"San Diego's preeminent historian" - Raymond Stewart Brandes passed away on April 16, 2014 at his home in San Diego.
Born on January 2, 1924, in Coronado, he attended grade and high schools graduating in the class of June 1941. In his early years his family lived in Barrio Logan and Old Town. He was very proud of his Mexican heritage, a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town. He was baptized at the Cathedral in San Diego and attended Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan. He entered the U.S. Army during WWII and served six years with the 95th and 35th Infantry Divisions including combat in 5 European countries.
Following his discharge as a Master/Sergeant, he traveled throughout the West living in Reno, and Globe, Arizona where he worked with the National Park Service. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam. The site dated from about AD 700-1200.
In 1958 he began his undergraduate education at the University of Arizona, at the age of 33, obtaining his BA, and PhD in 7 years with degrees in historic site archaeology and Western American history. His wife Imogene Lorane Scott, his aunt Josephine Peters Fisher and his niece Pamela Fisher were killed by a drunk driver. Only he and his 1-1/2 year old daughter Elena Maria survived.
He continued to attend the University, taking Elena to classes with him, and was named as the State of Arizona's 2nd State Historian and Assistant Director of the Arizona Historical Society, where he helped to develop one of the major historical institutions in the West founding their journal of history.
He taught at the University of San Diego as a Professor, and Dean of Graduate Schools for 31 years. During that time he had published 21 books and over 300 reports on historic buildings in San Diego, as well as numerous published articles. He was Sheriff of the Westerners Corral in Tucson, and a co-founder of a similar chapter in San Diego. In 1965, he personally arranged for the archaeological and historical research at the Spanish Royal Presidio of San Diego, and in 1967, he began archaeological work at Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Ray served on Governor's Commissions in New Mexico and Arizona; and locally on the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for ten years. In the late 1960s he would direct much of the archaeology and historical research for the Old Town State Historic Park. He and his students performed much of the archaeology in "New Town," during the 1970s. In the 80s he obtained a federal grant with which he involved his students at USD in studies of 252 buildings in the Historic Gaslamp District. He directed over 125 Master's Thesis at USD on subjects related to the American West and San Diego. Ray had been listed in Who's Who in America since 1978, and in Outstanding Hispanic Scholars.
His fondest memories of the University of San Diego had been his involvement with the early professors, especially the highly degreed Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and the many students he still continued to have contact with. He was the founder of the San Diego Congress of History in 1966, and a founder of the San Diego Baseball Historical Society.
In 1989 he was awarded the "Distinguished Historian Medal" by the University of Arizona. He was awarded the "Medal of San Diego de Alcala," 1996 for distinguished service for the University of San Diego when he retired as a professor emeritus, and a member of Phi Alpha Theta.
His work on historic building surveys covered a period of 30 years, included Rancho Santa Fe, El Cajon, La Mesa, Coronado, and downtown San Diego, resulting in more than 300 reports. He was a member of national and local historical and archaeological organizations and more recently the San Diego Baseball Historical Society, the Coronado Historical Association, and the International American Historical Foundation.
He is survived by his beloved wife Irma Dolores Montijo of Tucson, Elena Maria Abbott of Tucson, Elisa Anne Brandes of El Cajon, Laura Raquel Falzon Dondino of San Diego, Ray A. Brandes San Diego, Claudia Renee Brandes of San Diego, Marta Denise Brandes-Miesner of La Mesa, Paula Nicole Diamond of San Diego, a sister Joanne Shortt of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a brother Theodore Donald of Sedalia, Missouri.
He and Irma have 10 grandchildren: Joey, Maya, Jacob, Spencer and Maximilian Miesner of La Mesa, Holly Diamond of San Diego, Jasmine McCall of Oregon, Lucas Brandes Alvarez of San Diego, Nicholas Packham of San Diego, and 3 great grand-children: Aaliyah Meyers, Troy Starks and Miaya McCall of Crawford, Texas.
He took justifiable pride in his sons-in-law Joe Miesner and Kevin Diamond, the late John Hubbard, Craig Packham and his daughter-in-law Raquel Brandes Alvarez.
His granddaughter Jessica Meyers of Alexandria, Virginia, a Chief in the U.S. Navy, is serving at the Pentagon.
~ source: Coronado Eagle & Journal
____________________________________
Ray Brandes was most in his element unearthing the past. Literally.
In the late 1960s, the USD professor and historian directed archaeological digs and research for Old Town State Historic Park including the Spanish fort Royal Presidio of San Diego and the Mission San Diego de Alcala on Presidio Hill. In the 1980s, he involved his students in studies of more than 250 buildings in San Diego's Gaslamp district.
Over his 30-plus year career, Dr. Brandes' surveys of historic buildings covered every corner of the county, from Rancho Santa Fe and El Cajon to downtown San Diego and Coronado.
"He was without a doubt San Diego's preeminent historian," said Scott Moomjian, a land-use attorney who was Dr. Brandes' graduate assistant and university archivist assistant in the early 1990s. "I believe that he is responsible for having listed more San Diego properties on the local, state, and/or national register of historic sites than any other individual.
"… I found him to be a brilliant, consummate professional, fully dedicated to understanding, documenting and interpreting San Diego's history."
Dr. Brandes died of natural causes April 16 at his home in San Diego. He was 90.
He was born Raymond Stewart Brandes on Jan. 2, 1924, in Coronado, the oldest of three to Theodore Brandes and Mary Peters. Raised in Barrio Logan and Old Town, he was a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town.
[Ray graduated from Coronado High School in 1941.
As an Army technician during World War II with the 547th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, 95th Infantry Division, he saw combat in five European countries.
Following his discharge as a master sergeant, he went to work with the U.S. National Park Service in Globe, Ariz. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam people, dating from about 700-1200.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he received a bachelor's degree and his Ph.D. in historic site archaeology and Western American history from the University of Arizona. While he was a student, his first wife, Imogene Lorane Scott, and his aunt and niece were killed by a drunken driver. He and his 1½-year-old daughter survived the crash; thereafter, he took her everywhere he went, including to class.
During this time, he became Arizona's second state historian and was assistant director of the Arizona Historical Society.
Dr. Brandes became a professor of history and archaeology at the University of San Diego in the mid-1960s. He retired 31 years later as dean of the graduate school, having directed more than 125 master's theses relating to the American West and San Diego.
Marie Lia worked with Dr. Brandes as a student on identifying and analyzing the historical resources of more than 300 buildings in Centre City for the Centre City Development Corp. from the late 1980s until 2005. She credits him with creating the protocol for doing the analysis and setting up the research structure.
"He was great to work with," Lia said. "I think he helped develop the whole historic-preservation movement in San Diego and he trained a good number of graduate students and those students are out now working in the field."
In addition to the hundreds of reports and articles about San Diego's historic buildings, Dr. Brandes authored 21 books, including "Coronado: We Remember" and "San Diego: An Illustrated History." He co-authored with Katherine Eitzen Carliin "Coronado: The Enchanted Island".
In 1966, he founded the San Diego Congress of History, and in 1996, helped establish the San Diego Baseball Historical Society. He was a member of the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for 10 years as well as a member of the Western Historical Association, the Western Writers of America, the San Diego Historical Society and the Tucson Corral of The Westerners, a group of aficionados of the lore of the American West.
In 1989, Dr. Brandes was awarded the Distinguished Historian Medal by the University of Arizona. In 1996, he received the Medal of San Diego de Alcala for distinguished service from the University of San Diego.
Dr. Brandes is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Irma Montijo; daughters Elena Abbott, of Tucson, Elisa Brandes, of El Cajon, Laura Falzon Dondino, of San Diego, Claudia Brandes, of San Diego, Marta Brandes-Miesner, of La Mesa, and Paula Diamond, of San Diego; a son, Ray Brandes, of San Diego; a sister, Joanne Shortt, of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Theodore Brandes, of Sedalia, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services have been held.
The family suggests memorial donations to the Coronado Historical Association.
source: San Diego Union Tribune newspaper
Contributor: Pat McArron (47348594)
More: https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/library_Brandes-Raymond.pdf
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=findingaidsur
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1835&context=newsreleases
Born on January 2, 1924, in Coronado, he attended grade and high schools graduating in the class of June 1941. In his early years his family lived in Barrio Logan and Old Town. He was very proud of his Mexican heritage, a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town. He was baptized at the Cathedral in San Diego and attended Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan. He entered the U.S. Army during WWII and served six years with the 95th and 35th Infantry Divisions including combat in 5 European countries.
Following his discharge as a Master/Sergeant, he traveled throughout the West living in Reno, and Globe, Arizona where he worked with the National Park Service. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam. The site dated from about AD 700-1200.
In 1958 he began his undergraduate education at the University of Arizona, at the age of 33, obtaining his BA, and PhD in 7 years with degrees in historic site archaeology and Western American history. His wife Imogene Lorane Scott, his aunt Josephine Peters Fisher and his niece Pamela Fisher were killed by a drunk driver. Only he and his 1-1/2 year old daughter Elena Maria survived.
He continued to attend the University, taking Elena to classes with him, and was named as the State of Arizona's 2nd State Historian and Assistant Director of the Arizona Historical Society, where he helped to develop one of the major historical institutions in the West founding their journal of history.
He taught at the University of San Diego as a Professor, and Dean of Graduate Schools for 31 years. During that time he had published 21 books and over 300 reports on historic buildings in San Diego, as well as numerous published articles. He was Sheriff of the Westerners Corral in Tucson, and a co-founder of a similar chapter in San Diego. In 1965, he personally arranged for the archaeological and historical research at the Spanish Royal Presidio of San Diego, and in 1967, he began archaeological work at Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Ray served on Governor's Commissions in New Mexico and Arizona; and locally on the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for ten years. In the late 1960s he would direct much of the archaeology and historical research for the Old Town State Historic Park. He and his students performed much of the archaeology in "New Town," during the 1970s. In the 80s he obtained a federal grant with which he involved his students at USD in studies of 252 buildings in the Historic Gaslamp District. He directed over 125 Master's Thesis at USD on subjects related to the American West and San Diego. Ray had been listed in Who's Who in America since 1978, and in Outstanding Hispanic Scholars.
His fondest memories of the University of San Diego had been his involvement with the early professors, especially the highly degreed Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and the many students he still continued to have contact with. He was the founder of the San Diego Congress of History in 1966, and a founder of the San Diego Baseball Historical Society.
In 1989 he was awarded the "Distinguished Historian Medal" by the University of Arizona. He was awarded the "Medal of San Diego de Alcala," 1996 for distinguished service for the University of San Diego when he retired as a professor emeritus, and a member of Phi Alpha Theta.
His work on historic building surveys covered a period of 30 years, included Rancho Santa Fe, El Cajon, La Mesa, Coronado, and downtown San Diego, resulting in more than 300 reports. He was a member of national and local historical and archaeological organizations and more recently the San Diego Baseball Historical Society, the Coronado Historical Association, and the International American Historical Foundation.
He is survived by his beloved wife Irma Dolores Montijo of Tucson, Elena Maria Abbott of Tucson, Elisa Anne Brandes of El Cajon, Laura Raquel Falzon Dondino of San Diego, Ray A. Brandes San Diego, Claudia Renee Brandes of San Diego, Marta Denise Brandes-Miesner of La Mesa, Paula Nicole Diamond of San Diego, a sister Joanne Shortt of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a brother Theodore Donald of Sedalia, Missouri.
He and Irma have 10 grandchildren: Joey, Maya, Jacob, Spencer and Maximilian Miesner of La Mesa, Holly Diamond of San Diego, Jasmine McCall of Oregon, Lucas Brandes Alvarez of San Diego, Nicholas Packham of San Diego, and 3 great grand-children: Aaliyah Meyers, Troy Starks and Miaya McCall of Crawford, Texas.
He took justifiable pride in his sons-in-law Joe Miesner and Kevin Diamond, the late John Hubbard, Craig Packham and his daughter-in-law Raquel Brandes Alvarez.
His granddaughter Jessica Meyers of Alexandria, Virginia, a Chief in the U.S. Navy, is serving at the Pentagon.
~ source: Coronado Eagle & Journal
____________________________________
Ray Brandes was most in his element unearthing the past. Literally.
In the late 1960s, the USD professor and historian directed archaeological digs and research for Old Town State Historic Park including the Spanish fort Royal Presidio of San Diego and the Mission San Diego de Alcala on Presidio Hill. In the 1980s, he involved his students in studies of more than 250 buildings in San Diego's Gaslamp district.
Over his 30-plus year career, Dr. Brandes' surveys of historic buildings covered every corner of the county, from Rancho Santa Fe and El Cajon to downtown San Diego and Coronado.
"He was without a doubt San Diego's preeminent historian," said Scott Moomjian, a land-use attorney who was Dr. Brandes' graduate assistant and university archivist assistant in the early 1990s. "I believe that he is responsible for having listed more San Diego properties on the local, state, and/or national register of historic sites than any other individual.
"… I found him to be a brilliant, consummate professional, fully dedicated to understanding, documenting and interpreting San Diego's history."
Dr. Brandes died of natural causes April 16 at his home in San Diego. He was 90.
He was born Raymond Stewart Brandes on Jan. 2, 1924, in Coronado, the oldest of three to Theodore Brandes and Mary Peters. Raised in Barrio Logan and Old Town, he was a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town.
[Ray graduated from Coronado High School in 1941.
As an Army technician during World War II with the 547th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, 95th Infantry Division, he saw combat in five European countries.
Following his discharge as a master sergeant, he went to work with the U.S. National Park Service in Globe, Ariz. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam people, dating from about 700-1200.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he received a bachelor's degree and his Ph.D. in historic site archaeology and Western American history from the University of Arizona. While he was a student, his first wife, Imogene Lorane Scott, and his aunt and niece were killed by a drunken driver. He and his 1½-year-old daughter survived the crash; thereafter, he took her everywhere he went, including to class.
During this time, he became Arizona's second state historian and was assistant director of the Arizona Historical Society.
Dr. Brandes became a professor of history and archaeology at the University of San Diego in the mid-1960s. He retired 31 years later as dean of the graduate school, having directed more than 125 master's theses relating to the American West and San Diego.
Marie Lia worked with Dr. Brandes as a student on identifying and analyzing the historical resources of more than 300 buildings in Centre City for the Centre City Development Corp. from the late 1980s until 2005. She credits him with creating the protocol for doing the analysis and setting up the research structure.
"He was great to work with," Lia said. "I think he helped develop the whole historic-preservation movement in San Diego and he trained a good number of graduate students and those students are out now working in the field."
In addition to the hundreds of reports and articles about San Diego's historic buildings, Dr. Brandes authored 21 books, including "Coronado: We Remember" and "San Diego: An Illustrated History." He co-authored with Katherine Eitzen Carliin "Coronado: The Enchanted Island".
In 1966, he founded the San Diego Congress of History, and in 1996, helped establish the San Diego Baseball Historical Society. He was a member of the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for 10 years as well as a member of the Western Historical Association, the Western Writers of America, the San Diego Historical Society and the Tucson Corral of The Westerners, a group of aficionados of the lore of the American West.
In 1989, Dr. Brandes was awarded the Distinguished Historian Medal by the University of Arizona. In 1996, he received the Medal of San Diego de Alcala for distinguished service from the University of San Diego.
Dr. Brandes is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Irma Montijo; daughters Elena Abbott, of Tucson, Elisa Brandes, of El Cajon, Laura Falzon Dondino, of San Diego, Claudia Brandes, of San Diego, Marta Brandes-Miesner, of La Mesa, and Paula Diamond, of San Diego; a son, Ray Brandes, of San Diego; a sister, Joanne Shortt, of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Theodore Brandes, of Sedalia, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services have been held.
The family suggests memorial donations to the Coronado Historical Association.
source: San Diego Union Tribune newspaper
Contributor: Pat McArron (47348594)
More: https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/library_Brandes-Raymond.pdf
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=findingaidsur
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1835&context=newsreleases
"San Diego's preeminent historian" - Raymond Stewart Brandes passed away on April 16, 2014 at his home in San Diego.
Born on January 2, 1924, in Coronado, he attended grade and high schools graduating in the class of June 1941. In his early years his family lived in Barrio Logan and Old Town. He was very proud of his Mexican heritage, a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town. He was baptized at the Cathedral in San Diego and attended Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan. He entered the U.S. Army during WWII and served six years with the 95th and 35th Infantry Divisions including combat in 5 European countries.
Following his discharge as a Master/Sergeant, he traveled throughout the West living in Reno, and Globe, Arizona where he worked with the National Park Service. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam. The site dated from about AD 700-1200.
In 1958 he began his undergraduate education at the University of Arizona, at the age of 33, obtaining his BA, and PhD in 7 years with degrees in historic site archaeology and Western American history. His wife Imogene Lorane Scott, his aunt Josephine Peters Fisher and his niece Pamela Fisher were killed by a drunk driver. Only he and his 1-1/2 year old daughter Elena Maria survived.
He continued to attend the University, taking Elena to classes with him, and was named as the State of Arizona's 2nd State Historian and Assistant Director of the Arizona Historical Society, where he helped to develop one of the major historical institutions in the West founding their journal of history.
He taught at the University of San Diego as a Professor, and Dean of Graduate Schools for 31 years. During that time he had published 21 books and over 300 reports on historic buildings in San Diego, as well as numerous published articles. He was Sheriff of the Westerners Corral in Tucson, and a co-founder of a similar chapter in San Diego. In 1965, he personally arranged for the archaeological and historical research at the Spanish Royal Presidio of San Diego, and in 1967, he began archaeological work at Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Ray served on Governor's Commissions in New Mexico and Arizona; and locally on the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for ten years. In the late 1960s he would direct much of the archaeology and historical research for the Old Town State Historic Park. He and his students performed much of the archaeology in "New Town," during the 1970s. In the 80s he obtained a federal grant with which he involved his students at USD in studies of 252 buildings in the Historic Gaslamp District. He directed over 125 Master's Thesis at USD on subjects related to the American West and San Diego. Ray had been listed in Who's Who in America since 1978, and in Outstanding Hispanic Scholars.
His fondest memories of the University of San Diego had been his involvement with the early professors, especially the highly degreed Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and the many students he still continued to have contact with. He was the founder of the San Diego Congress of History in 1966, and a founder of the San Diego Baseball Historical Society.
In 1989 he was awarded the "Distinguished Historian Medal" by the University of Arizona. He was awarded the "Medal of San Diego de Alcala," 1996 for distinguished service for the University of San Diego when he retired as a professor emeritus, and a member of Phi Alpha Theta.
His work on historic building surveys covered a period of 30 years, included Rancho Santa Fe, El Cajon, La Mesa, Coronado, and downtown San Diego, resulting in more than 300 reports. He was a member of national and local historical and archaeological organizations and more recently the San Diego Baseball Historical Society, the Coronado Historical Association, and the International American Historical Foundation.
He is survived by his beloved wife Irma Dolores Montijo of Tucson, Elena Maria Abbott of Tucson, Elisa Anne Brandes of El Cajon, Laura Raquel Falzon Dondino of San Diego, Ray A. Brandes San Diego, Claudia Renee Brandes of San Diego, Marta Denise Brandes-Miesner of La Mesa, Paula Nicole Diamond of San Diego, a sister Joanne Shortt of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a brother Theodore Donald of Sedalia, Missouri.
He and Irma have 10 grandchildren: Joey, Maya, Jacob, Spencer and Maximilian Miesner of La Mesa, Holly Diamond of San Diego, Jasmine McCall of Oregon, Lucas Brandes Alvarez of San Diego, Nicholas Packham of San Diego, and 3 great grand-children: Aaliyah Meyers, Troy Starks and Miaya McCall of Crawford, Texas.
He took justifiable pride in his sons-in-law Joe Miesner and Kevin Diamond, the late John Hubbard, Craig Packham and his daughter-in-law Raquel Brandes Alvarez.
His granddaughter Jessica Meyers of Alexandria, Virginia, a Chief in the U.S. Navy, is serving at the Pentagon.
~ source: Coronado Eagle & Journal
____________________________________
Ray Brandes was most in his element unearthing the past. Literally.
In the late 1960s, the USD professor and historian directed archaeological digs and research for Old Town State Historic Park including the Spanish fort Royal Presidio of San Diego and the Mission San Diego de Alcala on Presidio Hill. In the 1980s, he involved his students in studies of more than 250 buildings in San Diego's Gaslamp district.
Over his 30-plus year career, Dr. Brandes' surveys of historic buildings covered every corner of the county, from Rancho Santa Fe and El Cajon to downtown San Diego and Coronado.
"He was without a doubt San Diego's preeminent historian," said Scott Moomjian, a land-use attorney who was Dr. Brandes' graduate assistant and university archivist assistant in the early 1990s. "I believe that he is responsible for having listed more San Diego properties on the local, state, and/or national register of historic sites than any other individual.
"… I found him to be a brilliant, consummate professional, fully dedicated to understanding, documenting and interpreting San Diego's history."
Dr. Brandes died of natural causes April 16 at his home in San Diego. He was 90.
He was born Raymond Stewart Brandes on Jan. 2, 1924, in Coronado, the oldest of three to Theodore Brandes and Mary Peters. Raised in Barrio Logan and Old Town, he was a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town.
[Ray graduated from Coronado High School in 1941.
As an Army technician during World War II with the 547th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, 95th Infantry Division, he saw combat in five European countries.
Following his discharge as a master sergeant, he went to work with the U.S. National Park Service in Globe, Ariz. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam people, dating from about 700-1200.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he received a bachelor's degree and his Ph.D. in historic site archaeology and Western American history from the University of Arizona. While he was a student, his first wife, Imogene Lorane Scott, and his aunt and niece were killed by a drunken driver. He and his 1½-year-old daughter survived the crash; thereafter, he took her everywhere he went, including to class.
During this time, he became Arizona's second state historian and was assistant director of the Arizona Historical Society.
Dr. Brandes became a professor of history and archaeology at the University of San Diego in the mid-1960s. He retired 31 years later as dean of the graduate school, having directed more than 125 master's theses relating to the American West and San Diego.
Marie Lia worked with Dr. Brandes as a student on identifying and analyzing the historical resources of more than 300 buildings in Centre City for the Centre City Development Corp. from the late 1980s until 2005. She credits him with creating the protocol for doing the analysis and setting up the research structure.
"He was great to work with," Lia said. "I think he helped develop the whole historic-preservation movement in San Diego and he trained a good number of graduate students and those students are out now working in the field."
In addition to the hundreds of reports and articles about San Diego's historic buildings, Dr. Brandes authored 21 books, including "Coronado: We Remember" and "San Diego: An Illustrated History." He co-authored with Katherine Eitzen Carliin "Coronado: The Enchanted Island".
In 1966, he founded the San Diego Congress of History, and in 1996, helped establish the San Diego Baseball Historical Society. He was a member of the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for 10 years as well as a member of the Western Historical Association, the Western Writers of America, the San Diego Historical Society and the Tucson Corral of The Westerners, a group of aficionados of the lore of the American West.
In 1989, Dr. Brandes was awarded the Distinguished Historian Medal by the University of Arizona. In 1996, he received the Medal of San Diego de Alcala for distinguished service from the University of San Diego.
Dr. Brandes is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Irma Montijo; daughters Elena Abbott, of Tucson, Elisa Brandes, of El Cajon, Laura Falzon Dondino, of San Diego, Claudia Brandes, of San Diego, Marta Brandes-Miesner, of La Mesa, and Paula Diamond, of San Diego; a son, Ray Brandes, of San Diego; a sister, Joanne Shortt, of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Theodore Brandes, of Sedalia, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services have been held.
The family suggests memorial donations to the Coronado Historical Association.
source: San Diego Union Tribune newspaper
Contributor: Pat McArron (47348594)
More: https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/library_Brandes-Raymond.pdf
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=findingaidsur
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1835&context=newsreleases
Born on January 2, 1924, in Coronado, he attended grade and high schools graduating in the class of June 1941. In his early years his family lived in Barrio Logan and Old Town. He was very proud of his Mexican heritage, a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town. He was baptized at the Cathedral in San Diego and attended Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan. He entered the U.S. Army during WWII and served six years with the 95th and 35th Infantry Divisions including combat in 5 European countries.
Following his discharge as a Master/Sergeant, he traveled throughout the West living in Reno, and Globe, Arizona where he worked with the National Park Service. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam. The site dated from about AD 700-1200.
In 1958 he began his undergraduate education at the University of Arizona, at the age of 33, obtaining his BA, and PhD in 7 years with degrees in historic site archaeology and Western American history. His wife Imogene Lorane Scott, his aunt Josephine Peters Fisher and his niece Pamela Fisher were killed by a drunk driver. Only he and his 1-1/2 year old daughter Elena Maria survived.
He continued to attend the University, taking Elena to classes with him, and was named as the State of Arizona's 2nd State Historian and Assistant Director of the Arizona Historical Society, where he helped to develop one of the major historical institutions in the West founding their journal of history.
He taught at the University of San Diego as a Professor, and Dean of Graduate Schools for 31 years. During that time he had published 21 books and over 300 reports on historic buildings in San Diego, as well as numerous published articles. He was Sheriff of the Westerners Corral in Tucson, and a co-founder of a similar chapter in San Diego. In 1965, he personally arranged for the archaeological and historical research at the Spanish Royal Presidio of San Diego, and in 1967, he began archaeological work at Mission San Diego de Alcala.
Ray served on Governor's Commissions in New Mexico and Arizona; and locally on the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for ten years. In the late 1960s he would direct much of the archaeology and historical research for the Old Town State Historic Park. He and his students performed much of the archaeology in "New Town," during the 1970s. In the 80s he obtained a federal grant with which he involved his students at USD in studies of 252 buildings in the Historic Gaslamp District. He directed over 125 Master's Thesis at USD on subjects related to the American West and San Diego. Ray had been listed in Who's Who in America since 1978, and in Outstanding Hispanic Scholars.
His fondest memories of the University of San Diego had been his involvement with the early professors, especially the highly degreed Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and the many students he still continued to have contact with. He was the founder of the San Diego Congress of History in 1966, and a founder of the San Diego Baseball Historical Society.
In 1989 he was awarded the "Distinguished Historian Medal" by the University of Arizona. He was awarded the "Medal of San Diego de Alcala," 1996 for distinguished service for the University of San Diego when he retired as a professor emeritus, and a member of Phi Alpha Theta.
His work on historic building surveys covered a period of 30 years, included Rancho Santa Fe, El Cajon, La Mesa, Coronado, and downtown San Diego, resulting in more than 300 reports. He was a member of national and local historical and archaeological organizations and more recently the San Diego Baseball Historical Society, the Coronado Historical Association, and the International American Historical Foundation.
He is survived by his beloved wife Irma Dolores Montijo of Tucson, Elena Maria Abbott of Tucson, Elisa Anne Brandes of El Cajon, Laura Raquel Falzon Dondino of San Diego, Ray A. Brandes San Diego, Claudia Renee Brandes of San Diego, Marta Denise Brandes-Miesner of La Mesa, Paula Nicole Diamond of San Diego, a sister Joanne Shortt of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a brother Theodore Donald of Sedalia, Missouri.
He and Irma have 10 grandchildren: Joey, Maya, Jacob, Spencer and Maximilian Miesner of La Mesa, Holly Diamond of San Diego, Jasmine McCall of Oregon, Lucas Brandes Alvarez of San Diego, Nicholas Packham of San Diego, and 3 great grand-children: Aaliyah Meyers, Troy Starks and Miaya McCall of Crawford, Texas.
He took justifiable pride in his sons-in-law Joe Miesner and Kevin Diamond, the late John Hubbard, Craig Packham and his daughter-in-law Raquel Brandes Alvarez.
His granddaughter Jessica Meyers of Alexandria, Virginia, a Chief in the U.S. Navy, is serving at the Pentagon.
~ source: Coronado Eagle & Journal
____________________________________
Ray Brandes was most in his element unearthing the past. Literally.
In the late 1960s, the USD professor and historian directed archaeological digs and research for Old Town State Historic Park including the Spanish fort Royal Presidio of San Diego and the Mission San Diego de Alcala on Presidio Hill. In the 1980s, he involved his students in studies of more than 250 buildings in San Diego's Gaslamp district.
Over his 30-plus year career, Dr. Brandes' surveys of historic buildings covered every corner of the county, from Rancho Santa Fe and El Cajon to downtown San Diego and Coronado.
"He was without a doubt San Diego's preeminent historian," said Scott Moomjian, a land-use attorney who was Dr. Brandes' graduate assistant and university archivist assistant in the early 1990s. "I believe that he is responsible for having listed more San Diego properties on the local, state, and/or national register of historic sites than any other individual.
"… I found him to be a brilliant, consummate professional, fully dedicated to understanding, documenting and interpreting San Diego's history."
Dr. Brandes died of natural causes April 16 at his home in San Diego. He was 90.
He was born Raymond Stewart Brandes on Jan. 2, 1924, in Coronado, the oldest of three to Theodore Brandes and Mary Peters. Raised in Barrio Logan and Old Town, he was a direct descendant of the Machado family, founders of Old Town.
[Ray graduated from Coronado High School in 1941.
As an Army technician during World War II with the 547th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, 95th Infantry Division, he saw combat in five European countries.
Following his discharge as a master sergeant, he went to work with the U.S. National Park Service in Globe, Ariz. His archaeological survey of the San Carlos Indian Reservation uncovered one of the earliest ball courts built by the Hohokam people, dating from about 700-1200.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he received a bachelor's degree and his Ph.D. in historic site archaeology and Western American history from the University of Arizona. While he was a student, his first wife, Imogene Lorane Scott, and his aunt and niece were killed by a drunken driver. He and his 1½-year-old daughter survived the crash; thereafter, he took her everywhere he went, including to class.
During this time, he became Arizona's second state historian and was assistant director of the Arizona Historical Society.
Dr. Brandes became a professor of history and archaeology at the University of San Diego in the mid-1960s. He retired 31 years later as dean of the graduate school, having directed more than 125 master's theses relating to the American West and San Diego.
Marie Lia worked with Dr. Brandes as a student on identifying and analyzing the historical resources of more than 300 buildings in Centre City for the Centre City Development Corp. from the late 1980s until 2005. She credits him with creating the protocol for doing the analysis and setting up the research structure.
"He was great to work with," Lia said. "I think he helped develop the whole historic-preservation movement in San Diego and he trained a good number of graduate students and those students are out now working in the field."
In addition to the hundreds of reports and articles about San Diego's historic buildings, Dr. Brandes authored 21 books, including "Coronado: We Remember" and "San Diego: An Illustrated History." He co-authored with Katherine Eitzen Carliin "Coronado: The Enchanted Island".
In 1966, he founded the San Diego Congress of History, and in 1996, helped establish the San Diego Baseball Historical Society. He was a member of the National Gaslamp Quarter Historic Committee for 10 years as well as a member of the Western Historical Association, the Western Writers of America, the San Diego Historical Society and the Tucson Corral of The Westerners, a group of aficionados of the lore of the American West.
In 1989, Dr. Brandes was awarded the Distinguished Historian Medal by the University of Arizona. In 1996, he received the Medal of San Diego de Alcala for distinguished service from the University of San Diego.
Dr. Brandes is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Irma Montijo; daughters Elena Abbott, of Tucson, Elisa Brandes, of El Cajon, Laura Falzon Dondino, of San Diego, Claudia Brandes, of San Diego, Marta Brandes-Miesner, of La Mesa, and Paula Diamond, of San Diego; a son, Ray Brandes, of San Diego; a sister, Joanne Shortt, of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Theodore Brandes, of Sedalia, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services have been held.
The family suggests memorial donations to the Coronado Historical Association.
source: San Diego Union Tribune newspaper
Contributor: Pat McArron (47348594)
More: https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/library_Brandes-Raymond.pdf
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=findingaidsur
https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1835&context=newsreleases
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