In the Atlantic Ocean, there is an archipelago of nine volcanic islands first settled by man at the beginning of the Renaissance. This is a study of the people of those islands who are essentially migrants going from one continent to the other. This is a story of that migration from the mainland of Europe to the valleys of California. These people who rode the ocean waves brought with them a deep-seated interest in farming and derived prosperity where there was only untilled soil. This is a story of their character, their ability, their culture, and their resolve.
Table of Contents Page Section I Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 The Making of a People. Section II Azores Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33 Early Accounts of Land Beyond. Prince Henry the Navigator and the Age of Exploration. Discovery of the Azores. Settlers and Settlement. The Flemings. Captain-Donatary System. In the Middle of the Atlan- tic. Climate. The Shaking, Spewing Earth. Plants and Animals. Agri- culture. Resilient People. Mostly Humble Abodes. Clothing. Urban Environment. Names, Schools, and Illiteracy. Family, Village, and Island. Religion, Superstition, and Witchcraft. Azorean Festivals. Azorean Bullfighting. Important Historical Events. Section III Azorean Migration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-43 A Way Station. Reasons to Leave. Time to Leave. Routine to Emi- grate. Going Back Home. More Recent Emigration. Section IV Azorean Immigration into the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43-51 Early Period. Corte-Real. Living in New England. Portuguese Jews. Serving the New Nation. Mass Immigration. Reasons to Become an American Immigrant. Section V Azorean and New England Whaling and Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51-58 Beginnings. Azores. Yankee Whaling. Fishing the Grand Banks. Section VI New England . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58-62 Azoreans on Shore in New England. Textile Mills. New England Farming. Other Occupations. Section VII California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62-96 Discovery. Ship Jumpers. First Portuguese Settlers. Whaling and the Gold Rush. Waves of Immigration. Gold Fever Gone and Now Farming. Portuguese in 1880. Shore Whaling. San Leandro. Sacra- mento Area. Ventura. Sheep and Sweet Potatoes in the San Joaquin Valley. From Hawaii. San Joaquin Valley, the New Center of Azorean Population. Whaling and Fishing. Later Migration in the State. Nevada. Section VIII Azorean Culture and Assimilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96-110 Azorean Character. Culture. Religion. What's in a Name. Language and Education. Organizations. Festivals. Portuguese Language Newspapers. Assimilation. Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110-126 Bibliography _______________ Statistical Tables: Table 1: Size and Elevation of the Azores Islands . . . . . . 12-13 Table 2: Azores Islands: Population Density, and Population Change, 1864-1920 . . . . . . . . . . . . 35-36 Table 3: Population of the Azores Islands, 1920-1975 . . . . .41 Table 4: Portuguese Immigraton to the U.S., 1820-1977 . . . . 48 Table 5: Portuguese Population in the U.S., 1870-1978 . . . . 51 Table 6: Portuguese in California by Region, 1860-1880 . . . .70 Table 7:Island of Origin of the Portuguese Dairymen in the San Joaquin Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87-88