Berkeley Historical Society

Join us on Saturday, October 3 for a virtual tour of the Bateman (not Batman) Street neighborhood with Bob Johnson: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/berkeleys-bateman-neighborhood

We've just published a new book, A Life in Cooperatives, 1938-1992: Robert K. (Bob) March, the Berkeley Co-op and the Cooperative Movement. Its 128 pages include Therese Pipe's oral history interview with Bob March (the second full-time employee of the Berkeley Co-op), an epilogue by Bob Shildgen, excerpts from March's MA thesis on Christianity and the co-op movement, and illustrations galore that document the 50-year history of the Consumers Cooperative of Berkeley and various affiliated organizations. Call BHS, 510-848-0181, or email [email protected] if you'd like to make an appointment to buy a copy ($22 retail including tax, $20 for members). Or you can order it here: https://store.bookbaby.com/bookshop/book/index.aspx

A good place to learn about the history of "the heart of Berkeley" is this online exhibit: http://www.mcgeespauldingexhibit.org. For a list of other online resources, see http://www.berkeleyhistoricalsociety.org/online-resources.h.

Today is when we had hoped to open our exhibit on Berkeley's Fascination with Food. We're still wondering when that might be feasible. In the meantime, we invite you to participate in our Berkeley History Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/berkeleyhistory/

BHS was mentioned in a Berkeleyside article about the Civic Center visioning process: https://www.berkeleyside.com//can-berkeleys-civic-center-b. Note that there will be tours of Old City Hall and the Veterans Building available tomorrow, Sat. Mar. 8. If you want input into the visioning process, this month is the time!

It's Black History Month! What better time to visit the Berkeley Historical Society's exhibit, "African Americans in Berkeley, Part 1" and/or reserve your seat at our Feb. 23 showing of an amazing film, "Gina's Journey: The Search for William Grimes," where you can meet the author of the book it's based on, Regina Mason.

This ties in with our current exhibit on African Americans in Berkeley: Four Families

The Veterans Building that houses the Berkeley History Center is one of many built around the country in the 1920s as memorials to World War I. Read about an early Berkeley discussion 100 years ago here: https://www.eastbaytimes.com//berkeley-a-look-back-city-l/

Looking at "Berkeley, A Look Back" Enough of WWII! Steve Finacom will now be reprising news of Berkeley from 100 years ago. https://www.eastbaytimes.com//berkeley-a-look-back-aeropl/

Shattuck Avenue from the corner of Bancroft Way at Christmas time, 1959. The Hotel Shattuck and the American Trust Company (now known as the Wells Fargo Building) can be seen in the background.

Our African American exhibit continues . . .