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Dedicated
to Hispanic Heritage |
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African-American |
Caribbean Cartoonists Cesar Chavez Cuba Culture Cultural Stew Ellis Island Europe Lutheranism Viking artifacts History Novel |
Indigenous Texan Ute Juaneno Navajo Zuni Internet Latinos Haiti Library, CDL Media |
Mexico Jalisco General Neri Wills White Pages Military Cubans SARs Spanish U.S. Military A Man's Hero John Riley |
Missions Noble Man Portuguese Spain Sephardi Sports Texas Camino Real Congressman Ciro Rodriguez Hollywood Myth Indigenous roots |
| Dear Primos, welcome to the second online issue of Somos Primos. We were overwhelmed by the wonderful glowing responses from many of you. We appreciate your messages of encouragement and accept with gratitude your compliments. We have found that many Primos share our concerns, convictions, and desire to popularize a truer and more correct historical image of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Thank you for your articles and suggestions. Mimi Lozano, Editor |
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Contributors to Issue:
January 28-29: GenTECH Conference hosted by |
The focal
point will be a computerized database that provides visitors with
automated access to more than 17 million historic Ellis Island passenger
records. The process of extracting these records began in 1993 when, in
cooperation with the National Park Service, the U.S. Dept. of the
Interior, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began the
on-going volunteer effort of digitizing records that cover individuals who entered
through New York Harbor between 1892-1924. In addition to those who came through
Ellis Island, the database will also contain information
on a wide range of immigrant groups, www.ellisisland.org
Feb 23: Invitation to Reception, Orange County Hall of Administration, |
|
Society of |
Board
Members: Bea Armenta Dever Edward B. Flores Mimi Lozano Holtzman Glora Cortinas Oliver |
Teresa Maldonado Parker Charles Sadler Laura Arechabala Shane http://members.aol.com/shhar |
|
"The visualization and image of the Latinos and Latino stories is absent in network television," Sanchez said. "You cannot underestimate the enormous impact that the visual image has on the national consciousness of America. And when we're virtually absent from those images, we're left to segregated images for the nation to perceive and internalize." Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2000 |
|
Carlos Santana Los Angeles Times, 1-5-2000 |
Latin Grammys "I think we are still on the ground floor of the emergence of
Latin music in America, and I look forward to our contributions to the
popularity of this wonderful music," said Michael Greene, president
of the National academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which helped
organize the Latin recording academy.
|
¡Libros para sus oidos! Ex-entertainment executive envisions a demand among Latinos for books
on tape. Two years ago H. Blair Bess launched AudioLibros del
Mundo. He aims to crack a market that has been both invisible and
elusive to audio book publishers. Los Angeles Times, 1-12-00
|
| Internet: Most Latino Internet users in the United States prefer English-language Web sites or have no language preference, but nevertheless are strong consumers of Spanish-language music and books, thus reports a study conducted by Research & Research of Puerto Rico for Boston-based Espanol.com, a Spanish-Web retailer. 2,000 Latino Internet users surveyed, 63% were foreign-born. 8% preferred Spanish-language sites. 51% Indifferent to the language issue 41% preferred English-language sites.
|
Seventy-six
percent said they purchased products online, 62% in the last year, with
software, music and books leading the list. Those in the U.S. for 10
years
or more were more likely to shop online. Average annual income of the
online Latino was $47,410, and the online Latino shopper had an average
annual income of $51,000.
Despite English proficiency and preference, respondents showed a keen interest in Spanish-language merchandise. of those surveyed, 49% reported recently purchasing salsa music online. And 45 % of cyber-shoppers said they were Spanish-language book readers. Kyle McNamara, founder and chief executive of Espanol.com said the results " a strong endorsement of our culturally specific business model." The company, which launched last November, is planning an English-language site and is aiming for self-described bilinguals with strong interest in Latin culture. Lee Romney, Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2000
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| Digital
Technology and Sound Compression A new kind of digital technology has simplified real-time sound compression. The technique can delete silent pockets in between words, shortening the pauses and generally speeding up the pace. Radio stations are using it to save air time. General managers at about 50 radio stations across the country are using it specifically to speed up talk programs so they can wedge in more commercials. While radio executive say the impact of the technology is often
imperceptible to consumer, advertising executives complain that there is
already too much clutter on the dial, making each commercial less
effective. Other critics point to a larger issue: that the growth in
commercials in recent years, combined with listeners drifting toward
other media, like the Internet, may be helping to eat away at the radio
audience. |
"World News Tonight" Peter Jennings newscast ran a special five-day series. It began Jan. 17, "Latinos and America.". ABCNEWS.com offered additional information and coverage on the Latino experience in the U.S., a unique and comprehensive examination of "Latinos and America."
ABC News Media Relations: Dahlia Roemer (212) 456-7243 |
|
Final Essay: Peter Jennings asks: How profound are the changes the
Latino population are bringing to America? Unlike past immigrant
groups, this minority is so large in size that it doesn't need to change and adapt and fit into the 'American' way of life. Instead, America will have to change for them. Editor's note:
Gregory Rodriguez
in the January California Journal, (Vol. XXX1, #1) states, |
| On Reformanet:
2-13-00
Picosito.com is doing its part to bridge the digital divide by
offering free Internet access to its user base,
which consists mostly of U.S. Latino professionals and students.
"Our goal is to help drive and improve the rate at which Hispanics
go online," said Edwardo Martinez, one of the founders of the
bilingual portal. 1stUp.com, an advertising-supported free ISP, agreed
to provide the Internet service for
Picosito.com. Hispanics are buying computers faster than any other
group.
|
Alegria
Newsletter now Online Alegria at
http://www.alegria.org is a website devoted to Mexican Folkorico. The
Alegria newsletter for January 2000 is now online at http://www.alegria.org/newsltr.html.
CLNET Networking ResourceCLNet at http://clnet.ucr.edu/ builds Chicana/o and Latina/o communities through networking. http://babelfish.altavista. |
| Abstract:
Opportunity
for Latino Web Sites Is Muy Grande by Carrie Kirby San Francisco Chronicle, 1-10-00 Submitted by Tania Scott Online companies are beginning to wake up to the potential of the Latino market, said Ekaterina Walsh, an analyst at Forrester Research. One reason that Latinos are a valuable demographic is their tendency to keep close ties with friends and family living far away -- the reason the telecom industry has long targeted advertising at Latino communities, she said. ``The No. 1 reason for using the Internet is keeping in touch,'' Walsh said. |
LATINO
LINKS
http://www.starmedia.com |
| Abstract from
Latino.com Has Big Portal Plans by Carrie Kirby, San Francisco
Chronicle, 1-10-00 Submitted by Tania Scott
LatinoLink.com draws 400,000 visitors a month. |
All these competitors are fighting for an audience that the Department
of Commerce estimates to be only 12.9 percent of the nation's 8 million
Latino households. . . . . But Forrester Research, a technology analysis
firm, believes the Latino online audience is much bigger. Forrester says
36 percent of Latino families had at least one member using the Internet
in mid-1999, and projects that 43 percent will be connected this year. Forrester analyst Ekaterina Walsh said it's a myth that minorities are less likely to get on the Internet. ``It's a complete bogus idea. Race has nothing to do with online adoption or buying a computer,'' she said. Luquis believes that the real key to getting more Latinos online is simply providing something for them to do on the Internet. Luquis said,``Latinos are one of the groups that spend the most on long distance phone calls.'' Return to Table of Contents |
| Gonzalez
Hermoso, Alfredo: "Guia Hispanica de Internet: 1000 direcciones del
mundo hispano". Madrid : Edelsa, 1999. ISBN 84-7711-357-2 (includes
a CD-ROM) Ramon Abad Instituto Cervantes - Library122 E 42nd Street Suite 807New York, NY 10168 http://www.cervantes.org Return to Table of Contents |
ISABEL ESPINAL, Librarian 1998-2000 President Northeast Chapter of REFORMA: http://bridgeport.lib.ct.us/bpl/ref/reforma.htm
|
|
UN
HUMBRE NOBLE
In 1988, the first Hombres Circulo
was launched in Jolon, Monterey County, California. It was established with
a set of values to help guide men and assist them in their outreach in
the community.
The intent of the informal movement was to gather men in a circle of amistad
y compadrazgo (friendship and extended kinship) to help clarify the
roles and responsibilities as Hombres and to bring balance to the
harmful experiences Latino men sometimes bring to themselves, children,
family and community." For more information about the circulo and the National Compadres Network, (714) 542-0540 Orange County Register, 1-9-2000
|
The values are
compiled in a spiritual treatise called "Un Humbre Noble" (A
Noble Man).
Es un hombre que cumple con su palabra. Debe de tener un sentido de responsibilidad para su propio bienestar
y prar otros en su circulo. Rechaza cualquier forma de abuso - fisico, emotional, mental y
espiritual - a si mismo o a otras personas. Debe de tener tiempo para refleccionar, rezar y incluir la ceremonia
en su vida. Debe de ser sensible y comprensivo. Debe de ser como un espejo, reflejando apoyo y claridad de uno a otro. Vive estos valores honradamente y con amor. |
|
Thanks to Latino Sports for sharing the Resultados de encuesta de Latino Sports. For more information, go to: LatSports@aol.com |
|
LATINO OLYMPIC (1) Teofilo Stevenson - Olympic athlete of the century- 3 time Olympic gold medal winner in the Super heavyweight division and 3 time amateur Super heavy weight world champion. (2) Felix Savon-2 time Olympic gold medal winner in Heavyweight division, 6 time amateur world champion (3) Alberto Juan Torena-Gold medal winner in the 400m and 800m in ' 76 Olympics (4) Cuban baseball team-2 time gold medal winners in ' 92 and ' 96 (5) Javier Sotomayor-World record holder in the high jump, ' 92 olympic gold medal winner (6) Ivan Pedroso-World long jump champion (7) Cuban Womans Volleyball Team-' 92 and ' 96 Olympic gold medal
winners LATINO SOCCER TEAM OF THE CENTURY Goalkeeper-Antonio Carbajal (Mex) LATINO ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY-PELE FELIPE ALOU (BASEBALL) Manger of the Montreal Expos 1992-present, named National League manager of the year in 1994 MARIO LOBO ZAGALLO (SOCCER) Only man to have won four world cup competitions (1958 and 1962-as a player, 1970-Coach of the Brazilian National soccer team, 1994-Assistant Coach of the Brazilian National Soccer team) ALCIDES SAGARRA (OLYMPIC BOXING) Under his tutelage Cuban boxers have won 23 gold medals, 12 silver medals, and 5 bronze medals |
LATINO
BASEBALL TEAM OF THE CENTURY
First base-Orlando Cepeda (PR) LATINO BOXERS OF THE CENTURY Light Heavyweight Middleweight-Carlos Monzon (ARG) Welterweight Lightweight Featherweight Bantamweight Flyweight |
| Latino Sports Ventures sent the following
article: Wednesday January 12, 2000 the back rooms in Mickey Mantle's restaurant on Central Park South in New York City were packed with a slew of Latino business, community, civic leaders and sports celebrities from throughout the New York State area. The press, both Anglo and Latino were abundant which gave the impression that something big was about to unfold. Latino Sports Ventures, Inc. honored Sammy Maldonado, a 17-year-old Puerto Rican High School student who plays football for Harrison High School its "Stars of the Future" award. This award is given to a young Latino who excels in a sport and in school, and who also demonstrates a sincere desire to become a role model. Sammy Maldonado has done exactly that, become a role model in his High School, his town and now for the Puerto Rican/Latino community. To read more about Latinos in sports, contact LatSports@aol.com http://www.latinosports.com XXV International Bicycling Competition Febuary 8th will be the start of the XXV International Cycling Competition in Cuba. XXV Vuelta Ciclística a Cuba comenzará el martes 8 de febrero La XXV Vuelta Ciclística a Cuba comenzará el martes 8 de febrero en la ciudad primada de Baracoa, en la región oriental cubana de la provincia de Guantánamo y concluirá elo 20 de febrero en la capital. Return to Table of Contents |
|
Cesar Chavez Day
California State Holiday? |
Jose Amezcua, 17 who attended the January 16 rally said he recognized the name, but had " no idea what Cesar Chavez did." Cesar has been recognized by both Mexico and the United States for Cesar's successful efforts in organizing field workers. LaVoz@Aztlan is gathering support. State Department of Finance claims a state holiday costs
$51 million in pay and lost productivity. Orange County Register,1-16-00 |
| Important
Historical Dates Abstracted by Jackie Lamorie, from the Orange County Register February 1, 1810: Seville, Spain surrendered to the French. February 1, 1861: Texas seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. February 1, 1908: King Carlos I of Portugal assassinated with his son in Lisbon. February 2, 1536: The Argentine city of Buenos Aires was founded by Pedro de Mendoza of Spain. |
Faculty member at State University of N.Y, Oneonta, N.Y.. The complete study is at: http://snyoneab.oneonta.edu/~jacksorh/paper3.html
|
| February
2, 1653: New Amsterdam -- now New York City was incorporated.
February 2, 1848: the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican War, was signed. The treaty turned over to the United States a huge portion of the present day Southwest, including Texas, New Mexico and California. February 2, 1536: Argentine city of Buenos Aires founded by Pedro de Mendoza of Spain. February 2, 1653: New Amsterdam - now New York City - was incorporated. |
California Missions 2000 Congratulations to Cathy Luijt and Betty Dong, two friends who met while working as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) personnel for the City of Los Angeles Planning Department. Collectively they have experience and/or degrees in Geography, Urban Studies, Geographic Information Systems, Graphics and Planning. Cathy Luijt, is one of the original officers of SHHAR, active in supporting the educational goals of SHHAR. Together the ladies developed a web site devoted to California's early history. In celebration of the 150th birthday of California's statehood on September 9, 1850, the web site "California Missions 2000" was uploaded January 6, 2000. http://www.geocities.com/missions_21 Their goal is to link to organizations doing extensive research in California History and Family History Research. They also plan to include California maps using GIS, and use animated graphics for the kid's section. "We are thankful to our families for their help in making this
journey |
| February
2, 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican War, U.S.
acquired the area covering California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New
Mexico, Colorado and Texas for $15 million.
February 2,1849: Ship California arrived at San Francisco, carrying first gold-seekers. February 2,1861: The Territory of Colorado was organized. February 3, 1690: The first paper money in America was issued by the colony of Massachusetts. The currency was used to pay soldiers fighting a war against Quebec. February 3, 1783: Spain recognized U.S. independence. February 3, 1809: The territory of Illinois was created. February 3,1783: Spain recognized US independence. February 3,1809: Illinois Territory, including present-day Wisconsin, established. February 3, 1962: Pres. Kennedy banned all trade with Cuba except for food and drugs. February 4, 1797: Quake in Quito, Ecuador killed 40,000. February 4, 1931: Isabel Peron was born. February 4, 1976: 7.5 quake killed 22,778 in Guatemala and Honduras. February 5, 1881: Phoenix was incorporated. February 5, 1917: Mexico's constitution was adopted. February 5, 1846: Oregon Spectator, first U.S. newspaper published on the West Coast. February 6, 1899: A peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate. February 6, 1481: First Auto-da-Fe of the Spanish Inquisition. February 6, 1899: Spanish-American War ended. Peace treaty ratified by Senate. February 7, 1569: Philip II of Spain established Inquisition in province of South America. February 8, 1969: Meteorite
weighing over February 9, 1588: Duke of Medina-Sidonia appointed to head the Spanish Armada. February 10, 1763: France ceded
Canada to England under the Treaty of Paris, which ended the French and
Indian War. |
The Doña of Concord, California
|
|
Seeking information about the First Battalion Native
California Cavalry of California Volunteers? |
|
Gallegos de Lugo |
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The Drowning of Researched and Written by (c) 1999 The Probate Proceedings: The newcomers were too shrewd for them, too unscrupulous. They beat them at monte, they surpassed them at cattle stealing, at whiskey drinking. They swindled them out of their lands, seduced their wives and daughters, and played the mischief generally. They were a wicked lot. Hubert Howe Bancroft
|
THE SANCHEZ FILE (synopsis) Jose Maria Sanchez drowned in the Pajaro River in Monterey County,
California, on Christmas Eve, 1852 at the place called the Malpaso, the
evil path. He left his beautiful, 28 year old widow, Encarnacion Ortega
and their five children an estate worth over $300 thousand. (1852
dollars) More information on the historical cast of this true drama can be
viewed on the following site. Please note: This version has no photographs or other image and will load
faster than other sites. |
|
Free
California Hispanic Genealogy Research |
| February
10, 1809: French over ran Saragossa, Spain after long siege.
February 10, 1959: Miro Cardon, premier of Cuba, resigned. February 11, 1858: A French girl, Bernadette Soubirous, claimed for the first time to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary near Lourdes. February 12, 1541: Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago, Chile. February 12, 1733 English colonists led by James Oglethorpe founded Savannah, Ga. February 12, 1809: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in present -day Larue County, Ky. February 12, 1818: Chile gained independence from Spain. February 14, 1831: Vicente Guerrero died. Mexican revolutionary hero. February 14, 1859: Oregon was admitted to the Union as the 33rd state. February 14, 1945: Peru, Paraguay, Chile and Ecuador joined the United Nations. February 15,1764: The city of St. Louis was established. February 15, 1898: The U.S. battleship Maine blew up in Havana harbor, killing more than 260 crew members. The explosion was never satisfactorily explained-brought the United States closer to war with Spain over the issue of Cuban independence. February 16, 1862: during the Civil War, some 14,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered at Fort Donelson, Tenn, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's victory earned him the nickname"Unconditional Surrender Grant." February 16, 1959: Fidel Castro became premier of Cuba after the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista. February 17, 1865: Columbia, S.C., burned as Confederates evacuated and Union forces moved in. It's not known which side set the blaze. February 17, 1909: Geronimo, the
last Apache chief to surrender to the American government, died in Fort
Sill, OK. |
A ROAD FIT FOR A
KING
Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez Submitted by George Gause WASHINGTON, DC: Texas
is known for many things. When people think of Texas, they often mention
ranches filled with longhorns, the Alamo and Spanish missions, and our
state's rugged beauty. These are great tourist attractions for a great
state, but many Texans and visitors alike do not know the history behind
these sites. Linking them together both physically and culturally is the
hidden treasure known as El Camino Real de los Tejas. Today, we continue to blaze trails in
search of a new kind of gold in e-commerce, enhanced educational
opportunities, and development of our local communities. It is important
that we not forget the path we took to get where we are today. |
|
In the United States House of Representatives
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SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION. Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a) is amended-- (1) by designating the paragraphs relating to the California National Historic Trail, the Pony Express National Historic Trail, and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail as paragraphs (18), (19), and (20), respectively; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (22) EL CAMINO REAL DE LOS TEJAS- (A) IN GENERAL- El Camino Real de los Tejas (The Royal Road to the Tejas) National Historic Trail, a combination of routes totaling 2,580 miles in length from the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass and Laredo, Texas to Natchitoches, Louisiana, and including the Old San Antonio Road, as generally depicted on the maps entitled `El Camino Real de los Tejas', contained in the report prepared pursuant to subsection (b) entitled National Historic Trail Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment: El Camino Real de los Tejas, Texas-Louisiana', dated July 1998. A map generally depicting the trail shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The trail shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior. Designation of El Camino Real de los Tejas does not itself confer any additional authority to apply other existing Federal laws and regulations on non-Federal lands along the trail. Laws or regulations requiring public entities and agencies to take into consideration a national historic trail shall continue to apply notwithstanding the foregoing. On non-Federal lands, the national historic trail shall be established only when landowners voluntarily request certification of their sites and segments of the trail consistent with section 3(a)(3) of this Act. Notwithstanding section 7(g), the United States is authorized to acquire privately-owned real property or an interest in such property for purposes of the trail only with the willing consent of the owner of such property and shall have no authority to condemn or otherwise appropriate privately-owned real property or an interest in such property for the purposes of such trail. (B) COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES- The Secretary of the Interior may coordinate with United States and Mexican public and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Government of Mexico and its political subdivisions, for the purpose of exchanging trail information and research, fostering trail preservation and educational programs, providing technical assistance, and working to establish an international historic trail with complementary preservation and education programs in each nation.'. |
| February
18, 1493: Columbus reached the Azores.
February 18, 1519: Hernan Cortes and 550 men set sail from Cuba for Yucatan. February 18, 1571: A group of Spanish Jesuits in the Chesapeake Bay area, led by Fray Batista Segura, were murdered by the Indians they had come six months earlier to convert. The massacre led ultimately to the withdrawal of all Jesuits living in Florida as well. February 18, 1622: English-Persian siege of Portuguese at Hormuz began. February 18, 1849: First regular steamboat service to California started with the arrival of the "California". February 18, 1850: California legislature created 9 Bay area counties. February 19, 1683: Philip V of Spain was born in France. Ruled 1700-1724, 1724-1746. February 19, 1846: The Texas state government was formally installed in Austin. February 20, 1500: Carlos I King of Spain was born. February 20, 1521: Juan Ponce de Leon set out for Florida with 200 colonists. |
This is a true Texas History, not a Hollywood's myth of the Alamo. by Emilio D. Santos
John Wayne in a raccoon-skin cap didn't win the war. This has been extremely damaging. This lie has relegated Texicans (Mexican-Americans) to a subservient roll. The Texas history text books ignore or minimize the contributions of Spanish families who lived before Crockett and Travis.
This was a real civil war. Finally, all of
Mexico surrendered to Santa Anna, an illegitimate
dictator who overthrew Mexico's constitution -except
Texas-. Steve Austin represented Texas
in the Coahuila y Texas Legislature. Steve Austin was a man of Honor.
He
promised he would defend the constitution of 1824. He kept his word.
Austin was jailed in Mexico City by Santa Anna. Emilio shared a brief bio: Emilio D. Santos, P.O. Box 3916, McAllen,
TX 78502-3916, |
|
Various Citations for Researching Submitted by George Gause AUTHOR: Chapa, Juan Bautista, 1630 or 31-1695. PUBLISHER: University of Texas Press, 1997. SUBJECTS: Indians of North America--Texas--Antiquities. Indians of NorthAmerica--Texas--History. Indians of Mexico--Antiquities. Indians AUTHOR: Saldivar, Gabriel, 1900- AUTHOR: Himmel, Kelly F., 1950- SUBJECTS: Karankawa Indians--History--19th century. KarankawaIndians--Wars. Karankawa Indians--Government relations. Tonkawa I
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Navajo and Zuni's Food Stamps Use New Mexico leads the nation in people going hungry. New Mexico's McKinley county, which includes large areas of the Navajo and Zuni Indian reservations, has led the state in food stamp use. Census figures indicate 15,510 of the county's estimated 67,558 residents, or 23 percent, were food-stamp recipients last year. "We get at least four people a day come in looking for food for their family," said Toni Lopez, a supervisor for Catholic Charities in Gallup, McKinley County. "It's a very big," she said of the hunger problem. "I would say my clientele is 95 percent Native American." The Associated Press by Mary Perea, via Orange County Register, 10-15-99 Harrah's Enertainment said it has signed a letter
of intent with the Rincon San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians in
California to develop and operate a $100 million casino project north of
San Diego. Los Angeles Times, 1-19-00 |
| Question: How was it the
American bison that we call buffalo survived every predator, but man?
Answer: Under attack, the females and young huddled tightly inside a ring of males, facing outward with heads down. An instinctive defense, seemingly. It worked pretty well against attackers without arrows or bullets. January 11th, three national monuments were created in the West. Among which is Agua Fria, a 71,100-acre site 40 miles north of Phoenix. It holds some of the most extensive prehistoric ruins in the American Southwest, including petroglyphs, terraced agricultural areas and rock pueblos.. |
Benjamin Franklin said the
Iroquois Confederacy of "Six Nations" formed one of the
significant patterns that shaped the U.S. Constitution. |
|
Mission San Juan Capistrano Wick Lobo, brother of the late Juaneno Chief Clarence Lobo is
petitioning the United states for tribal recognition. Recognition is a
very arduous process. Last year 1,800 letters of support were submitted
proving lineage back to a roll of Indians made in 1928. |
Northern
Ute tribe In one of the biggest giveback of Indian land in U.S. history, the government is returning 84,000 acres to the Northern Ute tribe as part of a deal to clean up millions of tons of uranium waste along the Colorado River. The land, which is believed to contain oil-rich shale deposits, was given to the Utes in 1882. But in 1916, on the eve of the nation's entry into World War I, the federal government took it back to create a reserve supply of oil for the Navy fleet. The reserve was never tapped. The Energy Department estimates that the land, which is next to the 4.4 million-acre Ute reservation, holds 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, or about 30 percent of the natural gas used in the United States during 1998. The government estimates it will cost $300 million for relocating 10.5 million tons of radioactive rock and soil left over from the mining of uranium during the cold war. Orange County Register, 1-15-00
Seahenge, England
|
| Not all historians agree with
those who say the earliest sheep in North American came from France in
1609. Others report Coronado brought over the Churro sheep from
Spain in 1540. Trivia, Orange County Register, 1-6-00 |
|
Chicana/o Experience in Arizona. Arizona State University State University in Tempe, is proud to
announce the availability of the Chicana/Chicano Experience in Arizona
on the Web, designed to bring educational information about the history
and contributions of Mexican Americans in Arizona. This new online
exhibit can be used as a foundation for community discussion or as a
curriculum supplement for schools, colleges, and universities. |
preserve
Mexican American culture in a Euro-American society. Historically,
family and community spirit maintained the culture through traditional
beliefs and practices, many of which are documented with historic
photographs, manuscripts, and a bilingual text, English/Spanish. Support for the exhibit came from the Chicano Research Collection, Department of Archives and Manuscripts, Arizona State University Libraries in Tempe, and the Arizona Humanities Council. Please mark these two sites, the Chicano Research Collection, AND the Chicana/ Chicano Experience in Arizona on the Web. Pass the two sites along to colleagues, friends, educators, and interested institutions or the general public, or link it to your site: http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/chicano.htm http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/website/index.htm For further information, contact:
|
| February
20, 1792: Pres. George Washington signed an act creating U.S. Post
Office.
February 20, 1835: Concepcion, Chile was destroyed by earthquake. February 20, 1943: New volcano Paracutin erupted in a farmer's corn patch in Mexico. February 20, 1988: 500 died in heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. February 21, 1794: Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana born. President of Mexico 1833-1836. February 21, 1817: Jose Zorrilla y Moral born in Vallodolid, Spain. Poet and dramatist. February 21, 1828: First Indian newspaper published in US. "Cherokee Phoenix" in Georgia. February 21, 1862: Texas Rangers won Confederate victory at Battle of Val Verde, NM. February 21, 1878: First telephone directory issued, by the District Telephone Co. of New Haven, Conn. February 21, 1893: Andres Segovia was born in Linares, Spain. Classical guitarist. February 22, 1732: George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born on his parent's plantation in the Virginia Colony. February 22,1819: Spain ceded Florida to the United States. February 22, 1819: Spain renounced claims to Oregon Country, Florida in Adams-Onis Treaty. February 22, 1821: Spain sold East Florida to US for 5 million. February 22, 1889: President Cleveland signed a bill to admit the Dakotas, Montana and Washington state to the Union. February 22, 1913: President
Francisco Indalecio Madero of Mexico, was assassinated in military coup
along with his vice president, Suarez. February 23, 1847: U.S. troops under Gen. Zachary Taylor defeated Mexican Gen. Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista in Mexico. February 24, 1821: Mexico declared its independence from Spain. February 24, 1863: Arizona was organized as a territory February 24, 1903: the United States signed an agreement acquiring a naval station at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. February 25, 1540: Francisco Vasquez de Coronado began search for 7 cities of Cibola, Mexico. Feburary 25, 1778: Jose Francisco de San Martin was born. Liberated Argentina,Chile and Peru. February 25, 1907: US proclaimed protectorate over Dominican Republic. February 25, 1951: The first Pan American Games opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina. February 25, 1986: President Ferdinand E. Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in the wake of a tainted election. Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency. February 25, 1988: Panama's civilian president, Eric Arturo Delvalle announced the dismissal of Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega as commander of the country's Defense Forces. The next day, Panama's National Assembly voted to oust Delvalle. February 26, 1522: Cuauhtemoc, last Aztec emperor, hanged by Cortes. February 26, 1531: Earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal, killed 20,000. February 27, 1973: members of the
American Indian Movement occupied the hamlet of Wounded Knee in South
Dakota, the site of the 1890 massacre of Sioux men, women and children.
The occupation lasted until May. |
Genealogical
Research in Jalisco, Mexico by John P. Schmal The Mexican state of Jalisco, located along the Pacific Ocean and extending eastward into the north central portion of the Republic, has the second largest population of any Mexican state. With a total area of 31,152 square miles, Jalisco borders eight other Mexican states: Nayarit, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacan, and Colima. Boasting a population of six million people, Jalisco has the third largest economy in Mexico and exports more than $4 billion in goods to over eighty-one countries each year. In addition to its economic wealth, Jalisco is also rich in cultural and historical significance. The name Jalisco is derived from the combination of two Nahuatl words, Xalli (sand or gravel) and ixtli (face, or plain). Thus, the literal translation of the state name in English would be sandy face, or by extension, sandy plain. In pre-Columbian times, many indigenous groups, most notably the Olmecas, Nahuas, Tarascos, Cazcanes, Tecuexes, and Guamares, made their homes within the bounds of what is present-day Jalisco. This remarkable diversity was duplicated throughout all of Mexico, where it is believed that 180 mutually alien languages were spoken among the Mexican Indians at the time of the European encounter. The delicate political balance that existed among these indigenous groups was forever changed in 1519 when Hernán Cortés arrived on the east coast of Mexico. Within two years, Cortés, with an army of 2,500 Spaniards, assisted by tens of thousands of Indian allies, had gained control of Tenochtitlán, the capital of the formidable Aztec Empire. Seven years after his conquest of Tenochtitlán, Cortés sent an expedition under the command of Nuño de Guzmán to explore the territory that is now Jalisco. Traveling through Central and Western Mexico, Guzman subdued most of the tribes; however, it was not until 70 years later in 1591 that the Spaniards totally secure the area.
For 300 years, the Spaniards colonized and governed Mexico. However, in 1822, after a bloody
twelve-year war of liberation, Mexico broke free from the reigns of the Spanish Empire. But independence did not bring stability and for the next hundred years, Mexico struggled through tumultuous
times, complicated by the imperialistic vision of the United
States to annex Mexico. In the subsequent two-year war with the United States of America (1846-1848),
Mexico lost one-half of its country and the United States increased in
size by one-third. The French invasion in 1861 and a ten-year civil war (1910-1920), left the
Mexican people impoverished and demoralized. If you are looking for an online interchange with other persons tracing their ancestry in Jalisco, you may want to access the Mexico GenWeb page for Jalisco at http://www.guroo.net/genweb/mexico/jalisco. In addition to posting queries for your surnames and ancestral towns, you can also find links to interesting sites dealing with Hispanic genealogy. In Finding Your Hispanic Roots (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997), the renowned author and researcher George R. Ryskamp suggests the two-step process of "locality analysis" for genealogists. First, he says, locate the exact place from which your ancestor came from. Once you have done that, you should determine the jurisdiction to which the place belonged. In the case of Jalisco, this means that you should know which municipio that you are in so that you can consult the appropriate civil register. However, it is also important to find out where your ancestors went to church, so that you can locate the relevant baptism, marriage, and death records. Because most municipio records in Jalisco start after 1867, a successful search is contingent on finding the relevant church records if you hope to trace your ancestors back to the 1600s or 1700s. Mr. Ryskamp states that the second goal of locality analysis is to “learn as much about that particular place as you can to better understand the life of your ancestor.” Part of this process is to know the surrounding area. A few months ago, I was able to put this kind of analysis to work when I was researching the family of a friend in the small pueblo of Villa Hidalgo in northern Jalisco. The parish register at La Santisima Trinidad church in Villa Hidalgo starts in 1814. Once I traced my friend’s family as far as back as I could, I surveyed the surrounding area for other churches.
Across the border in Aguascalientes is the small villa of Cieneguilla, where the baptism registers started in 1716. In the opposite direction is the town of
Teocaltiche, where the parish records are available through the FHL back to 1627.
My analysis paid off, and I found the ancestors of my friend’s Villa Hidalgo family in both towns and traced her ancestors back to the early 1700s. If you are not able to locate the town of your ancestors in the Family History Library catalog, you may want to write a letter to Los Archivos Históricos del Arzobispado de Guadalajara, Liceo No. 17, Apartado Postal 1-331, Guadalajara, Estado de
Jalisco, C.P. 44100, Mexico. |
|
General Antonio Neri, 1829-1872. General Antonio Neri was born in Tizapan el Alto, Jalisco, Mexico in 1829. He was a sergeant in 1855. He fought Santa Anna, then, the Conservatives, then the Emperor Maximilian's Imperialists forces. Gained promotions up to Brigadier General. In 1872, he was sent to combat the brothers Garcia de la Cadena revolt. General Neri was wounded fatally in action at Matapulgas, Zacs., and died in the city of Zacatecas on 22 March 1872. See Diccionario Porrua de Historia , Biografia y Geografia de Mexico 6th ed., 4 vols., Mexico: Editorial Porrua, 1995, III, 2455. |
|
246
Testamentos de Monterrey Reviewed by: Maria de la Garza de Dellinger The book contains 246 wills/testimonios with genealogical information. The surnames ranges from 'A' surnames to Zuazua, which is the last surname entry. They are mainly and mostly Monterrey wills from the last 1700's to say 1825. Included are a handful of Cerralvo and Linares wills. The entry states what the wills provide: the will names: spouse, sometimes parents, children, sometimes other kin, the executor or executors. What the person has and what may be owed, plus witnesses. There are many de la Garzas with the mother's name tacked on. However, recall what Don Israel said at the Laredo conference, that in Monterrey: "Si no eres Garza, eres pato." Which I found true and a delightful statement. But there are many, many other surnames. Recall that since I have de la Garza over and over until it seems sinful, I look for that name first of all. However, for many of us, we have to keep in mind that our direct
line ancestors had moved to establish Escandon colonies. But, I
found siblings of several ancestors - people and lines to follow
down several more generations, and also one in Cerralvo that may
help me resolve something we found missing in another's genealogy
recently. |
How
to Order:
It sells for $50.00 hardback, S&H included / softcover $40.00, S&H included. You may call Lilia Cavazos at 011-52-83-545603. Archivo Municipal de Monterrey / R. Ayuntamiento de Monterrey, Apartado 1837, Monterrey, N.L. , Mexico, C. P. 64000. Payment for books may be mailed via International postal money order. It is suggested that money order be insured in case the money order is lost in the mail so the letter may be traced. Information provided by: Lupita Ramirez, Laredo, TX |
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Mexico's
Telephone White Pages
Darren Nelson wrote the Reformanet > reformanet@lmrinet.ucsb.edu Does anyone know how to go about obtaining white pages information from Mexican cities, especially Guadalajara? Try the Mexican consulates. They should
|
Another suggestion: from Brigida Campos bcampos@delphi.com No endorsement, just contact information! Apparently you can buy specific packages or single city directories. Their brochure states that VSI Directory Services sell Telephone Directories for any city and town in Mexico. As specialists in Mexico Directories VSI will assist you with selections and group their directories into convenient categories to maximize the information obtained. Order: 619-528-9321 Fax: 619-528-0421 |
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Research in Mexico by Sister Mary Sevilla I received an e-mail with the following request through Mimi Lozano. I then responded to the request and Mimi thought my answers may be helpful to other researchers. Of course, if any of you can add to information on this case, please let me know and I’ll see that Bill gets it! He has already done extensive research and deserves to be rewarded. The request said: |
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Here is my problem: I am looking for information on Frederick G. Hutchings who was born in Mexico City Mexico in March of 1897. His parents where William G. Hutchings and Dora M. Hutchings. William G. Hutchings died in Mexico City sometime around 1897. Both where US citizens at the time of Frederick's birth and Williams death. By 1900 the widow Dora M. Hutchings and Frederick are found living in St. Louis Missouri. How do I get a copy of William G. Hutchings death certificate? How do I get a copy of Frederick G. Hutchings birth certificate? Would Frederick be required have or get some type of visa or passport to enter the US in about 1897? Hope you can lead me to someone who can find these records or direct me to some place I can write to, to get these records. Thanks in advance for your help. Bill - California |
My answer:
Hi Bill,
Your e-mail about Research in Mexico was forwarded to me. My father and generations before him were born in México City so I have done a fair amount of research, both here in the Los Angeles area and in México City. You can get almost any vital records without ever going to México City. I went there as a "heart trip" since I wanted to walk the walk of my ancestors! I’ll start with your question, "How do I get a copy of Frederick G. Hutchings birth certificate?" The easiest way is to go to a Family History Center which is part of almost any Mormon temple/church. You don’t have to be Mormon. They will help you to look up ancestors in their computer and/or microfiche. Show them this: THIS RECORD FOUND UNDER A film number will be given and then you order the film - $3.50. They will hold it for 30 days and you will go and scroll through the film to find the record you want. Hopefully Frederick G. Hutchings was baptized because those are the easiest to find and the record will tell when he was born. Usually children were baptized a few days after birth. In the time frame you are researching, a law was passed to register a child’s birth with civil authorities. It was not always followed and some families waited until they had a few children and then registered them all! So you may have to search through many years. Death records can also be obtained but are the least reliable because an official interviews whoever is present and they may or may not be accurate in their knowledge. For example, I just received a death record re: Dad’s youngest sister. It stated her Dad was born in Spain and mother in France- both were born in México City!! I have proof of that from Baptismal records. I have no answer to your question, "Would Frederick be required to have or get some type of visa or passport to enter the US in about 1897?" I hope I will hear from you. Good luck, Sister Mary Sevilla Sister Mary Sevilla, Ph.D. * 12521 Centralia Street #52 * Lakewood,
CA 90715-1855 |
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After Bill's thank you, I e-mailed to ask his permission to use his
letter in the article. |
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Dear Sister Mary: Of course you may use their full names. As you said, someone may know something of what happened to them or why they where there in the first place. Father - William G. Hutchings b. 1867 Sabina, Richland Township, Clinton County Ohio. Mother - Dora M. "Taylor" Hutchings b. Nov. 14, 1867 Reesville, Richland Township, Clinton County Ohio. Daughter - Nina L. Hutchings b. June 17, 1887, Sabina, Richland Township, Clinton County Ohio. Son - Frederick G. Hutchings b. March 1897 Mexico City, Mexico By June of 1900 Mrs. Dora M. "Taylor" Hutchings and her two children are living in St. Louis Missouri and she is listed as a widow. |
Frederick G. Hutchings is shown as immigrating from Mexico to the United States in 1897 the same year as his birth. Dora M. "Taylor" Hutchings remarried in about 1907 to a man named Frank L. Wadley he was a motorman on the Trolley System of St. Louis until 1910, when they moved to Pilot Grove Cooper County Missouri. On Jan. 11, 1911 Nancy Jane "Smith" Taylor, mother of Dora, died in Athens County Ohio. I have a record of the telegram that was sent to her informing her of Nancy's death. That is my last contact with Dora M. "Taylor" Hutchings Wadley and her family. I know that her daughter Nina L. Hutchings married a man named Charles Ritchey of Missouri in 1906, they disappear after 1906. I have spent 3 years researching the Taylor family of Clinton County, and have come to a complete stop at this point!! It appears to be easier to find information from 1725 to 1900. After 1900 all I get are roadblocks and dead ends. My search continues!!! I hope your efforts in my behalf will reveal some new information in my search. Thank You Again! I do appreciate your help and understanding. Respectfully Yours, Bill Brause |
|
Turning
Facts Into Fiction,
By Ernesto Uribe |
|
Portuguese Portuguese Ancestry |
Caribbean
Grand Duke Jean ruler of Luxembourg will abdicate in 2000 in favor his oldest son, Prince Henri. Luxembourg is a country of 365,000 citizens. Prince Henri is married to Cuban-born wife Maria Teresa and has five children. Under Luxembourg's constitutional monarchy, the Grand duke's role is largely ceremonial, but he must sign all bills before they can become law and has power to dissolve parliament. Luxembourgers voted in a 1919 referendum to keep the monarchy. Grand Duke Jean is one of Europe's richest royals, with a personal fortune of $1.28 billion exceeded only by the $1.92 billion of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Orange County Register, 12-25-99 |
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| Azores Brazil British Guyana British West Indies Canada Cape Verde Islands Chile Corvo England Faisal Flores |
Graciosa Madeira Mexico Pico Portugal San Miguel Sao Jorge Santa Maria South Africa Spain Terceira |
The 8th Portuguese Special Interest Group Newsletter is available for downloading from AOL.
Happy Hunting!
Cheri Mello
|
| African-American
Hemings Family After 17 months of research, Herbert Barger, a Thomas Jefferson historian, recently located the grave of William Hemings, who was the son of Madision Hemings and the grandson of Sally Hemings, in a Leavenworth National cemetery. Previously unknown to Hemings family descendants, the grave may hold an important clue to one of America's most enduring mysteries: the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings. Barger said he found William's grave after tracing him to a home for disabled veterans in Leavenworth, where he died in 1910 at 63. As a teenager, William Hemings served in an Ohio infantry unit in the Civil War. He father Madison, had publicly described himself as a son of Thomas Jefferson and said his mother, Sally, was Jefferson's "concubine" in France in the late 1780s. The Washington Post via Los Angeles Times, 1-4-2000 |
Restavek
in Haiti
Restavek is a Haitian Creole term that means "staying with." It describes children whose parent, often poor, give them to wealthier families as servants in hope the children will have food, school and a better life. the practice is widely accepted in Haiti. Jean-Robert Cadet, now a teacher in Cincinnati, says restaveks are "slave children," and he is leading a campaign to rid Haiti of the practice. He has written a book titled "Restavec: From Haitian slave Child to Middle-Class American," in which he recounts the labor, neglect and violence that began when he was a young boy. In his book, Cadel argues that restaveks "are treated worse than slaves, because they don't cost anything and their supply seems inexhaustible." He is hoping to stop the practice by exposing it. However, Jocelyn McCalla, executive director of the National Coalition for Haitian Rights said the system is too ingrained in the society to be prohibited outright at first. Cadet said, "My goal is to make the term 'restavek' a social taboo," he said in an interview. "Once you do that, that system will end." Los Angeles Times, 1-2-2000 |
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South
Coast Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution Seeks Applicants
The South Coast Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), is seeking applicants from Cuban-Americans who descend from soldiers and seamen who fought under Governor Bernardo de Gálvez in the captures of Mobile and Pensacola in 1780 and 1781. Over 9000 persons were engaged in these operations, but most were from the regiments of Cuba and the Naval Fleet of Havana. We believe that thousands of descendants of these patriots have left Cuba and now live in Florida or other parts of the U. S. Some of the famous Spanish Army regiments involved in these operations included the Regiment of Havana, the Regiment of Principe, Regiment of Navarra, Regiment of Espana, and the Hibernian Regiment. Persons interested should contact Granville W.
Hough, 3438 Bahia Blanca |
| Dr. Granville
has already produced three volumes identifying Spanish soldiers serving
in present-day United States. The Sons of the American Revoution has already accepted members as
descendants of soldiers serving in the Spanish military. If you
have California or Arizona lines, please note the following:
Spain's California Patriots (I and II) and Spain's Arizona
Patriots 1779-1783 in its War with England during the American
Revolution. |
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More help for researchers of the Spanish military. |
|
U.S. Army Military History Institute The Special Collections Branch of U.S. Army Military History Institute (MHI) has an online catalog of thousands of Civil War photographs. You can search the catalog by name, by town, state, regiment, or any word to find listings. If a photograph has been catalogued with that word, you will find a listing for it. The collection includes photographs of thousand of soldiers, enlisted men and officers alike. This is an online catalog and the actual photographs are not available online, but you can easily order photographs by telephone or email. For more information and to search the online catalog, go to: http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/PhotoDB.html Orange County GS Newsletter - January 2000 If you want to find out how much an 1870 pension amounted to in present 1998 dollars check this out. http://www.westegg.com/inflation/ |
The film One Man's Hero starring Tom Berenger and
Joaquin De Almeida is highly recommended in The Call, the
newspaper of Chapman University's M.E.Ch.A. the film depicts the
Mexican-American war through the loser's perspective. It focuses on the
San Patricios (St. Patrick's) Brigade, a forgotten part of US-Mexican
history. The Brigade was made up of Irish immigrants that were originally in the US Army but faced escalating bigotry in the Army, because of them being perceived as an immigrant threat and especially for their Catholicism. These immigrants were subject to so much brutality that they deserted the army and when war broke out between the US and Mexico, they fought alongside the Mexicans against the Yankee invaders. Hopelessly outnumbered, they died as martyrs, being honored two years ago in a ceremony by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. See below. |
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DEATH OF JOHN RILEY ORGANIZER OF THE SAN PATRICIO BATTALION by Robert R. Miller, Ph.D. Biographical data about
John Riley, the Irishman who organized San Patricio Battalion of the Mexican Army during the
U.S.-Mexican War, is scanty, but some new information about the end of
his life has just come to light. What really happened to Riley was quite different. After his discharge in mid-summer of 1850, he journeyed to Veracruz, presumably to catch a ship that would take him toward Ireland, but instead, he died in the port city. The recently-discovered death record states, in translation: "In the Heroic City of Veracruz, on August 31, 1850, I, Don Ignacio Jose Jimenez, curate of the parish church of the Assumption of Our Lady, buried in the general cemetery the body of Juan Riley, forty-five years old, a native of Ireland, unmarried, parents unknown. He died as a consequence of drunkenness, without the sacrament [of last rites]." Poor John Riley—he did not marry a wealthy Mexican lady, nor was he able to return to his homeland in Erin where he had a son. Who knows what happened to the commemorative battle medals awarded him by the Mexican government, or to his passport, army discharge, and other mementos of his four years and four and a half months in Mexico? Robert Ryal Miller • Historian • Dr. Miller is the author of Permission to reprint granted to SHHAR by the author. |
| The California Digital Library (CDL) is a tenth research library for the University of California, complementing and comprising the nine campus libraries, whose mission includes building, managing and preserving high-quality digital collections, promoting changes in scholarly communication, and extending participation and access to select collections to populations external to the University. The Online Archive of California (OAC) is a searchable database that integrates finding aids to and selected digital facsimiles of primary source material held in archives, libraries, and museums throughout California. To date, the OAC has been created primarily through a series of successful grants. As such, the OAC is the foundation for a comprehensive union database of California's unique collections of primary sources. For further information, see www.cdlib.org/about/ . |
| Padre
Pio In response to the Catholic church's influence, television programming in Italy is programming many religious shows. One two-part made-for-TV movie, "Jesus" featuring a Jesus in jeans and the devil in designer clothes drew a million more viewers than a comedy special. Two studios are planning to produce a movie about the life of Padre Pio, the newly beatified Franciscan monk whose shrine in southern Italy draws millions of pilgrims each year. Pope John Paul II's kicking off the Holy Year at St. Peter's on christmas Eve, attracted nearly 11 million viewers to RAI, even more than it drew with "Jesus". Orange County Register, 12-28-99 |
Astronomy
Research Supported by the Catholic Church
Contrary to popular perceptions, the Roman Catholic Church was a major force in scientific observation of the heavens. During much of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, Roman Catholic churches were the best solar observatories in the world. Giovanni Domenico Cassini and others used light cast through tiny holes in the churches to measure the movements of the sun during the summer solstice and winter solstice. In A.D. 325, the Council of Nicaea decreed that Easter be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox (when the hours of light and darkness are equal). Calculations were not easy and were complicated by the inexact Julian calendar. To calculate this date, astronomers built a 1-inch hole in the roof of major cathedrals to track a meridian line on the floor of the cathedral. The church observatory even began to produce data long before the development of the telescope. According to John L. Heilbron, science historian and author of "The Sun in the Church" the Roman Catholic church "gave more financial and social support to the study of astronomy for over six centuries, from the recovery of ancient learning during the late Middle Ages into the Enlightenment, than any other, and probably, all other, institutions." By 1582, the Gregorian calendar had been established, creating the modern year of 365 days and an occasional leap year of 366 days. Abstract from 'Heretical' Astronomy by William J. Broad, The New York Times via Orange County Register, 12-28-99 |
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After five
centuries as the state church, Lutheranism ended its ties with the
Swedish government and will be treated like any other religion. Orange County Register, 12-28-99 |
Viking Artifacts Found in Ireland Cave A hoard of Viking artifacts found in
a cave in southern Ireland is baffling archaeologists. The hoard
discovered by a heritage worker cleaning the cave comprises coins,
bronze and silver ingots, and conical objects made of silver
wire. Orange County Register, 1-15-2000 |
| Afternoon
Siestas Dissappearing With Spain under pressure to conform to the shorter lunch-break habits being adopted in most of the rest of Europe, its traditional workday - with its three-hour siesta break to eat and sleep - is disappearing. The siesta question is a big issue because abandoning the midday snooze amounts to a radical change in a traditional way of life. When the European Union tried in the early 1990s to get the Spanish to take the tilde - the squiggle over the letter- Ñ from their keyboards to conform with the single market enshrined in the treaty of Rome, howls of protests went up, The European Union eventually backed down. Feelings about the siesta can run just as deep. The siesta has pretty much vanished from the cities of Latin American, though some rural areas carry on, especially in the most tropical areas. Last April the siesta came to an abrupt halt in Mexico city when President Ernesto Zedillo imposed a new schedule that required official to be at their desks from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Abstract from article by Suzanne Daley, The New York Times, via Orange County Register, 12-25-99 |
Sephardi
Elazar Family Genealogy Group This is a moderated discussion group whose purpose is to allow the members to exchange information regarding the Elazar family. Anyone interested in or has information about this Sephardi family,whose origins are Zaragoza (Spain) and later Greece (Salonika), Bulgaria, Serbia (Yugoslavia) and Turkey, are invited to join this group. As a result of this group, cousins from the Yugoslavian branch have discovered each other. We have also received information on other branches and historical information, such as, Elazars in Majorca during the 13th and 14th centuries. To see this information join the group and check the archives. To join, go to David Elazar's website on the internet http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/6527/elazar.html E-mail address of the group is ElazarFamily@listbot.com . Use this address to send messages to the entire membership. We would like to know about you (in brief), your interest in the Family, and what you know about your roots. David Elazar Rishon LeZion, Israel |
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Colonial U.S. History |
soldiers,
200 horses, and 18 cannons were ferried across the river. The troops marched 8 freezing miles downstream to surprise Hessian mercenaries celebrating Christmas in Trenton, N.J. Two Continental soldiers froze to death on the march but none died in the battle, which cost 30 Hessian lives and netted Washington 1,000 prisoners and six cannons. Los Angeles Times, 12-25-00 |
|
Paul
Revere Los Angeles Times, 12-3-99 |
Early America Straw Man
There was another kind of
"straw man" - besides the scarecrow - in Early
America. Ship captains paid cash to kidnappers by body count for
the drugged and drunken men they shanghaied in port cities.
Those hired Shanghiers sometimes threw in a few "straw men"
- stuffed sacks dress in men's clothing. In the ship's dark
depths, the captain's body counter often couldn't tell the difference. |
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"Human beings need to understand themselves and the most revealing way of understanding a culture is by way of its art. With it we are amazed and grateful. Culture helps us discover who we are and where we came from." Edward James Olmos Museum of Latin American Arts newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue I |
|
|
Cartoonists, Los Bros Cartoonists, brothers Gilbert and
Jaime Hernandez have been recognized for drawing their
world. "We saw the world through our mother's eyes,"
says Jaime. Strong female characters have always dominated Los
Bros' stories. |
"The lack of interest in Latino culture when we were starting helped us in a funny way," says Jaime, 40. "I may tell a common story, but I set it in my world, which I know but a lot of people don't; that makes it interesting." Gilbert is best known for stories about Palomar, a tiny Latin American town "somewhere between the U.S. borderland Antarctica. . . . . I came up with a facsimile of Oxnard and made it a small Latin town." Writing in the Nation, Patrick Markee called their work "a new event in our culture: a rich and all-too-rare portrayal of Latino lives in all their messy, unrepresentative splendor, and of Latino communities, from Central America to the cities of the North." Abstract from article by Charles Solomon, |
|
A
Brothers' Cultural Stew |
Born of an American mother and a Mexican father, the brothers moved
to California from Guadalajara in 1972. their mother had
divorced their father and they settled in Dana Point, where they
enrolled in a public school, a far different experience than their
years in Mexico in an all-boys Catholic school. Growing up in such a predominantly white enclave, the De La Torres never really fit into their neighborhood. Though they never felt discrimination, they always felt their heart and soul belonged on the other side of the border. Still they understood that they were not totally Mexican. "We always felt Mexican," Elinar said. But we were always looking at Mexico with eyes from the outside. You analyze things differently from the outside. You look at everything with a critical objective eye." Abstract from article by Lorenza Muñoz, Los Angeles Times, 1-12-00 1/31/00 |
