The University of Arizona Press
Hispanic Arizona, 1536–1856
Paperback ($39.95), Ebook ($39.95)
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The history of the American West has usually been seen from the perspective of American expansion. Drawing on previously unexplored primary sources, James E. Officer has now produced a major work that traces the Hispanic roots of southern Arizona and northern Sonora—one which presents the Spanish and Mexican rather than Anglo point of view. Officer records the Hispanic presence from the earliest efforts at colonization on Spain’s northwestern frontier through the Spanish and Mexican years of rule, thus providing a unique reference on Southwestern history.
The heart of the work centers on the early nineteenth century. It explores subjects such as the constant threat posed by hostile Apaches, government intrigue and revolution in Sonora and the provincias internas, and patterns of land ownership in villages such as Tucson and Tubac. Also covered are the origins of land grants in present-day southern Arizona and the invasion of southern Arizona by American “49ers” as seen from the Mexican point of view. Officer traces kinship ties of several elite families who ruled the frontier province over many generations—men and women whose descendants remain influential in Sonora and Arizona today.
The heart of the work centers on the early nineteenth century. It explores subjects such as the constant threat posed by hostile Apaches, government intrigue and revolution in Sonora and the provincias internas, and patterns of land ownership in villages such as Tucson and Tubac. Also covered are the origins of land grants in present-day southern Arizona and the invasion of southern Arizona by American “49ers” as seen from the Mexican point of view. Officer traces kinship ties of several elite families who ruled the frontier province over many generations—men and women whose descendants remain influential in Sonora and Arizona today.
“Officer’s book is likely to stand as the standard reference for a very long time. . . . Readers will reach for Officer and be amply rewarded.”—Hispanic American Historical Review
“An important book that no student of Arizona and borderlands history can afford to ignore.”—Ethnohistory
“A valuable contribution to the history of the American West. . . . Highly recommended for undergraduate students and general readers.”—Choice
“Required reading for anyone interested in the history of Arizona.”—Arizona Daily Star
“Covers so many subjects—Indian relations, the Mexican War, boundary problems, the Gadsden Purchase, ranching, architecture, local politics, and much more—that no brief notice could possibly summarize this huge and well-researched book.”—Southwest Review
“A vivid and comprehensive work.”—Journal of Arizona History
“An encyclopedic and exemplary work. . . . Officer’s book will undoubtedly become a landmark in Arizona’s history.”—Southwestern Historical Quarterly
“No person interested in Southwestern history or the history of northern Mexico should be without this book.”—El Palacio
“With the publication of Hispanic Arizona, scholars now have a thorough, detailed and scholarly study that is entirely devoted to the history of northern Sonora and southern Arizona.”—Explorations in Sights and Sounds
“Not only borderlands scholars but interested ‘amateurs’ will find their knowledge of an important segment of Southwestern history greatly enhanced by this book.”—Password
“An important book that no student of Arizona and borderlands history can afford to ignore.”—Ethnohistory
“A valuable contribution to the history of the American West. . . . Highly recommended for undergraduate students and general readers.”—Choice
“Required reading for anyone interested in the history of Arizona.”—Arizona Daily Star
“Covers so many subjects—Indian relations, the Mexican War, boundary problems, the Gadsden Purchase, ranching, architecture, local politics, and much more—that no brief notice could possibly summarize this huge and well-researched book.”—Southwest Review
“A vivid and comprehensive work.”—Journal of Arizona History
“An encyclopedic and exemplary work. . . . Officer’s book will undoubtedly become a landmark in Arizona’s history.”—Southwestern Historical Quarterly
“No person interested in Southwestern history or the history of northern Mexico should be without this book.”—El Palacio
“With the publication of Hispanic Arizona, scholars now have a thorough, detailed and scholarly study that is entirely devoted to the history of northern Sonora and southern Arizona.”—Explorations in Sights and Sounds
“Not only borderlands scholars but interested ‘amateurs’ will find their knowledge of an important segment of Southwestern history greatly enhanced by this book.”—Password
462 Pages
6 x 9 x 1.2
Published: November 1989Paperback ISBN: 9780816511525
Published: November 2015Ebook ISBN: 9780816533497