The Joan Barriga Papers include research notes, hand-drawn maps, editing notes for book manuscripts, and correspondence regarding local historical research of the Los Gatos mountain areas.

Joan Barriga was a writer and historian in the Santa Cruz mountains, most active in her research in the 1980s and 1990s. She wrote essays on various people and subjects surrounding the local areas, and is most well-known for researching and writing about mountain women. She has contributed greatly to her community, volunteering at schools, museums, and other historical societies. Barriga took great interest in her surroundings during her time living in the Santa Cruz mountains in Aldercroft Heights and sought to learn the histories of the abandoned structures and settlements. She went on to research the pioneers of the area, finding traces of information about the women pioneers and their lives. In turn, she has uncovered many overlooked contributions of these women. These papers provide insight into Barriga’s research and her fascination with mountain people and their ways of life.

1 linear foot (2 boxes)

Copyright remains with the Los Gatos Library.

The collection is open to research.