Joanne Alford Baja California Collection

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2017
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
spcoll@ucsd.edu


Descriptive Summary

Languages: English
Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Joanne Alford Baja California Collection
Creator: Alford, Joanne
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0801
Physical Description: 1.4 Linear feet (1 half archives box, 5 card file boxes, and 5 films)
Date (inclusive): 1963-1996
Abstract: Writings, slides, and films documenting a 1963-64 mule expedition through Baja California organized by Joanne Alford and Andrew Meling.

Scope and Content of Collection

Writings, slides, and films documenting a 1963-64 mule expedition through Baja California organized by Joanne Alford and Andrew Meling. The south-bound route was roughly planned in six legs: Tecate to Meling Ranch, then on to Bahía de los Angeles, Mulegé, Loreto, La Paz, and finally, Cabo San Lucas. The collection includes extensive notes about the slide images prepared by Alford, and a digital copy of a trip journal by Reid Moran, the botanical curator of the San Diego Natural History Museum, who accompanied the expedition for three months.

Historical Background

In 1963, Joanne Alford, a San Diego engineer, and Andrew Meling, a Baja California native whose family operated a cattle ranch south of Ensenada (Rancho San José, or Meling Ranch) proposed to travel the length of Baja California by mule train. They planned a south-bound tour following old trails, with detours to sites of historical and geographical interest, including mission ruins and rock and cave painting sites. According to Reid Moran, the botanical curator of the San Diego Natural History Museum, the route was divided into six unequal legs: Tecate to Meling Ranch, then on to Bahía de los Angeles, Mulegé, Loreto, La Paz, and finally, Cabo San Lucas. Alford and Meling attempted to recruit paying guests to accompany them on the journey. They were joined for sections of the trip by a rotating cast of several people, including Reid Moran, the botanical curator of the San Diego Natural History Museum; Scripps Institution of Oceanography professor Gifford Ewing and his daughter, Eva C. Ewing; Howard "Tío" McFarland of San Antonio, Texas; Richard Johnston and Louis "Duke" Baldwin (photographers); and Wayne Lange, Catherine Barton, and Edward "Bud" Bernhard of San Diego. Due to drought, severe conditions, stress on the mules, and other difficulties with planning and execution, the expedition lasted five months, from December 1963 to its conclusion in May 1964. Meling and Alford were the only travelers to ride into Cabo San Lucas.
Richard Johnston and Duke Baldwin, both third-year students at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, joined the trip free of charge and were tasked with creating photographic documentation, including stills and films. They parted from the expedition at Bahía de los Angeles, and from that point forward, Alford and Meling assumed responsibility for photography. According to Reid Moran, Alford planned to use the images and journals created on the trip to write an article for National Geographic magazine, develop a book on Baja California, and to prepare talks and lectures.

Preferred Citation

Joanne Alford Baja California Collection. MSS 801. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Acquisition Information

On deposit, 2017.

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator(s) of the collection.

Digital Content

All slides and two films from the collection were digitized prior to deposit. Researchers may inquire for access.

Restrictions

Original audiovisual media formats are restricted. Researchers may request user copies be produced in advance for non-digitized items.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula) -- Description and travel
Alford, Joanne -- Archives
Meling, Andrew -- Travel
Moran, Reid -- Travel

 

COLLECTION

Box 1, Folder 1

Correspondence 1963-1964

General note

Photocopied correspondence regarding Meling Ranch and the Baja California mule expedition.
Box 1, Folder 2

Notes regarding slides, locations, and expedition participants ca. 1964

Box 1, Folder 3-4

Muleback expedition through Baja California - Summary and slide descriptions 1964

General note

Trip summary and descriptions of slides prepared for a National Geographic proposal. Organized by subject areas: 1) People of the country and the way of life. 2) Ranches and houses. 3) Botanical. 4) Missions. 5) General scenery. 6) Rough trails. 7) Trip participants. 8) Mule-packing. 9) Miscellaneous trip scenes. 10) Towns. 11) Caves and paintings. 12) Hotels. 13) Miscellaneous - Economic.
Box 1, Folder 5

Trip journal with botanical notes by Reid Moran 1963 December-1964 March

General

Print-out of a PDF image of the original journal.
Box 2, Folder 1-20

Slides - Rolls 1-9A 1964

Box 3, Folder 1-19

Slides - Rolls 10-19 1964

Box 4, Folder 1-20

Slides - Rolls 20-30 1964

Box 5, Folder 1-19

Slides - Rolls 31-42 1964

Box 6, Folder 1-8

Slides - Rolls 43-46 1964

Oversize FB-546, Folder 15

Our Journey Through Baja California by Muleback 1963-1996

General note

Spiral-bound reproduction of scrapbook produced by Joanne Alford for Andrew Meling. Contains photographs with captions and annotated maps.
Oversize FS-135

16mm film - Baja California mule expedition (part 1) 1963-1964

General note

Andrew Meling and other participants packing and riding mules in Baja California. Includes footage of rock paintings.

Access

Original restricted (digital version available).
Oversize FS-136

16mm film - Baja California mule expedition (part 2) 1963-1964

General note

Footage of mules and Baja California landscapes.

Access

Original restricted (digital version available).
Oversize FS-131

16mm film - #78187 ca. 1963

General note

Andrew Meling and another person making tortillas over campfire.

Access

Restrictions Apply
Oversize FS-132

16mm film - #78189 ca. 1963

General note

Andrew Meling gathering firewood and fodder, and saddling mules.

Access

Restrictions Apply
Oversize FS-133

16mm film - #78190 ca. 1963

General note

Alforjas (cowhide saddle bags), Andrew Meling, and Joanne Alford.

Access

Restrictions Apply