Nancy Fages Lopez with her parents, Isabel C. Lopez de Fages and Alphonse B. Fages |
The Annual fiestas held at the Casa de Adobe, an adjunct of the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, were organized for many years by Isabel Lopez de Fages who served as hostess for the Casa. Herself a descendent from early settlers of the Spanish period, she and her husband Alfonso (Bud) Fages were involved in a variety of activities to preserve and promote californio culture. Los Fages lived in an adobe house built in 1840 by a cousin of Ygnacio Palomares, the Alvarado house on the Palomares grant on the Rancho San José in what is now Pomona.


Casa de Adobe Fiesta Program, 1937.
From the Fages Collection.
Now in Los Californios® Collection.
Note that music at this Fiesta was provided by Los Trovadores de José Arias.


Casa de Adobe Fiesta Program, 1938.
From the Fages Collection.
Now in Los Californios® Collection.
Notice the members of the A La California Orchestra — they include Lummis recording informants Rosa (Villa) Pemén, Luisa Villa, and Rosendo Uruchurtu. The A La California Club later called itself Los Californios. Eleanor Hague also participated in these events as director of El Jarabe Club of Pasadena.


Casa de Adobe Fiesta Program, 1940.
From the Fages Collection.
Now in Los Californios® Collection.

Clarence and Juanita Palomares dance at a Fiesta at Casa de Adobe.
From the Fages Collection.
Now in Los Californios® Collection.

Clarence Palomares and Juanita Ávila de Palomares, 1963.
From the Fages Collection.
Now in Los Californios® Collection.
The historic Rancho San José grant was made to the Palomares and Véjar families in 1837, and La Casa Primera adobe was built that same year.

Alphonse Fages singing at La Casa Primera de Rancho San José Adobe, March 17, 1974.
From the Fages Collection.
Alfonso B. Fages was an artist and a favorite singer at events featuring californio music, often singing duets with Gabriel Ruíz.
Alphonse B. Fages & Isabel C. Lopez de Fages. |
a California non-profit corporation. All rights reserved. |