You say 'Anza,' I say 'de Anza'

There is no doubt that Col. Juan Bautista de Anza was a major historical figure in the development of California. It is a fact that he and his expedition of 240 colonists camped in Calabasas on Feb. 22, 1776. Since 1985 this event has been celebrated in Calabasas and is continuing as Anza en Calabazas-1776 under the leadership of Ralph Lee Moss and the Calabasas Anza Heritage Association. At present the next production is scheduled for April 27.

Calabasas first became aware of its association with Anza in 1976 when the bicentennial celebration of his 1775-1776 expedition came through the town. This celebration started in Mexico and came up through California all the way to San Francisco, with descendants of the colonists on the expedition and California historians coming in cars and on horseback.

The Sepulveda Adobe Committee of the Malibu Creek State Park Docents continued to quietly celebrate the Feb. 22, 1776 event, and in 1985 it produced the first Juan Bautista de Anza Pageant at the Fire Circle in Malibu Creek State Park.

But there has been a bit of confusion as to whether it is de Anza or Anza. The gentleman was christened Juan Bautista de Anza, or in English translation "John the Baptist of the house of Anza." He was born in New Spain (presently Mexico) of Basque heritage. Thus he was Criollo, meaning of European descent but born in the New World.

With the passing of his father when he was age 2, he became the "man of the Anza household" and thus took the name Anza. That is how he always signed his name. He never signed "de Anza."

Both Meredith Caplan, formerly of the National Park Service's Department of the Anza Trail and her present replacement, Dr. Stanley Bond, agree that when one is referring to the man, the correct term is Anza. However, when one is referring to the expedition of Anza, de Anza is acceptable. Thus de Anza Park honors the expedition which camped near the area of the park rather than its leader, Anza. Robin G. Mitchell Calabasas Anza Heritage Association, past president