when the name Joseph is used on the rosters, it is also recorded as Josef and José.) Manuel de Abrego, 2nd Esquadra. Santiago de Abrego, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Gregorio Almaras/Almanas, 4th Esquadra. Joseph Antonio de Arispe, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Valentin de Arispe, 5th Esquadra. Ygnacio Arrendo, 2nd Esquadra. Francisco Arroyos, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Leonardo de Ayala, 1st Esquadra. Joseph Lorenzo de Ayala, 2nd Esquadra. Pedro Mathias de Ayala, 2nd Esquadra. Balentin Barrera, 3rd Esquadra (as B and V were used interchangeably, this name could also appear as Valentin Varrera.) Blas Benitez/Venitez, 4th Esquadra. Joseph Manuel Bocanegra, 5th Esquadra. Cayetano Cabazon/Cavazas, 5th Esquadra. Joseph Antonio Cabazon/Cavazas, 5th Esquadra. Joseph Manuel Cabazos/Cavazos, Sgt, 2nd Esquadra. Philipe Cabrera, 2nd Esquadra. Vizente Camaña, 6th Esquadra. Juan Diego Campos, 3rd Esquadra. Nicolas Antonio Cantu, 4th Esquadra. Francisco Carabajal/Caravajal, 4th Esquadra. Remigio Castañeda, Sgt, 4th Esquadra. Simon Julian Chabarria/Chavarria/Echavarria, 2nd Esquadra. Juan Joseph Dias, 5th Esquadra. Joseph Maria de Echeagaray, Lt, 1st Esquadra. Silas de la Escobedo, 5th Esquadra. (This may also be read as Blas Escobedo.) Agustin Flores, 1st Esquadra. Blas Flores, Cpl, 2nd Esquadra. Later this name is in 4th Esquadra. Juan Joseph de la Flores, 5th Esquadra. Claudio Gallegos, 4th Esquadra. Don Francisco Garcia y Guarando, Lt and Mayor of Punta de Lampazos, Dec 1782. George/Jorge Garcia, 5th Esquadra. Juan Angel Garcia, 6th Esquadra. Joseph Antonio de la Garza, 2nd Esquadra (this name is also recorded as Antonio.) Joseph Faustino de la Garza, 5th Esquadra (this name is also recorded as Faustino.) Joseph Joachin de la Garza, 1st Esquadra. Joseph Ramon de la Garza, 1st Esquadra. Joseph Toribio de la Garza, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Urbana de la Garza, 1st Esquadra. Joseph Yrineo de la Garza, 5th Esquadra. Juan Joseph de la Garza, 1st Esquadra. Juan Ygnacio de la Garza, 1st Esquadra. Luis Antonio de la Garza, 6th Esquadra. Miguel de la Garza, 2nd Esquadra. Pedro Joseph de la Garza, 6th Esquadra. Teodoro Gil, Sgt, 2nd Esquadra, formerly in 6th Esquadra. Joseph Antonio Gonzales, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Segundo Gonzales, 4th Esquadra. Julian Gonzales, 4th Esquadra. Domingo Gracía, Sgt, 3rd Esquadra. Bartolomé Gracía, 3rd Esquadra. José Guadarrama, Cpl, 6th Esquadra. Julian Guaxardo, 2nd Esquadra. Don Luis de Guebara, Distinguished Sgt, 5th Esquadra. Blas Marie Guerra, 4th Esquadra. Clemente Guerra, 1st Esquadra, later in 6th Esquadra. Joseph Guerra, 2nd Esquadra. Joseph Miguel Guerra, 1st Esquadra. Joseph Ygnacio Guerra, 1st Esquadra. Manuel Guerra, 1st Esquadra. Nicolas Hernandez/Ernandez, 2d Esquadra. Joseph Eusebio de Herrera/Errera, 3rd Esquadron. José Simon de Herrera/Errera, 2nd Esquadra. Cristobal Jaimes, 2nd Esquadra. Juan Laurel, 2nd Esquadra. Juan Cayetañi Longoria, 4th Esquadra. Juan Ambrosio de Lozano, 3rd Esquadra. Victoriano Marquez, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Dimas Martinez, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Francisco Martinez, 3rd Esquadra. Mathias de la Mata, 5th Esquadra. Joseph Vizente Moya, 4th Esquadra. Juan Felipe Moya, 4th Esquadra. Blas Maria Muñoz, 4th Esquadra. Juan Pedro Muñoz, 5th Esquadra. Juan Ysidro Muñoz, Sgt, 5th Esquadra. Joseph Antonio de Ochoa, 6th Esquadra. Joseph Luis Ondarza, 5th Esquadra. Joseph Julian de Orosco, 4th Esquadra. Joseph Miguel de Oyos/Hoyos/Ollos, 3rd Esquadra Juan Bautista de Peñam 1st Esquadra. Francisco Perales, 5th Esquadra. Joseph Valentin Perez, Cpl, 1st Esquadra. Luis de Quebara, Sgt, 5th Esquadra. Francisco Quintanilla, 1st Esquadra. Felis Ramirez, Sgt, 1st Esquadra, later Alfarez in 3rd Esquadra. Pedro Ramirez, 2nd Esquadra. Gregorio Ramos, 4th Esquadra. Francisco Xavier Resendez, 4th Esquadra. Gabriel Resendez, 6th Esquadra. Baltasar de los Reyes, 5th Esquadra. Cayetaño Reyes, 5th Esquadra. Juan Cornelio Rodriquez, 4th Esquadra. Antonio Angel Saenz, 2nd Esquadra. Cristobal Saenz, 1st Esquadra. José Antonio Saenz, 4th Esquadra. Joseph Francisco Saenz, 2nd Esquadra. Joseph Santiago Saenz, 4th Esquadra. José Xavier Saenz, Cpl, 2nd Esquadra, Sgt, 6th Esquadra. Manuel Salazar, el Herrero (the blacksmith), 5th Esquadra. Joseph Mariano Sanson, Sgt, 4th Esquadra. Luis de los Santos, 1st Esquadra. Pedro de los Santos, 1st Esquadra. Diego Saravia, 6th Esquadra. Francisco Luis Solis, 3rd Esquadra. Juan Joseph Solis, 4th Esquadra. Valentin Tarramila, 5th Esquadro. Bruno de Taso/Haro, 5th Esquadra. Francisco Javier Tixerina, 6th Esquadra. José Antonio Tixerina, Cpl, 1st Esquadra. Joseph Cayetaño Tixerina, Alfarez, 2nd Esquadra, may also be read as Fixerina. Joseph Joachin Tixerina, 1st Esquadra. Juan José Tixerina, 6th Esquadra. Joseph Santiago Tixerina, 1st Esquadra. Teodoro Tixerina, 6th Esquadra. Joseph Antonio Torres, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Nepomucino Torres, 5th Esquadra. Timoteo Torres, 3rd Esquadra. Joseph Eugenio Treviño, 1st Esquadra. Juan Antonio Treviño, 2nd Esquadra. Juan Elias Treviño, 4th Esquadra. Nicolas Joseph Treviño, 1st Esquadra. Dionesio de Urresti, Alfarez, 3rd Esquadra, may be same as next entry. Joseph Antonio de Urresti, Alfarez, 1st Esquadra, and 2nd Esquadra. Jose del Valle, Cpl, 2nd Esquadra and 6th Esquadra. Antonio Vasquez/Basquez, 6th Esquadra. Francisco Antonio Yruegas, 3rd Esquadra. Any adult male descendants of the above are eligible to join the Sons of the American Revolution. For information about joining the Sons of the American Revolution through your Spanish ancestors, contact Granville W. Hough, gwhough@earthlink.net. He will put you in touch with the proper representative in your area.

Peter Limon, Pearl Harbor Survivor
The Truth of War by Eric Carpenter, ecarpenter@ocregister.com
Orange County Register,
November 11, 2005

The sun finally faded on a day that seemed to last for weeks. Still, the darkness was unwelcome on this night. There would be no sleep. Peter Limon, a cocky 17-year-old from East Los Angeles who had recently arrived in Hawaii to serve in the Navy, made his way to the deck, past men on watch huddled under black panchos in the rain.

The stench of burning oil still clouded the air. He anxiously listened for the hum of more war planes on the dark horizon. Then, an unfamiliar sound. "Is that crying I'm hearing?" Limon wondered, pausing to listen closer.

Photos by Paul E. Rodriguez

From under the ponchos, he heard his shipmates sobbing. Deep cries that emanated form the soul. And with that realization, the emotional weight of the day hit hard.

The bombs. The fire. The bodies of fellow sailors fished from the harbor. Tears streamed down Limon's face. He'd come to Pearl Harbor for the promise of tropical weather and women in hula skirts. To escape his impoverished neighborhood. His thoughts turned to family, his four older brothers and three sisters. He just wanted to be back home.

That day was Dec. 7,1941. The day that changed the course of American history. The day that forever changed Pete Limon.

Now, at 81, Limon sits in the clubhouse of a San Juan Capistrano mobile-home park, recalling every detail of that day, from his eggs-over-easy breakfast to where he stood on the USS Swan as enemy warplanes approached. He's happy to tell his story. About surviving the attack. About how his four older brothers followed him into the military to help win the war.

Limon will mark Veterans Day on Saturday at a Cal State Fullerton ceremony honoring Latino veterans. The event will pay tribute to families like Limon's, who had multiple brothers serving in WWII. (The event was the 9th Annual Celebration, hosted by Latino Advocates for Education.)

Limon will do so with pride. But also with sadness. Fewer Pear Harbor survivors are living to tell their stories each year. Limon went back to Hawaii for the 60th anniversary. "I'm not sure I'll make it to a 70th. I'm not sure there'll be any of us left," he said.

Oily one of his brothers, Robert, 84, is still alive. But he's too ill to attend Saturday's event. So, Limon is eager to tell his story, while there is still time.

"I want people to understand the humanity of that day, to know that there was pride and heroism, but these were real people and there was also fear and humiliation... the truth of war."

Limon's family had lived in Los Angeles since before it was part of the United States. Elders often started conversations with "antes de los Americanos ..." (before the Americans came). Limon's parents died before he turned 15. He dropped out of high school in 11th grade and turned to the military.

He was light-skinned and people who heard his name (pronounced lee-MOAN) often assumed he was French. Once his barrack mates learned he was Latino, they taunted him with racial slurs and challenged him to fights. I got to be pretty tough for 17.1 wasn't big, but I was quick and learned to fight."

Limon arrived at Pearl Harbor in October 1941. Warm breezes. Comfortable barracks. And the guarantee of three meals a day after growing up in the Depression. He'd found paradise.

That all changed early on a Sunday, less than two months after he arrived. Limon was headed to work his 8 a.m. shift sending radio signals aboard the Swan when he saw a low-flying plane.

"I looked up and saw the eyes of the pilot, wearing a furry-hooded coat, staring down at us," he said. "I saw his machine gun pointed right at me, so I hit the deck."

He jumped up and ran to the radios, where he found complete chaos as fleets from across the Pacific signaled back, trying to confirm it was a real attack.

When Limon climbed above deck, he saw a hellish scene. "There was just nothing like that fleet at Pearl Harbor; it had been so beautiful," Limon said. "And now everything was on fire, those huge battleships rearing up out of the water like wounded horses.

'You can't describe that kind of fear." Limon wrote home to let his family know he was unharmed) staying in contact through his sister Rosalva. She wrote back to say that their brother Robert had joined the Marines.

Tino soon joined. Then Jose was drafted by the Army, and Jess, who had three children, was called on by the Navy. Limon thought often about his four brothers, scattered across the globe. They relied on Rosalva's letters to stay connected. Each letter brought excitement. But as he broke the seal, Limon always feared that this could be the letter telling him one of his brothers was dead.

"I talked to so many Marines and heard about the brutal fighting they were seeing," Limon said. "I was concerned.Word eventually came that Robert was wounded by shrapnel at Iwo Jima - serious wounds but not life threatening.

"Believe it or not, when I got that letter I thought, 'Oh, good, he really dodged a bullet.'"

It wasn't until 1947 that all five brothers were able to gather together back in their, old East LA. neighborhood. Frankly, it was a big drunken party," Limon said. "We'd all made it through."

Many families weren't so lucky. Latino families tended to have many children, so it was common to to see Latino brothers serving together Limon said.

"With education the way it was, there just weren't a lot of opportunities for us. The military was an obvious choice."

Limon hopes history will remember Latinos who served. And recognize those who are still serving; "Look at Gen. (Ricardo) Sanchez. He's led the whole effort in Iraq. We have reason to be proud."

Saturday's ceremony will be one of the few military events Limon attends. He's stopped going to funerals of fellow veterans. There are too many these days. And he politely declines most invitations to ceremonies just because organizers need a Pearl Harbor survivor to round out the roster.

It reminds Limon of Comanche - Gen. Ouster's horse that survived the Battle of Little Big Horn. The horse was put out to pasture after that battle and spent the rest of its life marching in military parades until it died of old age.

"The older you get, the more iconic you get," said Limon, who carries a Pearl Harbor Survivor card above his driver's license. "I'm proud of my service and happy to share my story. "But I don't want to be that horse."

Las Posadas, Sunday December 4th Presented by the Hispanic Arts Council of the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art Sunday, December 4th in the courtyard at the Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St. Santa Ana 5:00 - 7:30 pm Procession starts at the corner of 20th St and Main St FREE to the community, a Bilingual Educational Cultural Program FREE entertainment, Sonidos de Mexico, Alegria Dance Group, Fiesta Ballet Folklorico, Pinata for the children and a special appearance by Santa Claus. FOOD will be sold: Tamales, Pan dulce, hot and cold drinks. For more information, please call 714-241-7527
Fiesta Navidad Philharmonic Society present Linda Ronstadt and Nati Cano, Mariachi Los Camperos Wednesday and Thursday, December 7 & 8, 2005 at 7:30 pm Ticket information: 949-553-2422 or visit www.PhilharmonicSociety.org
	December 8th: Flamenco Den, Ole! Navidad Special Flamenco Christmas Celebration Featuring a Traditional Gypsy FIN DE FIESTA introducing jaleos (singing), elevating zambras (roots of flamenco) and bulerias with guest artists, rumba flamenca & great surprises!
WHO: CLAUDIA DE LA CRUZ and her mesmerizing flamenco gypsy style Extraordinary Guitarist GABRIEL REYNA with guest male dancer RUDY ORNELAS also guest Percussionist FERNANDO DIEZ http://www.fernandodiez.com WHEN: Thursday December 8th, 2005 TIME: 7:00 PM - Dj spinning all night an eclectic mix of international music 8:00 GUEST ARTIST TBA 9:00 PM - CLAUDIA DE LA CRUZ and her Flamenco Dance Company WHERE: Gitanerias Cafe \| Flamenco Den 500 N. Brookhust Ave, Anaheim California 92802 (one block south of the 5 Fwy or one mile north of Euclid Ave) RSVP (714) 543-1370 INFO (714) 543-0613 www.plaza-garibaldi.com www.tierra-flamenca.com www.claudiadelacruz.com ATTIRE: Gypsy attire. Casual attire is always welcome This month enjoy the beautiful work of Joseph Rivera http://www.josephrivera.us/ Joseph Rivera has been into art ever since he picked up a crayon at an early age. He shared interest in many things growing up, but art was always his first love. His abilities grew as he got older never loosing the desire to draw and paint. His self taught technique and style resembles that of the masters from the 1500 and 1600’s. This involves applying very thin layers of paint, waiting for each layer to dry before applying the next layer. This process is tedious and is very time-consuming producing beautiful results. Rivera is proud of his heritage and specializes in painting Latina women in romantic lantern or candle light scenes.
	The very painting of his pictures is a mere portion of the work it involves to put a piece together. "It all starts with a woman with the right look." Joseph says, "and almost instantly I see a painting". Each painting is well planned with a few improvisations along the way. Most of the woman he selects have never modeled before but most are very natural. He is able to place the various personalities of the women into his paintings that feed off of their energy.
He has found a home at the Santora Arts Building in Santa Ana, California, since 2002, and has been the Director of the Showcase North Gallery since 2003. You may see Rivera oil painting at Cafe Tu Tu Tango at The Block in Orange on Friday or Saturday nights. He has exhibited and won awards for his work in the Southern California Area. Rivera is also a member of the Orange County Fine Arts, Inc. (OCFA), a local non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating public interest in the fine arts through arts education and scholarships for aspiring artists and to provide consistent opportunities for already-accomplished artists to display their work.


	L.A. Salsa Kids at the Latin Passion Festival in Hong Kong. My name is Jay Geldhof and I am the Director of an incredible Salsa Dance Company called the 'L.A. Salsa Kids'. The L.A. Salsa Kids specialize in grooving to the hot Latin/Caribbean sounds of Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, ChaChaCha, and Rumba. They perform these dances with a style all their own.
The performance group is composed of young energetic members, ranging in ages from 11 to 23. The L.A. Salsa Kids have been featured at many festivals, special events, parties, dinners, awards banquets, theater and dinner shows, as well as radio, TV shows and Music Videos taped in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Puerto Rico, Miami, New York, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri and Hong Kong. The L.A. Salsa Kids have over 15 Salsa Dance routines and can put on a fabulous 25 to 50 minute show. The L.A. Salsa Kids have performed over 600 times since its inception in the summer of 1996. For more information: LASalsaKids@aol.com or (562)943-4492


Both Sides of the Border: Latin American and Chicano Art Carlotta's Passion Fine Art - Eagle Rock California November 19th through December 30th, 2005. With the recent upsurge in popularity for Latino art, Carlotta's Passion Fine Arts intends to present a proper historical and aesthetic context for what is quickly becoming an internationally renown school of art. As an expression of a newly independent hemisphere, Latin American art has long delighted and inspired a world audience. Vibrant, compelling and rooted in the unique experience of the Americas, the genre provides a bridge for a new contemporary US art movement. Chicano Art is the visual language of the Mexican-American community in the US, and domestically it has already made an impact with its bold aesthetics - now it is poised to become popular with the worldwide community. To help broaden that recognition, Carlotta's Passion Fine Arts presents, Both Sides of the Border: Latin American and Chicano Art. Both Sides of the Border focuses on original and limited edition works of art by Latin American and Chicano artists. The Latin American artwork includes pieces by Raul Anguiano, Juan Sebastián Barbera, Elsa Chabaud, Vladimir Cora, Jose Luis Cuevas, Jean Charlot, Ever Fonseca, Jose Fors, Ana Marini Genzon, Wifredo Lam, Vanesa Martinelli, David Martinez, Eleazar Martinez, Jose Esteban Martinez, Roberto Matta, Lucia Maya, Carlos Merida, Gustavo Montoya, Salvadore Salaza, Jag Sanchez, Francisco Toledo, Victor Uhthoff, and Francisco Zuniga. The Chicano artists whose works are in the show include Ramon Atilano, Joe Bravo, Carlos Bueno, Yareli Cobian, Diane Gamboa, Margaret Garcia, Gronk, Sergio Hernandez, Leo Limon, Gilbert "Magu" Lujan, Manuel Martinez, Abe Mendoza, Xavier Montes, James Osorio, Felix Perez, Ramon Ramirez, Sergio Rebia, Frank Romero, The Royal Chicano Air Force, Hector Silva, Patssi Valdez, Mark Vallen, Israel Valenzuela, Benjamin Venegas, and Antonio Ybanez. Both Sides of the Border opens with an Artist's Reception on Saturday, November 19th., from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. During the opening Martin Espino and Christopher Garcia of MEXIKA will perform indigenous music using traditional instruments. The exhibition runs until December 30th., 2005. During Both Sides of the Border, Carlotta's Passion will offer educational presentations and activities. As of press time, the following presentations are planned: Friday, Dec. 16th., 8:00 to 9:00 pm: The influence of identity on Chicano art, by educator Diane Velarde-Hernandez and artist Mark Vallen. Vallen's lecture will include an exciting slide presentation on the aesthetics of socially conscious art. Sunday, Dec. 17th. 2:00 to 4:00 pm: The history, symbology, and current styles of Taxco and other high quality Mexican jewelry, by Mexican jewelry experts RuthAnne Tarletz de Molina and Eduardo Rocha Soto. Meet the Artist Series During Both Sides of the Border, Carlotta's Passion will offer a Meet the Artist series. Each friendly and informal gathering will give collectors an opportunity to get to know artists on a more intimate basis than allowable during a typical Artist's Reception. In the course of a Meet the Artist social event, an artist will walk collectors through works on display, going into detail about each piece, taking questions, and giving insight into the artist's background, motivations and influences. Refreshments and hor d'oeuvres will be available as additional works not on display will be offered by the artist for view and purchase. Meet the Artist dates currently confirmed: Joe Bravo - Friday, December 2nd at 8 pm. Ana Marini Genzon - Friday, December 9th, 8:00 pm. Mark Vallen - Saturday, December 17th at 8 pm. Poetry Reading: Luis J. Rodriguez, Saturday, December 3rd at 8 pm. Luis J. Rodriguez will read from his latest poetry collection, My Nature is Hunger: New & Selected Poems. Luis J. Rodriguez is an award-winning writer of poetry, children's books, fiction, and nonfiction, best-known for the memoir, Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA. He is a cofounder of Tia Chucha's Cafe & Centro Cultural - a bookstore/cafe/art gallery/performance space/workshop center in the San Fernando Valley. He is also editor of Tia Chucha Press. You can discover more about Luis J. Rodriguez at his official website. Mark Vallen's latest oil painting appears as the cover art for My Nature Is Hunger, and the artist will be on hand to talk about his work created especially for Luis J. Rodriguez. As part of the occasion, prints of Vallen's painting will also be made available to the public. Carlotta's Passion Fine Art is located at: 2012 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, California (Eagle Rock,) 90041. Click here for a MapQuest map. Regular business hours for the gallery are Tuesday through Sunday, from 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Phone: 323-259-1563. For a full schedule of updated exhibit events, as well as previews of artworks, visit: www.art-for-a-change.com/border.htm

Bancroft's California Pioneer Register and Index

If you are not familiar with this index, you should be. :-) I have started transcribing it and have three sections finished (Preface, List of Pioneers, and Inhabitants of California 1769-1800):
http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sfbay/pioneers/capio.htm

It will be a work in progress for quite awhile. :-) The entries vary in the amount of information Bancroft provides. Some of the individuals have family information. I have included here the last entries to give you an idea of what it looks like.

Regards, Ron Filion
ron@sfgenealogy.com

Zimmerman (Bernard), 1847, Co. F, 3d U.S. artill. (v. 518). Z. (W.), 1847, ditto; in Cal. '64.
Zindel (Louis), 1844, one of Frémont's party; prob. did not come to Cal. iv. 437.
Zinky (D.), 1846, doubtful name of the Cal. Bat. (v. 358).
Zinns (Geo.), 1846, nat. of Lorraine, and overl. immig.; Cal. Bat. (v. 358); married Mrs Wolfinger at Sutter's fort '47, and is said to have built the first brick house at Sac. He was later a brewer and fruit-grower, but being ruined by fire and again by slickens, he lived on a chicken ranch from '72, and died at Oakland in '85 at the age of '86.
Zittle (Michael), 1847, Co. I, N.Y. Vol. (v. 499).
Zorrilla (Francisco), 1842, named as in charge of the Los Ang. gold mines. iv. 630.
Zúñiga (José), 1781, lieut of the S. Diego comp., acting as habilitado and com. to 1793. Later capt. at Tucson, Sonora; lieut-col 1810. He was one of the most efficient of the old presidio officers. Biog. i. 645-6; ment i. 335, 340, 343, 372, 396, 398, 400, 441, 454, 461-3, 467, 484, 502, 522, 653; ii. 78.
Z. (Guillermo), land-owner at Los Ang. '39, age 48.
Z. (Nicolás), soldier of the Mont. comp. '36, age '21.
Z. (Pio Quinto), soldier of the S. Juan Cap. escolta 1776-9. i. 303.
Z. (Ramon), soldier at Mont. '36, age 25.
Z. (Valentin), at Los Ang. '39, age 42.
Z. (Ventura), boy at Los Ang. 1802; soldier in '10. ii. 91.
Zurrillaga 1824, mr of the Constancia. ii. 519.
Zurita (José), murderer at S. Juan B. '44. iv. 662.

Great California Resources site
Sent by Bob Smith Regriffith6828@aol.com
http://www.babalua.com/california.htm with links to California History.

Editor: I really can't say enough about this site. It is outstanding. SO MUCH THERE!!
Any California researcher should definitely check it out and bookmark it.

Los Californianos Quarterly Meeting, January 20-22, 2006
Sent by Benita Gray GRAY850@aol.com

Los Californianos will hold their Quarterly Meeting January 20-22, 2006 at the Best Western Seven Seas in Mission Valley, San Diego. The group, who are descendants of the Hispanic settlers in Alta California before 1848, provides a Traveling Genealogy Library for research at its meetings. The Library collection is centered on those settlers and their descendants and is open to the public for genealogical/historical research for a weekend fee of $5 plus the meeting registration fee of $3. The Library will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

On Saturday the meeting program includes guided tours of Mission San Diego de Alcalá in the morning and afternoon and the San Diego Archaeological Center in the afternoon.

Saturday evening dinner will feature Dr. Jack Williams, a native San Diegan and historian member of Los Californianos, who will speak on the architecture of Spanish San Diego and the controversy surrounding the Battle of San Pasqual. Dr. Williams is an active archeologist, having worked sites at the San Diego Presidio, Mission Santa Barbara, and Mission San Luis Rey in recent years. He is a noted author who has, among other literary endeavors, completed a four volume set on the Presidios under a grant from California Mission Studies Association. In cooperation with Father Thomas Davis he has also written a set of six books on early California aimed at the fourth grade audience.

Dr. Iris Engstrand will speak at a Sunday breakfast buffet on the early history of San Diego. Dr. Engstrand is a Professor of History at the University of San Diego, where she was awarded a distinguished University Professorship and the Davies Award for Faculty Achievement. Dr. Engstrand has received fellowships from the Fulbright Commission, American Philosophical Society, and Huntington Library. She is the author of 21 books, including over half a dozen on the history of San Diego and its institutions and leaders. She will be happy to autograph her latest book, San Diego: California's Cornerstone, which will be available for purchase at the meeting.

Information about the meeting is available from the hosts: Dee Humphrey at 858-271-6717 (ghumphrey333@yahoo.com) or Benita and George Gray 858-538-3027 (gray850@aol.com). Reservations for tours and/or meals can be made with the Grays. If you are interested in the history of California before it was part of the United States, especially if you believe you are descended from its early Hispanic settlers, we are sure you would find something of interest at this meeting and Los Californianos would welcome your attendance.

WORLD PREMIERE OF 'CALIFORNIA'S 'LOST' TRIBES'!
Sent by Dorinda Moreno dorindamoreno@comcast.net

CALIFORNIA'S "LOST" TRIBES is the opening episode in a four-part series on California, entitled CALIFORNIA AND THE AMERICAN DREAM, which will be broadcast on nationwide PBS next April and May. CALIFORNIA'S "LOST" TRIBES will air on April 13th, 2006.)

The World Premiere was at The 30th Annual American Indian Film Festival on November 10 at the Palace of Fine Arts.
California's "Lost" Tribes
Director: Jed Riffe
Co-Producer: Jack Kohler
Editor: Maureen Gosling
Cinematographer: Vicente Franco
Narrator: Linda Hunt
Running Time: 54:30

In a few short years, American Indians in California went from being the poorest people in the state to among the richest, from being virtually invisible to being the most powerful political lobby in the 6th largest economy in the world. What has been the impact of this dramatic transformation?

For the Cabazon and Morongo tribes of Southern California, the plaintiffs in the landmark Supreme Court case, the potential wealth from gambling was unimaginable. Years of excruciating poverty have not been lost on three-time chairwoman Mary Ann Andreas of the Morongo Tribe, whose reservation is near Palm Springs. She remembers the dirt floor shack of her childhood, and the impossibility of dreaming for the wealth the tribe now holds. For Viejas tribal Chairman Anthony Pico, the abundance of today harks back to the times before contact with the Europeans. Today, the State is trying to charge a gaming tax greater than the standard corporate rate, a challenge to the newly found abundance of California tribes. Concern over gaming is further stoked by the development of casinos on rural lands, such as the Rumsey Band's Cache Creek Casino and Resort in Capay Valley, creating friction between tribes and non-Indians.

Told in their own words, CALIFORNIA'S "LOST" TRIBES is the first documentary to go behind the facade of glitz and glamour of American Indian casinos to reveal the current conflicts over Indian gaming, and to explore the historical underpinnings of tribal sovereignty and the evolution of tribal gaming over the last thirty years. CALIFORNIA'S "LOST" TRIBES captures the impact of gaming on Indian self-determination and the challenges Native people face in defining the identity of their people for the future.

Guillermo Gómez-Peña returns to San Diego to invoke Intercultural Demons
Sent by Dorinda Moreno dorindamoreno@comcast.net

A frenetic experimental artist, writer, and satirist, Gómez-Peña, had his first public performances at Sushi Performance and Visual Art over twenty years ago. Gómez-Peña has since gone on

On November 4, 2005 California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (CASSAR) dedicated a plaque recognizing the San Diego Presidio as a American Revolutionary war site. The plaque is the second in California being placed by member of the Sons of the American Revolution.	Maria Angeles O'Donnell Olson, Consul Honoraria de España en San Diego acknowledges the historical facts concerning the Spanish contributions to the American Revolution. CASSAR President Larry Magerkurth was Master of Ceremonies. CASSAR Chaplain, Bishop, Louis V. Carlson stands behind Consul Olson.
Members of Casa de España in San Diego
	The Sons of the American Revolution recognizes the role of Spain in fighting the British in the American Revolution. Male descendants of Alta California soldiers serving at the time of the American Revolution are eligible for membership in the SAR. The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, is a compatriot of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. For more information contact Granville Hough, Ph.D.
Left to Right: Asuncion Farris, Mary Goldbeck, Tesorera de Casa de España en San Diego, Maria Angeles O'Donnell Olson, Susi Lusti, and Maria Jesus Ferri, Presidente de Casa de España. Photos by Cecilia Anguera anguera@sbcglobal.net

With Singer, Marisol Fuentes

On Sunday, December 11, 2005
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
At
San Diego Museum of Man
1350 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101

Content Areas United States - 4 Anti-Spanish Legends - 17 Surname - 19 Spanish Sons of the American Revolution - 21 Orange County, CA- 27 Los Angeles, CA - 32 California - 35 Northwestern United States - 40 Southwestern United States - 46 Black - 55 Indigenous - 63 Sephardic - 69 Texas -74	East of the Mississippi - 87 East Coast - 92 Mexico - 95 Caribbean/Cuba - 129 Spain - 136 International - 141 History - 155 Family History -158 Archaeology -171 T'was the Night Before Christmas - 174 END - 177 Calendar Networking Meetings
Our research is not for us, but for the next generation. We owe it to them. John David Inclan y Canales

With Singer, Marisol Fuentes

On Sunday, December 11, 2005 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. At San Diego Museum of Man 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101

On Sunday, December 11, 2005
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
At
San Diego Museum of Man
1350 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101