Nokes Book Blog
Stay current on articles, notes and appearances.
Gavin Newsom calls out California’s racist first governor. Who was Peter Hardeman Burnett?
By R. Gregory Nokes, Special to CALmatters In his apology for California’s genocidal treatment of Native Americans, Gov. Gavin Newsom focused attention on the state’s nearly forgotten first elected governor, Peter Hardeman Burnett, and his declaration in 1851 that...
Just released: Slavery’s Descendants
R. Gregory Nokes contributed a chapter to the just-published Slavery's Descendants, a compilation of stories about slavery. He wrote about Reuben Shipley, a slave brought to Oregon from Missouri by one of his ancestors. Race remains a potent and divisive force in our...
Columbia County Reads 2019 focuses on historical account of Oregon slavery
THE CHIEF — The six libraries of Columbia County have selected two books by authors Phillip Margolin and Gregory Nokes for this year’s Columbia County Reads 2019. Both books, one a work of fiction and the other nonfiction, tell the historical account of an Oregon...
San Jose middle school ready to dump racist California governor’s name
Dropping Peter Burnett’s name should be a no-brainer By SAL PIZARRO | spizarro@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group THE MERCURY NEWS — An effort is underway to change the name of Peter Burnett Middle School near downtown San Jose, and it would be a very smart...
Stayton Library appearance
OPB to show Oregon’s Black Pioneers Feb. 25
Oregon Public Broadcasting is airing a special program on Oregon’s Black Pioneers on Feb. 25.
OCTA Overland Journal – Fall 2018 Book Review
The Troubled Life of Peter Burnett: Oregon Pioneer and First Governor of California Reviewed by LeRoy Johnson This book begins with a bang. One night in 1830, a burglar broke into young Peter Burnett’s store and stole some whiskey. Two nights later Burnett...
“Slavery’s Descendants” to be published in May
The cover is approved for the new Rutgers U. book on “Slavery’s Descendants.” Book itself will be out in May. My contribution is an article on the experiences of a slave named Reuben Shipley who was brought to Oregon from Missouri by one of my ancestors in 1853.
Take a trip down to Oregon City … California
There aren’t many places where Oregon pioneer Peter Burnett is esteemed for his role in western history. But Oregon City, California, is one of them. No, that’s not a misprint. There is such a place and it’s connected in history to Oregon’s Oregon City. The other...