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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.