A direct descendant of Justinian Caire, his father was the distinguished lawyer, Pier Gherini. His access to personal and legal papers concerning Santa Cruz Island has greatly enhanced the value of this study. Doyce B. Nunis, Jr., Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Southern Cailfornia, editor of Southern California Quarterly, and is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the West, Contemporary Authors and the new edition of Howard Lamar's Encyclopedia of the American West. Marla Daily is the President of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation.