This list comprises books selected as a representative sample from what is perhaps the Library's most focused research collection, Californiana. Charles F. Lummis City Librarian, and , acquired much of the material on the Spanish and Mexican periods of California history. John D. Bruckman Collection Development Manager, , added many important titles from the American period. The section is arranged chronologically, and begins with the very rare Informe of by Piccolo.
A highlight from the Mexican period is Estrada's decree declaring Los Angeles a city and capital of the territory. The American period is represented by early Los Angeles imprints, and ends with a Lummis manuscript of The descriptions were written by Jeff Weber and Romaine Ahlstrom. Edwin Carpenter of the Huntington Library graciously helped with this section.
Felipe V. First edition. Cortes' captains had visited Baja California in the s, and rumors of wealth to be gained from pearls brought Cortes himself there in However treacherous storms in the gulf, the and forbidding land, and the hostility of the Indians prevented any settlement there for many years. To zealous Jesuit missionaries, including Eusebio Francisco Kino later to be famous for his work among the Pima of Arizona , the spiritual darkness in which the Indians lived cried out for relief.
Father Kino was involved in an abortive attempt to found a mission in California in the s, and even after he left, he continued to campaign for more, better funded efforts, although the King had suspended more such ventures. Finally in the Viceroy authorized the Jesuits to enter the area again, provided that the Order bore all costs with no help from the royal treasury.
Father Juan Maria Salvatierra went alone with a small force of soldiers and began the mission of Our Lady of Loreto, named for their patroness. Father Kino was not released from his work among the Pima to join him, and Father Francisco Maria Picolo was sent instead. The two missionaries eagerly began to learn the native languages, convert and baptize the natives and develop the mission.
