News Scrapbook 1969-1971
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THE SOUTHERN CROSS, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1969 S.D. Mission Landmark of. Highest Order In the summer of 1966, University of San Diego students, working under the direction of Prof. Ray Brandes in an explora- tory course in archeology, uncovered floor~ and remains of walls at Mission San Diego de Alcala, founded m 1769. Locations of the structures around the 200-year-old mission
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had long been known, but how much remained and what light could be shed on the peoples who lived continuously at the site through the years had been somewhat of a mystery. Dr. Brandes has observed that "what has come about through the scientific studies must be unmatched for historic archeology anywhere. The results of the work to date confirm earlier suggestions that Mission San Diego de Alcala is an historical landmark of the highest order and ought to be enshrined forever as the signal of Christianization and civilization on our Pacific slopes." Enlarged Scope USD has enlarged the scope of its research since that first summer at the mission under direction of Dr. Brandes, joined later by Prof. James Moriarty, in consultation with Msgr. James T. Booth, pastor of Mission San Diego de Alcala: Some 350 undergraduates and graduates have been a part of the field and laboratory work m 12 semesters of sessions at the mission or on the university campus at Alcala Park. "The opportunity for men and women to work at a site of this significance leads to a most useful and memorable ex- perience which they may always be able to relate," Dr. Brandes observed. "With their minds and hands they are ex- posing the very archi lecture of the padres and Indians, finding the daily tools used by the people w~o lived within those buildings, and providing a history which is giving a whole new perspective to the study of early California. Tremendous Service " These students are also providing a tremendous public service since what they uncover is being preserved until the time when the landmark can be restored." Noting that the amount of historical evidence recovered from the grounds so far has been "almost overwhelming," Dr. Brandes said : " We have completed ex- cavation of nearly one wing of the tremendous complex of buildings, which at the heighth of the classic period around 1815, included two other wings of structures plus many outlying areas. We probably have eight to 10 years of in- vestigation ahead of us and if the some 30,000 objects or pieces of objects already recovered are any gauge we can project the total finds of materials to over 100,000," Significant clues to the eventual restoration and other research are found in mission maps and other documents from the archives of Madrid and Mexico City, such as reports prepared by the Franciscans to their superiors, diaries and other journals, and sketches and photographs. Some 350 sketches and pic- tures gathered to date have
solved some of the riddles as to · changes in the mission ar- chitecture over the years. Prof. Moriarty explained that "each day 's work is carefully noted, mapped, and photographed so that we can, at any time, reconstruct precisely what we, as scientists, have done and thereby interpret the information into the total site history. Aerial photos have been taken of the en tire area to provide further clues since both low-level helicopter and ·high- level photography give a dif- ferent dimension to what rests beneath the soil." Reconstruct Past Dr. Brandes noted that "as scientists we are concerned with the reconstruction of the past, now long since dimmed through two centuries of life seattered over the site, and in fact, the world. Our colleagues - the students - Prof. Moriarty and myself pain- stakingly but meaningfully bring together this in- formation." He revealed that a report on the work is being prepared and "will be the first in a series planned to provide a full and accurate portrayal of life in Mission Valley." Speaking further of the progress being made, Prof. Moriarty said that San Diego "was certainly not an isolated region as suggested by some, for the evidence is over- whelming that extensive trade must have been carried on by the Spaniards with ships of many nations, despite the prohibition by Hispanic laws. Findings Tell Story "True Chlnaware from the Orient, dinnerware from France, glassware from Italy, pottery from Mexico are examples of the kinds of objects found . These various types, and there are many, must be in- dividually studied with microscope and reference works to establish their date and place of origin." He added that "the total picture of the archeology, the historical documents and photographs, and the analysis and interpretation, therefore, create the story of the various peoples who have lived at Mission San Diego de Alcala for 200 years. These include the Diegueno Indians , the Spaniards from southern Europe, the people from Mexico, and the . nglo- Europeans from northern Europe who lived on or around the site since that time. "
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SWORDS FOUND _ These short swords, U.S. Army circa 1845-65, were f~und !n a cache a_t the 2~0-year- old Mission San Die10 de Alcala by archeological students from the University ol San Diego. Smee the summer of 1966 when the excavations be1an under direction of Prof. Ray Brand_es, stu_d_ent~ have un- earthed floors and wall fragments of the historic mission, first in t_he stat~ to bring c1v1hzat1on to AIJa California. This and other missions along El Camino Real played a ma1or role m the preservation of a c1v1l- ized culture des"ite many difficulties. ~Prof es. or ,vith USD I , t defeats 'dra~net a r '- C'- California's "dragnet Jaw,' Lazerow, chairman of the ·hich allowed police and le_g~l panel of t~e. Amencan rosecutors to obtain a con- C!v1l Liberties l;mo.n of San ictlon throuzh "l'ide inter- Diego. _said he expects an ap- retation of a ·agu" statute, peal will be made by t he dis- has been o,·erturned by a trict attorney's office. t;nh·ersity of San Diego !av. nP)fPSSOP, Plans Made for Holiday On Monday Public Buildings, Schools To Close
HISTORICAL MONTAGE - This is I monta1e of various historical objects uncovered by University of San Oie10 students participatin1 In the archeo101ical excavations at Mission San Die10 de A(cala. The explo_r- alions have be • n conducted between 1966-69. The mission - first permanent Christian settlement m Alta California - dates lrom July 16, 1769.
In San Diego ;_; , 9 All state, county and city off- ices - except the marriage li- cense bureau - will be closed Monday in keeping with P•csi- dent Nixon's proclamation of a National Day of Participation as the Apollo 11 astronauts walk on the moon . Couples planning to get mar- ried may get their licenses at the County Courthouse from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They can enter the building from Union Street. The Municipal Superior and Federal Courts, will be closed. Matters scheduled for Monday will be continued to Tuesday. The Post Office will not deliv- er mail in residential or rural areas. There will be no window service and the offices will oper- ate on holiday schedule. SOME SERVICE Most business deliveries will be curtailed, a!though excep- tions may be made to prevent undue mail congestion. Special delivery service will be main- tained and there will be box deliveries at post office aad sta- tions, a spokesman said. All federal employes will have the day off, except those provid- ing emergency services. The City Council and the county Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to observe the holiday. Summer school classes at city and county schools will be can- celed. The Univer · f San Bcsn' an iego State an will be closed for the day. Holiday schedules are expect- ed to be in effect at military in- stallations, a spokesman said, but no official anouncement had been made last night. STORES TO OPEN Most downtown and fission Valley stores will remain open. Most banks are expected to stay open. Presid ing Municipal Court Judge Earl J . Cantos said the night court sessions set for Mon- day will not be held this week. Persons scheduled to ap~ r in court Monday for traffic ita- tions sh uld appear Tue ay, Cantos s d The public libraries also will be closed. The New York and American stock exchanges will u nd trading for the day. The .S. Senate , but not the Hou e, ill have a holiday. In Sacramento, state legisla- tors and legislative employes will have to work Monday be- cause of a heavy file of bills awaiting action. HEAVY WORK LOAD The Legislature is p shing for adjournment by Aug. and is faced with too much v. rk to be idle Monday. Asse peaker Robert T. Monagan, R-Tracy, nate President pro tern
Prof. Herbert Laze"oW, act- ing as a •'friend of the court" in a case of alleged endanger- ing of the public peace, ob- tained a dismissal on the grounds that the law was un• constitutionally vague. The Penal Code section states: "A person who will- ing!) and wrongfully ... dis- 1 turbs or endangers the pub- lic peace or health . . . for which no other punishment is expre h prescribed is guilty of a m sdemeanor." Oceanside Municipal Court Judge Damel Leedy handed down the landmark decision in the ca. e of the People v. Gerald Cooper.
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Ill fllllltl l1e1· ... a gu ide to some of the ac ti vities and eve nts in the North Shores and the city
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and How
CONGRATULATIONS - Most Rev. Francis J. Furey receives congratulations and best wishes from Knights of Columbus leaders upon his promotion as Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas. With his are Lambert J. Ninteman, past state deputy, left, and Albin J. Seilert, state deputy. Archbishop Furey was honored by the Knights at a testimonial dinner last Thursday in El Cortez Hotel. The Knights expressed appreciation for ~is support of and assistance to the K of Ccouncils in the San Diego diocese.
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