The Journal of San Diego History
SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY
Spring 1988, Volume 34, Number 2
Thomas L. Scharf, Editor

Book Notes

Raymond Starr, Book Review Editor

Early California Reflections: A Series of Lectures Held at the San Juan Capistrano Branch of the Orange County Public Library.

Edited by Nicholas M. Magalousis. San Juan Capistrano: San Juan Capistrano Branch of the Orange County Public Library, 1987. Photographs. Unpaginated. $3.00 Paper-bound.

In 1986 the San Juan Capistrano public library presented an excellent lecture series on early California history. It featured some of the most distinguished scholars in the field-speakers such as Norman Neuerburg, Clement Meighan, Charles Polzer, Harry Kelsey, David Hornbeck and Nicholas Magalousis. In their presentations the lecturers spoke on topics as varied as music, dance, and art in early California; and European penetration of the area, including the mission system. Other papers covered life in early California, trade, and the decline of the ranches as American culture came to dominate. Although their quality varies, most of the lectures are very informative, and the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library is to be commended for publishing them. Many of the lectures were accompanied by slides, and the Library is in the process of preparing videotapes of the slides for public distribution. For information on acquisition of the printed lectures and the tapes, contact: The San Juan Capistrano Regional Library; 31495 El Camino Real; San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-3267.