MRS. ARMITAGE FORBES - A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE VALLEY AND MISSION SAN GABRIEL

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Commemorative bells in the Museum of San Gabriel Mission - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.
The small bell on the shepherd's crook stand at the top left was among those sold to support the El Camino Real project.
Postcard showing El Camino Real - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010.
Clipping showing the El Camino Real Bell dedicated in 1908 at the first church in Los Angeles - San Gabriel Mission
Invitation to the dedication of the El Cammino Real bell at the Plaza Church in Los Angeles 1908 - Mission San Gabriel
Death notice of Mrs. Armitage Forbes - Mission San Gabriel

There are many connections between the San Fernando Valley and the Mission San Gabriel Archangel, some of which are obvious and others less apparent. Among the lesser known ties between the Valley and the Mission are found in the faded display cases in the Mission's museum. Look and you will discover a small frame with the death announcement of Mrs. Armitage Forbes along with an invitation to attend the dedication of the El Camino Real bell in front of the Pueblo Church in the Plaza in Los Angeles. This event in 1908 was another victory for Mrs. Forbes in her tireless effort to mark and preserve California's missions and adobes. The preservation of Campo de Cahenga on the border between North Hollywood and Studio City is one of the crowning achievements of this grand lady.

LEARNING ABOUT THE TONGVA

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES



Modern Americans of Tongva Heritage - Sanchez Adobe Montebello - June 2010 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

Contemporary concept of a Tongva hut at the time of the Spanish conquest. Mission San Gabriel Archangel 2010. Photo for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht 2010. (click on image to enlarge).

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0SkqXoTtKxyD4cLFRlfNTbIpBryzdBQ2g_IuyrL4pjfGz_4-XSxvK8uVx6rqZn4D8rKhcRjSoKXTZhnPdCt0Bq3He2C8HRrC6r-Ris8SOf6_KKkZ0JN3iCUNA0F5I1Y91OjRWiG6Cy0/s1600/TongvaDictionary.jpg">Rare manuscript dictionary of Tongva words. Museum of the Mission San Gabriel 2010. Little effort was made to preserve the languages of conquered populations.

Unfortunately for the Tongva and other native American tribal groups conquered by the Spanish, their new masters systematically eliminated their cultures. Tongva and Chumash children were brought into mission "schools" and required to speak only Spanish. When children or their parents were baptized, they were given Christian first names and Spanish surnames.

This frieze on the front of the new parish church at the Mission San Gabriel Archangel demonstrates clearly how the Spanish conquest of the native peoples of Los Angeles Country is depicted by those who won the encounter. Soldiers and ships are seen only in the background and a European missionary presents his theology to a docile and awaiting population.

DUMETZ STREET IN WOODLAND HILLS HAS HISTORIC CONNECTION

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Main Altar of the Mission San Gabriel the Archangel - Photo by Janne Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010 (click on image to enlarge)

Below this very impressive wood and gold-leafed altar in the Mission San Gabriel lie the tombs of about a dozen early Franciscan missionaries who worked in Southern California. Among these is the body of Father Francisco Dumetz OFM (Order of Friars Minor - The Fransicans). Fra Dumetz was once the pastor of the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana in the San Fernando Valley.

Marker of Father Francisco Dumetz OFM by Gerald Fecht 2010. Dumetz Street in Woodland Hills is named for this Christian priest. He was buried in the Mission San Garbriel in 1811.

PHYLLIS HANSEN SHINING STAR OF THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Icon of San Gabriel by Gerald Fecht -

A great and shining star in the preservation of California history and culture is our friend and colleague Phyllis Hansen. A Board Member of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley and The Friends of Campo de Cahuenga Memorial Association, Phyllis Hansen's leadership is well on the way to making a permanent impact on her State, in the tradition of her kinswoman the great California artist Orpha Klinker.
We are Soooooooo lucky to have Phyllis working for The Museum and for the residents of greater Los Angeles!


The icon featured in this blog entry was made from a reserved Fresca can. It gives honor to the much honored Saint Gabriel Archangel, for whom our sister Mission is named. in Christian lore, San Gabriel is the Angel of the Nativity of Jesus.

SMALL THINGS BECOME PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.

Historic Mission San Gabriel - founded 1771 - Postcard Collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - Gift of LeRoy Hunt - 2008 (click on image to enlarge)

Museum artifacts and even minor things like post cards and school year books a vital components to the "Big Picture" of events and circumstances of other times and places. The Mission San Gabriel, while not in the San Fernando Valley, was the sister compound of the Mission San Fernando Rey. The location of the Valley's Spanish mission was due, in large measure, to its traveling distance by foot/horseback to San Gabriel. This true also to the location of the Pueblo of Los Angeles. Thus the story of San Gabriel Mission is of significance to Valley history.
Thanks to LeRoy Hunt for the little but important gift to his and your Museum.


The San Fernando Valley deserves a great Museum of history and culture.