Lafayette Historical Society

Lafayette, California

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Oral History: Susan Weaver — November 25th, 2008

January 23, 2025 Leave a Comment

Susan Weaver Title Card

Summary: Susan Weaver was interviewed on November 25, 2008, by Mary McCosker. As a professional librarian working for the country, she was the last manager of the “old library,” which opened in 1962, and the first at the new (2009) library. Having lost her hearing at age 2, Susan showed an interest throughout her career […]

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

Oral History: Rick & Janet Cronk — March 27th, 2009

January 15, 2025 Leave a Comment

Rick And Janet Cronk Title Card

Summary: Rick and Janet Cronk were interviewed by Nancie Sherman on March 27, 2009. Rick grew up in Montclair and Janet in Palo Alto. They met when they were both students at Berkeley. Later they moved to Lafayette and raised their family here, and Rick spent thirty years growing Dreyers into the largest ice cream […]

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

Oral History: Robi Duncan — April 3rd, 2009

January 1, 2025 Leave a Comment

Summary: Robi Duncan, Senior Clerk at the old Lafayette Library, was interviewed by Mary McCosker on April 3, 2009. Robi grew up in Concord, but she had spent three months living with her grandmother in Lafayette, and going to school here, while her family was building a new home. She returned to serve the Lafayette […]

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

Oral History: Dorothy Walker — October 13th, 2009

December 10, 2024 Leave a Comment

Dorothy Walker Title Card

Summary: Dorothy Walker was interviewed by Brenda Hepler on October 13, 2009. She had grown up in San Rafael, where libraries played an important role in her childhood. After her family moved to Lafayette in 1956 Dorothy went to Acalanes High School and then to UC Berkeley, where she became a teacher and stayed on […]

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

Oral History: Sally Bellenger — January 22nd, 2008

December 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

Summary: Sally Bellenger was interviewed by Nancy Sherman on January 22, 2008, during the time that construction of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center was under way. She arrived in Lafayette in 1971, choosing the community for its good schools and its values. In this interview Sally describes how a group of dedicated and hard […]

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

Oral History: Ann Meredith — November 5th, 2008

November 26, 2024 Leave a Comment

Summary: Ann was interviewed by Brenda Hepler on November 5, 2008. As the City of Lafayette’s Community Development Director, she was closely involved with the Library Project from 2001 onward. She played a major role in the selection and acquisition of the building site, the selection of the architect, creation of the consortium, development of […]

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

Oral History: Diane Kisner — May 14th, 2008

November 21, 2024 Leave a Comment

Diane Kisner Title Card

Summary: Diane Kisner was interviewed by Pat Riegg on May 14, 2008. As the co-founder and head of the Merriewood Children’s Center, which offered a variety of pre-school and after school programs, Diane was an important figure in the field of early childhood education in Lafayette. From the start she was an enthusiastic supporter of […]

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

Lafayette Library Display – A Farmer’s Journey: Elam Brown’s Path to California

November 2, 2024 Leave a Comment

A Farmers Journey Display

We all know about Elam and Margaret (Allen then) Brown taking a wagon train to California in 1846, but do we really know what that was like? The display in the library is about their specific journey, the route, the hardships, the successes. It answers questions that may have occurred such as, “Why do we […]

Filed Under: Display Tagged With: Display

Oral History: Anna Koch — May 27th, 2008

October 5, 2024 Leave a Comment

Summary: Anna Koch was interviewed by Brenda Hepler on May 27, 2008. She was born and raised in San Francisco, and became interested in reading and in going to the library at a very young age. After high school she enrolled in a library technology program and worked in a library part-time instead of pursuing […]

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

Oral History: Marge Dubbs — May 9th, 2024

July 20, 2024 Leave a Comment

Summary: Marge Dubbs was interviewed by Andree Hurst on May 9, 2024. Now at age 100, Marge has spent just over half of her life as a Lafayette resident. Her husband was a mechanical and safety engineer who traveled for work most of the time. Marge worked also, but always locally. She made use of […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Early Resident, 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: Maeve Pessis — July 22, 2009
  • Lafayette Library Display – Honoring the Bicentennial Farewell Tour of the Marquis de Lafayette
  • Oral History: Gwen Lennox — August 8th, 2009
  • Oral History: Lois Laine — June 12th, 2009
  • Out Of The Archives: The 1942 Acalanes High School Yearbook

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