Familia: Migration and Adaptation in Baja and Alta California, 1800-1975 [Paperback]

Robert R. Alvarez Jr. (Author), Renato Rosaldo (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 1991

Anthropologists, historians, and sociologists will find here a striking challenge to accepted explanations of the northward movement of migrants from Mexico into the United States. Alvarez investigates the life histories of pioneer migrants and their offspring, finding a human dimension to migration which centers on the family. Spanish, American, and English exploits paved the way for exchange between Baja and Alta California. Alvarez shows how cultural stability actually increased as migrants settled in new locations, bringing their common values and memories with them.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

An interesting study that concentrates on the human aspects of migration over generations. Alvarez, an anthropologist, denies that Baja Californians migrated to the United States for solely economic reasons. Rather, they followed a centuries-old "regional-familial" tradition of northward movement. The process did not break down family structure, but instead strengthened it through development of an extended kinship network. Alvarez's reference to individuals and families, including his own, make this an unusual and persuasive volume. The major portion deals with the late 19th through mid-20th centuries; contains useful genealogical diagrams; and is buttressed by extensive oral interviews. Recommended for academic and special libraries. Roy H. Tryon, Delaware State Archives, Dover
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Alvarez's findings and his demonstration that binational linkages have played historically significant roles along the border is an important contribution to the field." -- Richard Griswold del Castillo, Pacific Historical Review

"Producing a work that is both an anthropological case study and a narrative micro or regional history, the author has used new and unique primary sources to fashion a scholarly work that transcends the mundane boundaries of the academic disciplines." -- David W. Walker, Hispanic American Historical Review

"The greatest merit of this highly readable and engaging book is the humanization of the immigrant experience. It is filled with individual anecdotes of love, struggle and hope mirrored in that greater institution: la familia." -- Jesus Salvador Trevino, Los Angeles Times Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (May 8, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520073894
• ISBN-13: 978-0520073890
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,651,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Vital Part of the Border History, September 30, 2010

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This review is from: Familia: Migration and Adaptation in Baja and Alta California, 1800-1975 (Paperback)

Unfortunately no matter where you live, you only get to hear one side of history. This book helps you understand the Mexican side of the border land history.