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 […]
Oral History: Sally Bellenger — January 22nd, 2008
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 […]
Oral History: Ann Meredith — November 5th, 2008
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 […]
Oral History: Diane Kisner — May 14th, 2008
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 […]
Lafayette Library Display – A Farmer’s Journey: Elam Brown’s Path to California
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 […]
Oral History: Anna Koch — May 27th, 2008
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 […]
Oral History: Marge Dubbs — May 9th, 2024
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 […]
From The Archives: Millicent Hamburger: When I Dance — Acalanes Dance Group, Sandra Bagnall 2002
In 1941, the principal of the new Acalanes High School hired Millicent Hamburger, a trained and talented dance instructor from New York City, to be an English teacher and to establish a dance program for interested students. She would go to inspire and direct the Acalanes Dance Group for 30 years, after which she returned […]
From The Archives: Acalanes Class of 1968 Reunion, August 25, 2018
On August 25, 2018, the 50th reunion class celebrated in grand style at the Orinda Country Club. The well-attended event featured a full buffet dinner, dancing to a live band, and a solemn tribute to the 56 members of the class who were no longer living. It was an unforgettable evening for a cohort of […]
From The Archives: 2001 Acalanes 50th Reunion Classes of 1951-1952
The Acalanes High School classes of 1951 and 1952 celebrated their 50th reunion on September 29, 2001 at the Marriott Hotel in Walnut Creek. In this video made at the event several of the attendees speak about their lives and careers, and look back upon their high school experiences.
