Florey's Books welcomes local speaker and author Ken Miles as he discusses,
the Discovery of Sweeney Ridge.
***Saturday, October 19th, 2pm-4pm***
About the presentation:
This presentation, in a sense, is a continuation of the Ken’s July 27th presentation about the first “discoveries” of the Golden Gate and its hidden secret, and the San Francisco Bay by non-indigenous people, but includes more facts and information than his earlier presentation. This is a presentation about the first European undocumented and documented sightings of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate (aka “discoveries”), unintentional consequences, a brief review of the historical literature, intentional misrepresentations, and lastly, the current hoopla about Portola’s sighting of the bay 250 years ago. Please join us and hear what Ken Miles has to say about the “discoveries” of the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay.
For many years Ken Miles interests in Spanish explorations of early California grew as he read about and studied Native American history and cultures. As he read various accounts about early Spanish explorations in Alta California, he found there were often minor errors and omissions here and there and wondered why there were often different accounts provided for the same historical events. He found the pages of history are like pieces of a puzzle that had fallen to the floor and later reassembled, missing pieces here and there, and some pieces placed where they don’t belong. Why were some obvious chapters of history omitted? Could it be the authors preferences or biases that influenced how they viewed history, or could it be from errors or omissions when citing firsthand accounts, secondhand or thirdhand accounts? Could it be the errors made when translating notes and diaries written in older Spanish dialects (Castilian, Andalusian, Catalonian, or other dialects), or from Spanish into English?
This is an investigative study that searches for answers, an attempt to place the missing puzzle pieces where they belong. This is a story primarily about the Spanish explorers, also known as “conquistadors”, and Spanish Franciscan missionaries, of what took place, when and where and by whom. This story is also the indigenous people of coastal Alta California, Spanish ships of the Spanish Manila and China Galleon, pirates, expansion of the dreaded Russian and English empires, and possible visitations to Alta California by other non-indigenous people. Why did they all come to Alta California?
Ken will provide a brief narrative about the first overland explorations of Alta California made by the Portola Expedition of 1769, Pedro Fages and Francisco Rivera’s explorations of the Bay Area during 1770 to 1774, and lastly the De Anza Expedition of 1774-76 to establish a mission and presidio at or near San Francisco.
Gaspar de Portola, an aristocrat born in Spain, was selected by the King Carlos III of Spain in 1767 to be the Governor of Baja and Alta California and to lead an overland expedition to Alta California to establish presidios and missions at San Diego and Monterey, thus securing Alta California from Russian or English control. Portola led the expedition to Alta California during 1769-1770. Additional expeditions were later lead by Captains Fages, Rivera and De Anza, each to further define what Portola’s expedition missed or failed to accomplish. There are many important people covered in this story, and included in this partial list: Capt. Sebastian Vizcaino; English pirate Francis Drake; King Charles III of Spain; Viceroys Croix; Viceroy Burcareli; Visitor-General Don Jose de Galvez; Captain Fernando de Rivera y Moncada; Lt. / Capt. Pedro Fages; Capt. Batista de Anza; Lt. Gabriel Moraga; Lt. Miguel Costanso; Sgt. Jose Francisco Ortega; Father-President Junipero Serra; Padre Crespi; Padre Palou; and Padre Font.
Ken’s latest presentation covers the unintentional consequences resulting from the colonization of coastal Alta California by the Spanish military and church, followed by the Mexican government during the “Mexican Period of 1820-1844” and by the Americans when they took over California during the late 1840s.
Furthermore, a review of the of the historical literature of the early to mid-20th century uncovered apparently intentional misrepresentations of historical events regarding, the “discoveries” of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate entry to the Bay, as provided by several historians, which will be discussed during Ken’s presentation. Also, the presentation will talk about the various festivals and celebratory events of Portola’s “discoveries” from 1909 to today.
And lastly, Ken will talk about the struggles, twists and turns to save Sweeney Ridge, the site where curtain historians agree the Portola Expedition sighted the San Francisco Bay on Nov. 4th, 1769, and in incorporation into the U.S. Park’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
At the top of Sweeney Ridge is the site of the National Monument commemorating the Gaspar Portola Expedition Sighting of the San Francisco Bay in 1769. This year will be the 250th year anniversary since that first sighting. Ken has read many accounts and documents that paved the way and surrounded this event, subsequent events resulting in intended and unintended consequences.
This is story full of surprising facts about historical events that occurred long ago and not so long ago, and that should be told. Ken is ready to tell you the story and hear your thoughts.
About the speaker:
Ken has lived in Pacifica for the past 45 years. Born and raised in San Francisco, Ken Miles lived much of his early life within earshot of Ocean Beach and the sounds of the great Golden Gate foghorn. He grew up listening to fascinating tales about his ancestors who came over the Sierras by wagon train to settle the countryside of Northern California during the Gold Rush days, and about those that sailed from the Azores around the Horn to toil in the fertile fields of the Big Island of Hawaii. The adult family men serviced either in the merchant marine or Navy. It was natural then to enlist in the Navy to see the world where he experienced being a sailor in foreign ports, learned the ropes and seamanship, and received special training in the applied sciences and technical skills in radiation safety for the repair of naval nuclear reactors. This advanced training and experiences were the launching pad for his lifelong career in civilian life.
Returning home, Ken studied biology and the sciences at San Francisco State, earning a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Systematics, and attended graduate studies in Biology, while working at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Lab alongside researchers and physicists. Sometime later, he joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a radiological health and medical device investigator and specialist. His job required extensive travel around the country, Canada, Europe and Asia to inspect manufacturing facilities and to determine whether the companies’ manufacturing and testing operations, products and labeling complied with FDA and international regulations and standards. Managers and staff were interviewed, and records reviewed to determine whether the firm was following required regulations. The work of the FDA investigator involved cross-comparing written procedures, actual production and test reports, statements people made versus actions and procedure, statements to assess compliance with FDA and international requirements. After 30 years of government work, Ken retired and started a consulting business that including extensive business travel to Europe and Asia. The left side of Ken’s brain was well employed.
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We hope to see you!
***Saturday, October 19th, 2pm-4pm***
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Florey's Book Co.
2120 Palmetto Ave.
Pacifica, CA 94044
(650) 355-8811
Open 10am to 6pm every day! (8pm Fridays)
http://www.floreysbooks.blogspot.com
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