Friends of the Yolo County Archives

08/16/2024

The 1926 Official Map of Yolo County is on display at the Yolo County Fair Museum. Drop by for a closer look during the .

07/16/2024

Special Event: History of Vinyl--From Wax Cylinders to the Beatles
Presenter: Sarah Bartlett, County Curator
Date and Time: Monday, July 29th, 6:30 PM
Location: Mary L. Stephens Branch of the Yolo County Library
315 E. 14th Street, Davis, California

Join County Curator Sarah Bartlett as she discusses the invention of sound recording technology and the artists who changed the way albums and vinyl were created. This presentation is in collaboration with the Evolution of Sound Exhibition at the Gibson House at 512 Gibson Road.

The Evolution of Sound Exhibition tracks the way that audiences have listened to musical performances from the 18th century to today. Explore objects from opera to the electronic radio and see how one led to the other. Come and learn about the development of the record player and the many different types of early sound recording showcased within the Yolo County Historical Collection.
Exhibition Open Hours
Tuesdays and Thursdays | 12:00-4:00pm
Third Saturday of the Month | 8:00am - 4:00pm

05/12/2024

* Gloria Garcia - Charlotte Joyce Apodaca Lucero *
* A special Mother’s Day tribute from *
* Friends of Yolo County Archives *

As an introduction, Linda Henigan writes: "My mother, Eleanor Martin Emison, loved this region, wrote about its history in the Daily Democrat, and volunteered at Archives, the Gibson Museum, the Yolo County Historical Society, The Stroll Through History, the City of Woodland Historical Preservation Committee, the Woodland Opera House, and created with her husband Woodland’s first walking tour booklet. She would be thrilled to know that her grandson, Chad Martin Burns, graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in History and that her great-grandson, Cooper Allen, also graduated from William Jessup University with a degree in History.

"Inheriting my mother’s love of history, I’m delighted to share this Mother’s Day the stories of two very special Yolo County women - both mothers and grandmothers - Gloria Garcia and Charlotte Apodaca Lucero. Both of these extraordinary women are about service!

"Charlotte and I attended Di**le Elementary and Woodland High and reconnected at UC Davis where we were both working. I’ve never met Gloria Garcia, but came to know her through her daughters, Mini and Lucy Garcia-Robles, and knew of her compassionate care facility in Woodland when I began assisting in the reopening of St. John’s Retirement Village.

"Here’s to two remarkable women who have given a lifetime of service. May Gloria and Charlotte inspire you. "

—————
* Gloria García: A Life of *
* Dedication, Compassion, and Culinary Delight *
* by Lucy Garcia-Robles *

“Gloria García, the founder of Gloria's Country Care in Woodland, California, has been a beacon of hope and care in the community for over three decades. Born into a modest family in Mexico, Gloria, alongside her then-husband Luis, dreamed of a better future for their growing family. In 1973, with immense courage and determination, they left their homeland and two young daughters behind, crossing into the United States in search of the American Dream.

"Settling in Woodland California, Gloria and Luis faced numerous challenges, working menial jobs with low wages. Despite the hardships, their unyielding spirit and resilience shone through as they tirelessly worked to reunite with their daughters and build a stable life. Their family grew up in the United States, where they had three more children, totaling three girls and two boys. Their journey is a testament to the sacrifices many immigrant families make for the hope of a brighter future.

"Inspired by her experiences and driven by a profound sense of compassion, Gloria founded Gloria's Country Care. Her approach to elderly care was revolutionary—rooted in pure love, kindness, and patience. Gloria's Country Care quickly became renowned for its exceptional care, often nurturing the most frail elderly back to health.

"In addition to her dedication to care, Gloria was an exceptional cook. Known for her homemade tamales and corn tortillas, she made sure that everyone, including residents and their families, had a place at the table, creating a warm and inclusive community atmosphere.

"Gloria García's life story is one of perseverance, love, culinary delight, and unwavering dedication. Her legacy continues to inspire and influence those around her, making her a true pillar of the community. Now retired, Gloria enjoys her days surrounded by a loving family of 14 grandchildren and, this year, the joy will grow with the addition of 7 great-grandchildren.”

——————
* Charlotte Apodaca Lucero, MSW *
* MY JOURNEY - Who am I anyway? *
* A Memoir for My Grandchildren (excerpt) *

“Charlotte Joyce Apodaca Lucero was born and raised in Woodland, CA, where she attended grammar and high school, is a retired UC Davis employee, UC Davis Alumna, Returning Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), and a Davis resident since 1976.

"When her children went off to college, she too returned to complete her bachelor’s degree and graduated in 1997 from UC Davis in Women’s Studies, with an emphasis on ethnic studies. Upon retirement from UC Davis School of Medicine in 2002, she joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to Ecuador from 2003 to 2005. Upon return from her Peace Corps tour and inspired by her Ecuadorian work as a Youth and Families counselor, she pursued a master’s degree in social work, graduating in 2010 from San Jose State University.

"She returned to Yolo County and worked for three non-profits (Empower Yolo, Rural Innovation in Social Economics [RISE], and Yolo County Housing Authority: being of service to the most vulnerable population of Yolo County was her personal goal and mission.

"She is a founding board member of Faces of Tomorrow (FOT), a non-profit medical organization based in Davis (doctors provide free surgical services to children born with cleft lip/palate in developing countries [facesoftomorrow.org]). She has been on fifteen separate medical missions in the countries of Ecuador and the Philippines.

"She served as an Adjunct Professor / Field Instructor for Sacramento State University, Division of Social Work, and for Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas, for online distance majors in the master’s program of social work. She promoted and believed in continuing education and served as a faculty member for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of California, Davis. She served on the OLLI Board at the University of California, Davis, from 2018 to 2020.”

Linda Henigan adds: "To understand how remarkable Charlotte’s lifetime of achievements is, it's necessary to understand what she faced as a young Mexican American girl in the ‘50s and ‘60s growing up in Yolo County. Charlotte’s memoir to her 12 grandchildren is an honest portrayal of overcoming prejudices, making difficult decisions, and becoming the role model where education became the path to achieving a life of service and a vision for her family."

——————
Charlotte’s Memoir and photos and Gloria’s story and photos will be permanently housed in the collections of the Yolo County Archives and available for folks to read.

05/10/2024

Fashionable hats from the past. . . .

05/10/2024

A good crowd for Mel's presentation in Yolo. . . .

05/06/2024

The Winters Japantown Monument features a photo from the Yolo County Archives. Thank you, and !

05/02/2024

Today is the day! Support the Yolo County Archives by donating on this Big Day of Giving!

Visit https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/organization/FYCA.

Collections at the can only be made available to the community through the work of staff and volunteers. With your support, we can fund two Extra Help library assistant positions to continue processing, digitizing, and cataloging our materials.

Here are a couple of the collections that we were able to work on last year with funding from Big Day of Giving:

Yolo County Historical Resources Survey Records (Acc. 1997-017) – 5 boxes of back up documentation, maps and photographs of properties considered for inclusion in the 1986 Yolo County Historic Resources Survey. Also includes properties excluded from final report.

The Gerda Faye Collection (Acc. 2020-019, 2021-031, 2022-021) – 9.5 boxes of business records of Meier's Garage in Woodland; tax documents, family photos, and other personal items from Fred and Gertrude Meier; Woodland High School Orange and White and ILEX yearbooks; books about the history of California; and assorted Yolo County ephemera collected by Gerda Faye, including but not limited to posters for events, news clippings, maps and brochures, Farm Bureau programs, and postcards.

Schools and School Districts Collection (Acc. 1995-007) – 5.5 boxes of notes, reports, directories, newspaper clippings, Xeroxed photographs, school histories, and some primary source materials. Information covers public schools, Hesperian College, UC Davis, Yuba College, DQ University.

Wilderness Record 1976-1985 (Acc. 2024-006) – 2 boxes of The Wilderness Record, a printed newsletter from the California Wilderness Coalition (now known as CalWild), published from the inception of the Coalition in 1976 until 2011, when it was replaced by email newsletters. Its purpose was to inform concerned citizens all over the state about threats to wildlands and opportunities to preserve them. It became a chronicle of a crucial 35 years of the wilderness movement in California.

Find more collections at the Yolo County Archives by searching the online database: https://yc-ais.axiellhosting.com/home

05/01/2024

This Big Day of Giving help support the Archives’ work of digitizing and making collections available online!

Go to https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/organization/FYCA

Did you know that you can search the Yolo County Archives’ online catalog from home?

Go to https://yc-ais.axiellhosting.com/home

Type in names of family members, towns, or other keywords to find collections, photographs, maps, and other items that are housed at the Yolo County Archives.

Having trouble finding what you want?

Check out these two videos to learn how to search the database:

Introduction to online database - https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=7OX8V4_g0Gk&list=PL4fHbUHQJZH5XZvaKzJqaCxG8DDcVHp3k&in
dex=13

How to: Simple Search - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__8zFYreneo&list=PL4fHbUHQJZH5XZvaKzJqaCxG8DDcVHp3k&ind
ex=14

04/30/2024

Support digitization and preservation of digital collections at the Yolo County Archives during this year's Big Day of Giving.

Go to https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/organization/FYCA.

Help us preserve Yolo County History! The is working to digitize materials that are of high research value, help to document the history of the County, and add another layer of preservation for the items themselves.

Dedicated to supporting the work of the Yolo County Archives.

04/22/2024

FYCA's Spring 2024 Archives Ledger is out!

• Women's History Month (Heather Lanctot)
• New Collections at the Archives (Heather Lanctot)
• Archives Awarded Stroll Through History Grant
• Interesting Research about West Sacramento
• Basil C. Williams, Buffalo Soldier II (Mel Russell)
• Tom Crisp Honored With Yolo Philanthropy Award
• May Board Meeting will be in West Sacramento
• Big Day of Giving is Thursday, May 2.

Read the here: www.friendsyca.org

04/20/2024

Food Will Win the War
Yolo County's Agriculture Efforts During WWI
Saturday, April 27th, 2024, 2-3:30 pm
Yolo Branch Library
37750 Sacramento Street, Yolo

This 50-minute visual presentation by Mel Russell tells the story of how vital agriculture was to the winning of the First World War and the part played by the people of Dunnigan, Zamora, and Yolo in the county’s all-out efforts to maximize agricultural output.

Using early photographs of the area and powerful propaganda posters from the war, Mel will discuss the local efforts in food production and conservation during the “War to End All Wars.”

04/12/2024

This week we are celebrating our library partners in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) for ! The national observance is organized by the (ALA) and observed by all types of libraries across the country each April. This year’s theme is “Ready, Set, Library,” to honor the significant role that libraries play in connecting with others and the impact that librarians and library workers have on their communities. How will you be celebrating libraries this year?

“What about the Library?” Campaign Button, 1980-1990, Secretary of State Records, California State Archives, 97-01-05(17)

02/26/2024

Yolo County Day of Remembrance
Monday, February 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM
Veteran's Memorial Theatre in Davis
Doors open at 5:30 PM

02/03/2024

FYCA's Winter 2024 Archives Ledger is out!

• Archives Update: Emergency Preparedness
• Curriculum for 3rd and 4th Grade Students
• Interesting Research in Clarksburg
• Tom Crisp Honored With Yolo Philanthropy Award
• Joann Leach Larkey: An Appreciation
• 608 College Street: The Lost Jackson-Curtiss House
• Basil C. Williams, Buffalo Soldier
• Winters Museum: Looking Back at Winters’ History

Read the here: www.friendsyca.org

01/24/2024

Learn how UC Davis used the collections of the in their research project involving a local restaurant.

01/21/2024

Please note that the photo, which will be the centerpiece of the monument, was provided by the Yolo County Archives!

SAVE THE DATE: The Dedication Ceremony for the Japantown Monument will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Winters Rotary Park. Additional details will be available soon.

[Photo: Nishida funeral gathering, 1930. Yolo County Archives]

10/18/2023

We appreciate the fact that Yolo County includes the in our great Yolo County Library system.

10/08/2023

Rachel and Heather represented the and the Yolo County Library at the Sacramento Archives Crawl on Saturday, October 7.

10/07/2023

Happy Stroll Through History!

10/07/2023

We had a great time this morning at the Stroll Through History! Many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who keep local history alive in our communities. Jim Lapsley gave a great walking tour highlighting his research at the Yolo County Archives. Friends of the Yolo County Archives Yolo County Yolo County Library

09/02/2023

Heather Lanctot, Yolo County Archives & Records Center Coordinator, and Sarah Bartlett, Museum Curator for the Yolo County Historic Collection, met with Gloria Lopez and Tom Crisp, Winters Museum Curators, at the Winters Museum in August. In the photo, left to right, are Gloria, Sarah, Heather, and Tom. (They wanted to shoot pool, but the table was covered with photos.)

08/29/2023

FYCA's Summer 2023 Newsletter is out now!

• Archives Updates: Digitization Progress, Collection Highlight
• Archives Updates: Winters Mural Research, Fun Findings
• Archives Work Completed with FYCA Financial Support
• "Never Forget Garden" at Davis Cemetery
• Results from Big Day of Giving
• FYCA Board Meeting Report
• Welcoming Two New Board Members

Read the here: www.friendsyca.org

08/09/2023

Welcome, Sarah! -- In the latest Archives Quarterly Report, Heather Lanctot writes: "We are excited to welcome Sarah Bartlett, our new Museum Curator for the Historical Collection. Sarah has bachelors degrees in Anthropology, Classical Studies, and Political Science and a masters degree in Anthropology. Her experience with museums includes curation of digital and physical exhibits as well as training and certification in preservation. Sarah has also worked as a docent at a Victorian-era house museum."

06/18/2023

Heather and Mel welcomed the to the on Thursday 06/15. Thanks, Heather! Thanks, Mel!

06/11/2023

The has many' resources for conducting property research in . Take a look at the recent publication--"Property Research"-- and find many useful tips.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YopyeRYJIDaOo6pmC9oA4qRRdHzXRSY-/view?usp=drive_link

05/13/2023

! The Yolo County Fair Museum will be open on Saturday 6/10 from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Admission is free. Enter through the Gum Avenue gate and follow the signs.

! The Winters Museum shared a dozen photos from its collection including some of Winters and Monticello by Dorothea Lange and Pirkle Jones.

05/05/2023

Thanks to everyone for supporting the Friends and the during !

05/02/2023

Heather Lanctot, Yolo County Archives & Records Center Coordinator, shares a special message about this year's Big Day of Giving.

FYCA's Big Day of Giving Donation Page: https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/donate/fyca

04/25/2023

The is able to scan maps like those shared in this post as a result of donations made during last year's . Please help us continue to fund this work with a donation!

Go to: https://bigdayofgiving.org/organization/fyca

04/23/2023

FYCA's Spring 2023 Archives Ledger is out!

• Welcoming Diana Lopez as Yolo County Librarian
• Archives Updates: Digitization & Research
• Recent Event: Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories
• Lest We Forget Project: Looking For Relatives of WWI Veterans
• Talented San Francisco Architects Left a Woodland Legacy
• Stories from Winters Sports at Winters Museum
• Big Day of Giving is Thursday, May 4

Read the here: www.friendsyca.org