Biography
The Bernal Family resided in the San Francisco Bay area during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Carmen Sibrian de Bernal, who was born at San Juan Bautista Mission on April 14, 1804 (Early California Population Project baptism SJB 01300) married Jose Cornelio Bernal on June 26, 1819 at Santa Clara Mission (ECPP marriage SCL 01883). As these documents reveal, Carmen Sibrian de Bernal assumed a greater role in the family’s legal and financial matters after the death of her husband in November 1850 (ECPP death SFD 05614). The documents also demonstrate that the couple’s son, José de Jesus Bernal, born circa December 26, 1830 at San Francisco Mission (ECPP baptism SFD 06528c), also took an active role in the family’s dealings, particularly in real estate affairs. José de Jesus Bernal eventually married Geronima Rufino, whose family members also contributed to this collection. Other persons who had familial ties to the Bernals include members of the Vasquez and Higuera families. Other associates include members of the Italian and Euro-American communities in the San Francisco area.
From the guide to the Bernal Family Papers, 1849-circa 1896, (The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department)
