MAKING
HISTORY AT CCM®
The work
that went into the Central Coast history
feature,
chef's holiday recipes article, and more
From
November 2008
 We
sifted through countless dog-eared files, thousands
of fading photos, and the many recommendations
of our historian experts to produce November
2008’s feature article “History’s
Colorful Characters.” It was hard work,
and did not make for the most glamorous of behind-the-scenes
coverage—but it was nevertheless a very
rewarding project that made all of us at CCM® feel
more connected to our home. Among the many surprising
facts we uncovered in our research, we also learned
just how fragile the life of history is. Curator
Byby Root at the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum put
it best when she said that the only reason these
stories remain for us to study is because somebody
wrote them down. If not transcribed, they are
most certainly lost within two generations. After
hours of research it became clear how incredibly
indebted we are to the curators, historians,
librarians, and history buffs who work so hard
to maintain the richness and clarity of our past.
See our guide
to Central Coast History for help finding
these valuable resources—and be sure to
give the historians and curators a high-five
for their crucial but often thankless work when
you visit.
 On
the Cover
All we really know about our November 2008 covergirl, “Cowgirl
Victoria Cordero Duarte,” is that she was a descendent of members
of the Portolá expeditions and of native Esselen Indians. But
it was the mix of mystery and vitality captured in the photo that led
us to select it for the cover. CCM® Photographer Crystal Myers, who
spent countless hours digging through black ‘n’ whites this
issue, helped make the tough call. “It was not an easy decision,
we had so many great options,” she says. “But, in the end,
we decided on [what we referred to as] ‘the gunslinger’ because
she simply captured the awesomeness of what it was to be a pioneer of
the Central Coast. This woman is raw and exciting, and best of all, she
lets your imagination run wild. I mean, with that hat, rope, and gun—she’s
going places.”
Photo courtesy donor Jean Cordero and the California
History Room, Monterey
Public Library: 625 Pacific St., Monterey;
(831) 646-3932
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