Field Notes

February 2025

This month’s Field Notes is dedicated to one of our favorite libraries in the Orange County. The Sherman Library and Gardens. It is an incredible 2.2 acres community in the heart of Corona del Mar. Explore the site over a lunch at the 608 Dahlia restaurant. Shop at the gift store which supports the 501c3… Read More February 2025

Field Notes

January 2025

As we step into a brand-new year, we’re excited to celebrate the timeless history and heritage. Whether you’re preserving historic landmarks, curating exhibits that bring the past to life, or simply cherishing the stories that connect us to our roots, 2025 is a year to honor the importance of our shared past. We’re grateful for… Read More January 2025

Archive, Field Notes

December 2024

From the Archives 📁 These photographs have been digitized and archived in our family’s collection. Have you started archiving your family’s history? Consider purchasing a Family Archives Preservation Kit. The History Hub is managed by the National Archives. It is for researchers, citizen historians, and archival professionals. 70 Degrees provides resources to you as you… Read More December 2024

Field Notes

November 2024

On November 1, 1776, Saint Junipero Serra re-founded Mission San Juan Capistrano for All Saints’ Day. It became the seventh of twenty-one missions to be founded in Alta California. Learn more about SJC’s vibrant history. Learn More Artist of the Month “To me the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion… Read More November 2024

Archive

Nirvana | Hollywood

Written by Dylan Arseo, USC History student and 70 Degrees Intern Originally built in 1925, The Nirvana is an ode to the revivalist style of architecture that was popular in the early twentieth century. The designers of the building were fascinated with the idea of “exoticiscm” and hence, were inspired to employ a Chinese aesthetic.… Read More Nirvana | Hollywood

Field Notes

October 2024

Katie Wheeler Library, Irvine, CA The Irvine Ranch grew Valencia oranges prior to our county’s incorporation. It was a leader in dry farming and livestock. The rangelands were reminiscent of the hills of Ireland where James Irvine lived and left in 1846 when he was nineteen years old.

Archive, Field Notes

Irvine

Cattle on Irvine Ranch, 1900. The Irvine Ranch grew Valencia oranges and was a leader in dry farming and livestock. The rangelands were reminiscent of the following hills of Ireland where James Irvine left in 1846 at nineteen years old. According to the Irvine Historical Society, James took a one-hundred-one-day journey and ate hard beans,… Read More Irvine

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Maritime History

Maritime History by 70 Degrees 16th Century 1542: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo becomes the first European to explore the California coast, landing in what is now San Diego Bay. His journey establishes Spanish maritime claims to the region. 1579: Sir Francis Drake explores the northern California coast and claims it for England, naming the area “Nova… Read More Maritime History

Field Notes

September 2024

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th. We celebrate the Hispanic explorers that created California’s multi-cultural identity. From the Archives ⚓Balboa Park was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa. His crew crossed the Isthmus of Panama to reach the Pacific Ocean in 1513. As the first Europeans to lead an expedition and reach the Pacific,… Read More September 2024