Literature on Portuguese-American history on show at Tulare museum

Two new books look at the history of Portuguese Americans settling into California.

"The Portuguese Presence in California" and "My Californian Friends" were translated from earlier Portuguese publications. Both are published by Portuguese Heritage Publications of California.

The books will be presented at the Tulare Historical Museum, 444 W. Tulare Ave. The presentation is organized by the Tulare-Angra do Heroísmo Sister City Foundation, which celebrates the link between Tulare and a city in the Azores.

The Azores are a collection of islands to which many local Portuguese Americans can trace their heritage. The event is free and the public is invited. The event will feature short presentations, a book-signing by the authors and translators and a wine reception.

"My Californian Friends" is a collection of poetry dealing with Portuguese-American communities in California. The poems were written by Vasco Pereira da Costa. The book references people and places in California that have special meaning to the poet and to Portuguese-American communities. The poetry was translated by Katharine Baker and Diniz "Dennis" Borges, a Tulare resident and Portuguese-language instructor at Tulare Union High School and College of the Sequoias in Visalia.

"The Portuguese Presence in California" is a collection of writings about the history of Portuguese immigrants and their offspring in California. Written by Eduardo Mayone Dias, professor emeritus at University of California, Los Angeles, the book has chapters dealing with the dairy industry, the Portuguese language press, the tuna industry in San Diego, the Portuguese Fraternal Society movement and contributions to literature. The book was translated by Baker, Borges and Professor Bobby Chamberlain from the University of Pittsburgh.