This series concerns a crucial chapter in the history of the Alta California missions which began in 1833 when the Mexican government ordered their secularization. Secularization intended to transfer the mission churches from the Franciscans to the secular, or diocesan, clergy, to appoint a lay commissioner to administer the mission property, and to distribute some of the property among the population. Mission Santa Clara was secularized in December of 1836 but the Franciscans continued to direct the spiritual affairs of the mission since there was no secular clergy to replace them. This series includes a copy of the 1833 secularization decree, instructions on secularization by California authorities, Franciscan correspondence about secularization, the 1851 thorough inventory of Mission Santa Clara which reflects the material condition of the mission after secularization, as well as manuscripts documenting grants and purchases of mission property.

While the social elite greatly benefited from the redistribution of mission property, the manuscripts reveal that occasionally other individuals also had the opportunity to acquire property and land. María Silveria Pacheco, for example, lived and worked at Mission Santa Clara, where she had transformed a simple room into a house. In 1840, after the secularization of the mission, María Silveria Pacheco turned to the California government requesting ownership of this property. Governor Alvarado acquiesced and granted María Silveria the house as well as a considerable area of land, which was extended by another grant in 1846.

This series also addresses the formation of the first diocese of (Alta and Baja) California. Some missionaries believed that an independent diocese in California would bring stability after secularization, thus Father Francisco García Diego, who served at Mission Santa Clara, presented to the Mexican government the proposal to establish this diocesis. In 1839, Mexico submitted this request to the Holy See along with Father García Diego’s candidacy for bishop. In 1840 the Pope approved the formation of this diocese and Father García Diego was consecrated as California’s first bishop.

The main document regarding this subject is Father García Diego’s canonical process for his appointment, a very informative manuscript about García Diego’s personal and clerical life as well as the territory constituting the new diocese. The Correspondence Series includes some of Bishop García Diego’s early communication, including his plan to build a cathedral and establish a seminary and elementary schools for boys and girls.