The Portuguese in San Jose

Images of America: California

by Meg Rogers, Portuguese Historical Museum

For hundreds of years, Portuguese explorers have swept across the globe, many of them landing in California in the 1840s as whalers, ship jumpers, and Gold Rush immigrants. Gold was the lure, but land was the anchor. San Jose became home to
Portuguese immigrants who overcame prejudice to contribute to the area politically, socially, and economically. They worked hard, transplanting farming, family, and festa traditions while working in orchards and dairies. Many came from the Azores Islands, 800 miles out to sea from mainland Portugal. For over 160 years, the Portuguese have
enriched San Jose with colorful figures, including radio star Joaquim Esteves; jeweler and filmmaker Antonio Furtado; the charismatic and controversial Fr. Lionel Noia; educator Goretti Silveira; and community leaders Vicki and Joe Machado.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2007

Reviews

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

An expressive and informative book of photographs with detailed captions. It's particularly strong on evocative portraits; — you really see the people. There's not enough awareness of the role of Portuguese, mostly from the Azores, and in San Jose and throughout the Bay Area. In the middle of the last century there was a radio station broadcasting in Portuguese in Marin County. Late in the century if you walk down the street in Calistoga there were shop signs in Portuguese (as well as Spanish and Russian). There is still a radio station (KSQQ) that broadcasts halftime in Portuguese and half time in Chinese in San Jose.