Description
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.
Background
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.