Lafayette Historical Society

Lafayette, California

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Oral History: Steve Falk — January 29th, 2009

January 8, 2020 Leave a Comment

Steve Falk, Lafayette’s City Manager from 1991 to 2018, was interviewed by Brenda Heppler on January 15th, 2009. He describes Lafayette as a community which has, for decades, attracted people who were committed to good schools and to education in general. Soon after arriving, Steve became part of a citizens’ group that recognized that the […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Oral History

(January 26, 2020) Speaker Series: “How Eminent Domain Changed Lamorinda”

December 19, 2019 Leave a Comment

Our program has been rescheduled and will be of interest to everyone in Lamorinda! Imagine being told that the land your home sits on will become part of a reservoir that will not even benefit local residents. Or that your back yard was needed for a freeway. Eminent domain refers to the power of the […]

Filed Under: 2020, Events

From Local Food Adventures, Breakfast With Santa (an Event Benefiting the Lafayette Historical Society)

November 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Breakfast with Santa: Sunday, December 15 8:30 – 10 am Sideboard Lafayette $29 for adults, $20 for seniors, and kids 12 and younger In addition to a delicious pancake breakfast, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with Santa and take part in a silent auction. 100% of the proceeds go to the Lafayette Historical Society. […]

Filed Under: 2019, Events

Oral History: Francis Ebert — February 21st, 2008

October 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

Francis Ebert was interviewed by Nancy Sherman on February 21, 2008. Dr. Ebert grew in Marysville and Yuba City and lived and worked in several other parts of Northern California before he succeeded the long-tenured Bill Ellis as Lafayette Superintendent of Schools in 1962. Among all the communities he and his wife lived in Lafayette […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Oral History

Oral History: Anne Cain — July 16th, 2009

October 15, 2019 Leave a Comment

Anne Cain, Head Librarian for Contra Costa County, was interviewed on July 16, 2009, by George McLain. An active participant in the process to create the new library, Anne was specifically responsible for making sure the building was built to operate efficiently. Anne’s 37-years of experience as a librarian gave her a broad perspective for […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Oral History

(Cancelled, but will reschedule) Speaker Series: “How Eminent Domain Changed Lamorinda”

September 26, 2019 5 Comments

So sorry to have to inform you that our Program has been cancelled do to the probable power outage. We are very disappointed and will reschedule this at another date. “How Eminent Domain Changed Lamorinda” – Stuart Swiedler This Program is of interest to everyone in Lamorinda Imagine being told that the land your home […]

Filed Under: 2019, Events

Oral History: Lucille “Lue” Jones — April 27th, 2007

September 24, 2019 1 Comment

Lucille “Lue” Jones moved to Lafayette at age 6 in 1927. Her father came here to work on building the Lafayette Reservoir. In this interview she shares memories of growing up in Lafayette at that time and of Carrie Van Meter, the town librarian, who would always tell you what book you were going to […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Oral History

Oral History: Mike Gilson — October 7th, 2009

September 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

From the time he arrived in Lafayette in 1990, Mike Gilson became an active supporter of local non-profit organizations: the Town Hall Theater, the War Veterans Memorial Hall, and, starting in 1994, the committee formed by a group of citizens to develop what would become the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Like several other members […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Oral History

Oral History: Jon Frank — October 31st, 2008

July 23, 2019 Leave a Comment

Jon Frank was Superintendent of the Lafayette School District for a 10-year period ending in 2003. He was interviewed by Nancie Sherman on October 31st, 2008. Jon was part of the original ad-hoc committee that began meeting in the mid 1990’s to lay the groundwork for a new library–“one which would make it possible to […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Oral History

Oral History: Tom & Karen Mulvaney — April 6th, 2009

July 16, 2019 Leave a Comment

Karen and Tom were interviewed by Nancie Sherman on March 16, 2009. From the time they moved to Lafayette in 1987 both of them had been actively involved in the local schools. Feeling that the 1952 library was no longer meeting the city’s needs, they soon joined and helped to lead the effort to plan, […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Oral History

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Location and Hours

History Room
open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Lafayette Library
& Learning Center,
enter on Golden Gate Way
925-385-2297


Mailing Address: PO Box 133 Lafayette, CA 94549

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Your Memories Tell The Story of Lafayette

Memories of living and working in Lafayette are precious. Let us help you share those memories with others who value the town’s history. Call the Lafayette Historical Society’s Oral History line to set up a brief oral history phone interview with one of our friendly volunteers. Together, we can preserve the vibrant narrative of our town for generations to come.


Call 925-297-5397

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Recent Posts

  • Oral History: Marty Brinckerhoff — August, 2024
  • Oral History: Kim Conti Clutts — August 7, 2024
  • Oral History: John D. (Johnny) Marchant — March 23, 2025
  • In Case You Missed It…You Can Now Watch Our Program On Prohibition In Lamorinda
  • Speaker Series: Prohibition in Lamorinda: Temperance leaders, law enforcement, and the saloons, resorts, moonshiners, and blind pigs they shut down

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