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Register of the Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California
Scrapbooks,
1935-
Mss289
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Table of contents
Title: Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California Scrapbooks,
Date (inclusive): 1935-
Collection number: Mss289
Creator:
Extent: 16.5 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of
Special Collections
Stockton, CA 95211
Shelf location: For current information on the location of
these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.
Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California Scrapbooks,
Mss289, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the
Pacific Library
Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho, Portuguese mariner sailing under the Spanish
flag, discovered California, September 28, 1542. He landed at Point Loma, San
Diego County, claiming the region for Spain. Cabrillo (as the name is spelled
in Spanish) had been with Cortez during the conquest of Mexico (1520) and with
Alvarado during the conquest of Guatemala (1530). Viceroy Mendoza ultimately
assigned two vessels to Cabrillo for exploration of the north coast of Mexico
(1542) and these ships, the San Salvador and the Victoria sailed from Navidad,
Mexico, June 27, 1542. After the landing in San Diego noted above, Cabrillo's
expedition again sailed north, stopping at several points, including Santa
Catalina Island, Santa Monica Bay, San Buena Ventura, and sighting others,
including Point Concepción and Point Reyes. In October 1542 Cabrilho fell and
broke his arm. This injury later became infected and, in January 1543, the
explorer died and was buried on one of the Channel Islands. The Cabrillo Civic
Clubs erected a monument to Cabrilho on San Miguel Island (1935), but later
scholarship places the likely burial site on Santa Rosa Island.
The Cabrillo Civic Clubs, Inc. were organized in San Francisco (January
1934; chartered Dec. 19, 1934) by Californians of Portuguese descent who were
proud that a Portuguese mariner had discovered their state and concerned that
this fact was not widely known. The Clubs' early efforts to promote the fame of
Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho resulted in the establishment (1935) of a statewide
annual Cabrillo Day (Sept. 28) and the creation of a Cabrillo National Monument
at Point Loma (1935). Subsequently, the Clubs succeded in having State Highway
1 christened the "Cabrillo Highway " (1957) and in fostering the issue of a
U.S. postal stamp in the explorer's honor (1989). Since World War II, the Clubs
have also been known for many charitable activities, including: blood drives;
fund raising for polio and cancer research; assisting candidates for U.S.
citizenship; and, providing college scholarships for students of Portuguese
descent. The Cabrillo Civic Clubs, Inc. also foster an interest in their
communities in Portuguese customs and lore through sponsorship of various
special events such as the annual San DiegoCabrillo Festival (last week of
September); Portuguese Immigrant Week (first week of March); and, local Festas
Portuguesas (generally around May 20).
Most of these scrapbooks are loosely arranged (within the individual
volume) according to the following plan: 1) State organizational materials; 2)
Local Chapter materials ordered by Chapter number. Materials include newspaper
CLIPPINGS, Chapter and State NEWSLETTERS, event PROGRAMS, ROSTERS, CONVENTION
BOOKS, and REPORTS of local Chapters to State organization.
All scrapbooks since 1975 were created by the State Club Historian. From
that date books contain materials pertaining to a single year and it was
therefore logical to box the collection chronologically. No effort has been
made to provide an exhaustive description of the contents of each scrapbook but
"highlights" have in each case been noted as an aid to the researcher. Presence
of materials on individual Chapters is noted through use of the Chapter's
number only. Other materials are denoted by the following abbreviations:
Reports = Re. Clippings of more than local interest and other inserted
materials not generated by the Clubs themselves are indicated in full. No
attempt has been made to list issues of Chapter or State newsletters.