‘Project Fiesta’

Fiesta may officially be over, but the Santa Barbara Historical Museum hosted a Project Fiesta fête to mark the tony institution’s purchase of the voluminous records of the former Santa Barbara News-Press for its Gledhill Library, and also honor my late colleague Erin Graffy de Garcia who left us earlier this year.

The News-Press collection includes 1,500 books of materials, newspapers, and 1,500 reels of microfilm dating from 1869 to 2020.

Plans include making the archives more accessible and protecting the deteriorating newspapers.

The colorful bash included a performance by Flor y Canto, a dance and music group of 50 performers – including Erin’s husband Jim – which was formed by Erin in 2000.

She was also an accomplished lecturer and historian. Much missed…