Two Peoples, One Place: Humboldt History, Volume 1 

by Ray Raphael & Freeman House

Humboldt County Historical Society, 2007

Co-authored with Freeman House (Totem Salmon), this is Volume 1 of the Humboldt History series, published by the Humboldt Country Historical Society and the Writing Humboldt History Project. In addition to studying the Revolutionary Era, Raphael has been writing about the local and regional  history of Northwest California, his home, for over three decades. This work is an in-depth look at the history of Humboldt County until 1882. Before the influx of Euro-Americans in 1850, some 60 distinct groups of Native peoples lived within the region we now call Humboldt. Newcomers and original inhabitants had come into occasional contact since 1775, but then suddenly, within the time frame of a single generation, the newly introduced culture altered the course of Humboldt’s human and natural history. Forces were set in motion that shaped the course of all future events, down to our own time and beyond. Two Peoples, One Place chronicles the interactions between two very different traditions and their particular ways of relating to the single place they both wanted to inhabit.

“A comprehensive history of a frontier community. … Two Peoples, One Place exemplifies the best of four decades of rich community studies. … While [Raphael’s] focus is Humboldt County, his findings have much wider implications, as well as being a fascinating account for the popular reader.” — San Francisco Chronicle
link to complete review

“A fascinating and incredibly well-researched account of early life in our community. Everyone who lives here should have a copy of this book. Buy one for you neighbors, one for your kids’ teacher, one for your school library, and stash one in your guest room to satisfy your friends’ curiosity about how this place came to be.” — North Coast Journal of Politics, People, and Art

“Two Peoples, One Place could serve as a model for producing outstanding community history.” — Fort Bragg-Mendocino Coast Historical Society

“Raphael and House's history is a feast for the eyes while detailing the making and exploiting of a little-known but important Western region. … This is a wonderful compendium about the interplay of human cultures and natural systems of a very unique bioregion.” — Planet Drum Pulse

“The book your teachers wish was written earlier.” — Econews

“A splendid homage to local people and history. What an opulent gift to the place where you live.” — Malcolm Margolin, Publisher, News from Native California