The California missions system is often remembered as a picturesque and harmonious and a neutral space of interaction with indigenous populations. These depictions focus on their architecture, vibrant landscapes and smiling priests. Nothing could be farther from the truth: under the guise of "enlightenment" and conversion to Christianity, the function of the missions was to incarcerate and indenture Native Americans in the process of colonial conquest.

Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library and The Huntington Library