Phil Brigandi

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Phil Brigandi (1959-2019) was an independent scholar specializing in the history of Southern California with a focus on the Orange County area who published 26 books from 1982 to 2018. [1] For 30 years he served as the historian for Hemet, California's Ramona Pageant and was Orange County's archivist for 5 years, starting in 2003. [2] [3] [4] His books were published through Arcadia Publishing, [5] Heritage Media, [6] local natural history organizations, [7] and the University of Oklahoma Press. [8]

Contents

Throughout his life he spoke about the importance of local history and its ability to create a sense of place. [3] [9] [10] After his passing in 2019, he was memorialized in articles for the Los Angeles Times , [1] The Orange County Register , [3] and elsewhere. [2] He was regularly cited in numerous articles for various local city and county newspapers and magazines for his expertise. [11] [12] [13] He maintained a website OC Historyland until his passing. [14]

Personal life

Brigandi had been a researcher since 1975, who grew up in the city of Orange, California. He graduated from Orange High School in 1977 and from California State University, Fullerton in 1982 with a degree in history. [2] He published his first book at the age of 23. [3] Brigandi regularly preserved historical writings, such as newspaper clippings from offices that were due to be destroyed. He enjoyed hiking and never owned a cellphone. [2]

In 2003, he became Orange County's official archivist, an office that had been closed since 1995 due to the county's bankruptcy. [10] He told the Orange County Register, "Local history is important because it provides a connection to where we live, a sense of place. We need people committed to deal with the issues in our neighborhoods. We need to encourage a connection to place.” [3]

Brigandi was a member of the Boy Scouts for most of his life. He became a Cub Scout in 1967, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and served as a Section Chief in the Order of the Arrow. In 1975, Brigandi first joined the staff of Lost Valley Scout Reservation [15] (the Orange County Council's summer camp), and continued to be involved with Lost Valley until his death.

In 2012, fellow local historian Jim Sleeper passed away, who The Orange County Register referred to as the county's first historian. Brigandi had known Sleeper for about 35 years, and commented, "He wrote like the person he was. He had a wry sense of humor and his own way of looking at the world." [16]

Brigandi died on December 12, 2019 due to complications of a heart attack. [1] After Brigandi's passing, his brother Chris noted, "Phil found a purpose and passion at a young age, and he loved what he did. He stayed true to himself and was a kind and loving human being. His good work was far-reaching and beneficial to many. He is deeply missed." [2]

Publications

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Phil Brigandi, chronicler of Orange County's history, dies at 60". Los Angeles Times. 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our Friend Phil Brigandi | Orange Review". orangereview.com. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Historian Phil Brigandi, who spent decades constructing Orange County's story, dies". Orange County Register. 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  4. ↑ "Historian of Hemet's 'Ramona,' Phil Brigandi, dies at 60". Press Enterprise. 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  5. ↑ Brigandi, Phil (2008). Orange. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub. ISBN   978-0-7385-5905-6. OCLC   228374400.
  6. ↑ Brigandi, Phil (1997). Orange: The City 'round the Plaza. Heritage Media Corporation. ISBN   978-1-886483-11-8.
  7. ↑ Brigandi, Phil (2001). Borrego Beginnings: Early Days in the Borrego Valley, 1910-1960. Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association. ISBN   978-0-910805-10-0.
  8. ↑ Mathes, Valerie Sherer; Brigandi, Phil (2018). Reservations, Removal, and Reform: The Mission Indian Agents of Southern California, 1878-1903. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN   978-0-8061-5999-7.
  9. ↑ "Phil Brigandi: Historian Buffing Up". calstate.fullerton.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  10. 1 2 "Archives Become Time Capsule of County History" (PDF). Orange County Connection. 2. May 2005.
  11. ↑ Robert, Anthony (2022-09-05). "A History of Brea Creek -". fullertonobserver.com. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  12. ↑ "250 years after Portola explored Southern California, group takes a hike". Daily Bulletin. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  13. ↑ "San Diego's Reputation As A Place To Get Well May Have Started With The Cupa Indians". KPBS Public Media. 2019-07-29. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  14. ↑ Brigandi, Phil. "OC Historyland". OC Historyland. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  15. ↑ "Memories: When I was a Boy Scout". Orange County Register. 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  16. ↑ "O.C. loses its first historian, Jim Sleeper". Orange County Register. 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
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