German Speaking Jesuit Missionaries as Founders of Sonora, Mexico and Southern Arizona

It is commonly assumed that the early history of the Pimeria Alta, currently Sonora, Mexico and southern Arizona, was determined by Spanish colonizers. In reality, the Jesuit order, perhaps best represented by Padre Eusebio Kino, can be credited with having had the greatest impact on the entire region. A surprisingly large number of Kino’s successors hailed from German speaking lands and left a huge impact on the early history of the Southwest. One of these was Swiss missionary Philipp Segesser, whose insightful and enlightening correspondences have only recently been translated into English.
Gain insight into the global role which the Jesuits played, and how important the Sonoran province was for the international Jesuit Order.

This Arizona Humanities Council sponsored program is presented by Dr. Albrecht Classen, Distinguished Professor of German Studies at the University of Arizona.

Read my previous post when my husband published this translation of letters written by Missionary Segesser (click here).

More info: Sue Parker, librarian at Himmel Park library, 1035 N. Treat Ave. Phone 520-594-5305.

Last year I wrote about Swiss Jesuit missionary Philip Segesser’s letters being published online:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2011/04/07/jesuit-missionary-philipp-segessers-letters-to-be-published/.

Recently this book “The Letters of the Swiss Jesuit Missionary Philip Segesser (1689-1762)”, edited by UA University Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen (my husband) has appeared in print by the Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies (ACMRS) in Tempe, Arizona. Here’s the description of the book from their website:

The early history of Sonora/Arizona (Pimería Alta) was profoundly influenced and determined by the Jesuit missionaries from Europe. After Padre Eusebio Kino’s death in 1711, an increasing number of German-speaking Jesuits arrived in our region and soon dominated the entire missionary district. The Swiss Philipp Segesser, one of the most effective, pragmatic, and industrious members of the Jesuit Order active here in the Southwest, has not yet been fully noticed because, until now, his large collection of letters has never been translated into English. Segesser’s reports about his daily life in our region, his insightful observations about local agriculture, fauna, flora, climate, and geology, and his numerous comments about the American Indian lifestyle, clothing, food, hunting habits, religion, and culture at large are a most intriguing and fascinating glimpse into early Arizona history.

The cover illustration was done by Jere Freeh, one of my husband’s UA undergraduate students who collaborated on the project with him.

Today radio talk show host Bill Buckmaster interviewed Professor Classen about his new book. Click here for the interview on the Buckmaster Show, KVOI 1030 AM.

The book costs $49.95 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Save the Date: My husband will be giving a talk at Himmel Park Branch Library on Monday October 29 at 6 p.m. about missionary Segesser and other German Jesuits, including Padre Kino.

German Jesuit Missionaries as Founders of Sonora/Arizona, presented by University of Arizona professor Dr. Albrecht Classen, is also sponsored by the Arizona Humanities Council and is also a program celebrating Arizona’s Centennial.

Description: It is commonly thought that the early history of Pimeria Alta (now Sonora/Arizona) was determined by Spanish colonizers.

Dr. Albrecht Classen explains how in reality, the Jesuit Order can be credited with having had the greatest impact on the entire region. An example is Padre Eusebio Kino. A surprisingly large number of his successors hailed from German speaking lands and left a huge impact on the early history of the Southwest. This presentation illuminates the historical background of the Jesuit Order and traces the path of major representative of German Jesuit missionaries to the Pimeria Alta.

Moreover, it will bring to light some of the most recent research that is intensifying as major collections of original texts/letters are being translated into English. The audience will have a chance to gain insight into the global role which the Jesuits played, and how important the Sonoran province was for the international Jesuit Order.

When: Monday, February 27, 2012 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Where: Himmel Park branch Library
1035 North Treat Avenue (SW corner of Treat and E. 1st St, south of Speedway)
Tucson, Arizona 85716
520-594-5305

This talk is by my husband, who has published about a dozen scholarly articles about Padre Kino and other Jesuits in Arizona, has given this talk at libraries in Pima County and Arizona, at Agua Caliente Park‘s Historic Lecture Series, and to other civil groups. He has also published an online translation of letters by Jesuit Father Philipp Segesser, and is now working on a book about the German speaking Jesuits. He will be a presenter at an upcoming November, 2012 symposium on Padre Kino, hosted by the Kino Heritage Society in Tucson.