NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) — A Spanish historian will speak in New Iberia about the city's Spanish founders.

José Manuel de Molina Bautista will talk about the 16 families who came to Louisiana from Malaga, Spain, under Gov. Bernardo de Galvez.

Molina Bautista will share his research about their journey to the colony in the 1700s and their early troubles and triumphs in Nueva Iberia. Family names such as Segura, Romero, Viator and Gary are all Malagueño surnames.

The Center for Louisiana Studies is sponsoring Molina Bautista's presentation at the South Regional Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. It's free.

The Spanish history of New Iberia will be further celebrated that weekend at El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia in the town's Bouligny Plaza.

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