Lafayette Historical Society

Lafayette, California

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Oral History: Gayle Uilkema — July 15th, 2009

July 16, 2019 1 Comment

Gayle Uilkema was interviewed by Mary McCosker on July 15, 2009. At the time she had served on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors for 13 years, following 18 years of service on the Lafayette City Council. Supervisor Uilkema describes the library project as being the result of a whole lot of very committed, […]

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

Oral History: Judy Carney — June 30th, 2009

July 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

Judy Carney was interviewed on June 30th, 2009. A member of the Vision Task Force that started meeting in 1996 to plan the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center, she was named Lafayette Citizen of the Year in 2009, the year the library opened. Prior to this she served two terms on the Lafayette School […]

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

Oral History: Angela Broadhead — October 11th, 2007

July 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

Angela was interviewed by Mary McCosker on October 11th, 2007. She grew up in Rutherford and graduated from UC Berkeley. When she came to Lafayette in 1956 the library consisted of two rooms in a small house. The room that was dedicated to books for children could hold no more than 100 titles. A newer […]

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

Oral History: Bob Fisher — June 19th, 2009

July 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

In this interview for the Lafayette Library and Learning Center project, Bob Fisher describes in detail the pivotal role he played from 2005-on in the planning, funding, and building of the city’s new library, which quickly became its center of activity. He also played the central role in conceiving and creating the unique Glenn Seaborg […]

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

Oral History: Alice Barnham — May 30th, 2007

July 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

Alice Barnham was interviewed by Brenda Hepler on May 30th, 2007. Alice came to Lafayette in 1974 after living for a brief period in Berkeley. She grew up in South Orange, NJ and was a very active library patron from an early age. Alice became active in Lafayette community affairs first through volunteering with the […]

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

Oral History: Ruth Dyer — August 1st, 2009

July 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

Ruth Dyer was interviewed by Mary McCosker. She grew up in Porterville, where her family grew almonds, and trained to be a teacher at UC Berkeley. She taught in Salinas and Antioch before becoming a history teacher at Acalanes High School in 1951. She taught at Acalanes for 30 years. Ruth was familiar with the […]

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

Oral History: Chris and Dean Coons — February 19th, 2008

July 2, 2019 1 Comment

The Coons were interviewed by Brenda Heppler on February 19th, 2008. They each grew up in Iowa, then moved to Lafayette in 1968 when Dean took a job with Clorox in Oakland. Both became very active in community affairs–he was a member of the Lafayette Community Foundation and she worked professionally in the field of […]

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

Oral History: Ann Appert — May 15th, 2009

July 1, 2019 Leave a Comment

Ann grew up in San Rafael. She attended Cornell and worked on Wall Street for a couple of years before she and her husband returned to the west coast and settled in Lafayette. Ann became involved as a volunteer in the schools, and then, through the Lafayette Community Foundation, became part of a small group […]

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

Oral History: Larry Blodgett — July 18th, 2008

July 1, 2019 Leave a Comment

Larry was interviewed on July 18th, 2008. He had begun a career in the architectural field when, in 1991, he chose instead to become involved in running the family business. He has stayed there ever since, and has also served on the City’s Design Review Commission and with the Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, and […]

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

Oral History: Mary Ann Hoisington — June 19th 2008

July 1, 2019 Leave a Comment

Mary Ann Hoisington was interviewed by Mary McCosker on June 19th, 2008 as part of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center project. She grew up in southern California and moved to Lafayette in 1957 when her husband Bill began attending law school in San Francisco. She has been active in community affairs since that time, […]

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: 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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