Lafayette Historical Society

Lafayette, California

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Oral History: Guy Atwood — May 19th, 2016

November 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

Summary: In this interview, Guy Atwood—Lafayette’s 1994 Citizen of the Year honoree—looks back on his 43 years of active involvement in civic affairs. As a 5-year member (also serving two terms as chair) of the Planning Commission, Guy drafted Lafayette’s original Hillside and Open Space Ordinances. He was also closely involved with the effort to […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Government, Oral History

Oral History: Adelaide Gerow (Allen) — June 28th, 1962

November 15, 2016 Leave a Comment

In one of our oldest oral histories, conducted in 1962, Dorothy Mutnick interviews Adelaide Gerow (Allen) at age 94. “Aunt Addie” shares her own memories of Lafayette at the end of the 19th century, and also recounts stories which were told to her by family members who actually accompanied Elam Brown and Margaret Allen on […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Oral History, Pioneer

Oral History: Nancy Flood — July 2nd, 2008

November 11, 2016 1 Comment

Nancy Flood’s family first settled in Lafayette during the 1850s. Each generation of her family contributed to the development of Lafayette in many ways. Nancy has lived here all her life. She taught in Lafayette schools for 41 years. She is active in the Lafayette Improvement Association and Lafayette Town Hall. She is also a […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: 2009 Library Project, Early Settlers, Education, Oral History

Oral History: Anne Grodin — May 12th, 2009

November 11, 2016 Leave a Comment

Anne Grodin was Mayor of Lafayette from 1993 to 1994 and Citizen of the Year in 1999. She discusses all of the complications and work involved in the development of the Lafayette Library, which opened in the Fall of 2009.

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

Oral History: Bob Bru — March 7th, 2014

October 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

Bob Bru was born in London, England. He was raised, and went to school in New York City. He served as a navigator on a B17 bomber during World War II. He spent the last two years of the war as a POW. After the war, he decided to relocate to the West Coast, and […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Business, Oral History

Oral History: Franke Family — March 6th, 1978

October 11, 2016 Leave a Comment

In the early 1930s, Rudolph Franke purchased 10-plus acres in Happy Valley near where Los Arabis Road is today. The property was initially used as a summer retreat. Mr. Franke later added a pool, a pavilion for hosting larger parties, and then built a year-round family home in 1937. Additional parts of the original Franke […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Early Resident, Oral History

Oral History: Theron Nelson — May 2nd, 2014

August 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

Summary: Theron Nelson is a Lafayette resident since 1950. He was instrumental in forming the Laf-Frantics in 1956. The Lafayette Community Center acquired an 11-acre property on St. Marys Road, which is now Buckeye Fields that is home of the Lafayette Little League. Oral History: Ryan McKinley: This is an Oral History interview with Mr. […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Oral History, Performing Arts

Oral History: Bill Wakeman

August 11, 2016 1 Comment

Bill’s parents bought land in the center of Lafayette and built a house in 1918. In this interview he talks about growing up here in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. Lafayette School was easy to get to, but after that he had to take the Sacramento Northern train to Mount Diablo High School in Concord. […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Early Resident, Government, Oral History

Oral History: Jennie Bickerstaff – 1957

August 9, 2016 Leave a Comment

This is a recording of a talk she gave to the Contra Costa Historical Society In 1957 when she was 85 years old. Her talk includes stories about the founders, other pioneers, and about life in early Lafayette. As a little girl, Jennie first came to Lafayette in 1877 from Pennsylvania and again in 1879 […]

Filed Under: Oral History Tagged With: Education, Oral History, Pioneer

Oral History: Fern Powell Davis – September 14th, 1976

July 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

Summary: An Interview with Fern Powell Davis by Angela Broadhead and Bronwen Heuer. Mrs. Davis, a retired teacher and school librarian, talks of the 1930′s, 1940′s and 1950′s in Lafayette. Mrs. Davis was born on March 17, 1899; she was interviewed in her home on Sept. 14, 1976. Oral History: Q: Fern, The Lafayette Historical […]

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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