Sac History Happenings

Born: July 31, 1944

Known for: A native Sacramentan, Richard Rodriguez is an award-winning essayist and author.

Background: Rodriguez, a Mexican American, grew up in east Sacramento. His family was among the first Latinos to move into the middle-class, white neighborhood. His father worked in a shop that made false teeth. His mother also worked, ultimately as a typist in Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown's office. He used his painful memories about his youthful assimilation in his 1982 autobiography, "Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez." He received a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a master's degree from Columbia University. A contributing editor at New America Media in San Francisco, he was a regular essayist on PBS' "MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour." His other books include "Mexico's Children," "Days of Obligation: An Argument With My Mexican Father," which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and "Brown: The Last Discovery of America." His works have also appeared in numerous magazines.

A highlight: Among his awards, Rodriguez received a 1997 George Foster Peabody Award for his "News Hour" essays on American life.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

The North and Middle Forks of the American River are a natural resource that has undergone great changes beginning with the 1849 Gold Rush. This transformation is documented in dozens of historic photos of bridges, dams, trains, trestles, mining and recreation collected in American River Canyon, a new Arcadia Images of America volume.

Local historians Rodi Lee and Michael G. Lynch accumulated over 1,200 archival images in researching the book. They used photographs from the State Library, UC Berkeley Bancroft Library, Placer County Archives and the Historical Society, and numerous federal and state agencies.

American River Canyon (Images of America), 127 pages, $21.99.

Arcadia Publishing is known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: April 4, 1862
Died: Sept. 28, 1962

Known for: Known as the "father" of UC Davis, Shields formulated the idea in 1899 to place an agriculture school in the Central Valley. In 1905, he wrote most of the legislation to establish the college.

Background: Born in Hangtown Crossing (now part of Rancho Cordova), Shields grew up on a farm, graduated from Christian Brothers College (now high school) and studied law. A law partner of Hiram Johnson, Shields chose the bench while the fiery Johnson opted for politics, eventually becoming California's governor. Shields was elected to a Sacramento Superior Court judgeship in 1900 and held it until he retired in 1949 at age 87. Then for another dozen years, he traveled daily from his 23rd Street home to the law office he maintained downtown. In addition to his judicial duties, his diverse interests included his work as a co-founder of McGeorge School of Law and as an advocate of agricultural education and the improvement of California livestock. He was known for developing a notable herd of Jersey cattle.

A highlight: Shields Library at UC Davis is named for him, as is a Rancho Cordova elementary school.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Local author Len Kovar will appear during the Armed Forces Day celebration at the Aerospace Museum of California this Saturday. He'll be on hand to sign books and share his his war experiences as depicted in the memoir WWII Prisoner of War: How I Survived.

Kovar served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a bombardier-navigator based in Italy. On his 11th mission his B-24 was shot down and he parachuted into Hungary. Eventually the Germans captured him and he suffered as a POW for nine months surviving various camps and forced marches.

Saturday is also Open Cockpit Day at the Museum. it's a special opportunity for kids to explore the inside of many of the aircraft on display. In addition, there will be radio controlled flights by the Mather Aerospace Modelers and other activities throughout the day.

What: Meet the Author: Len Kovar
Where: California Aerospace Museum, 3200 Freedom Park Dr., North Highland
When: May 19, 9 a.m.
Cost: $5 museum admission. Free for active military and their families.
For more info: (916) 643-3192

News release

Born: 1822
Died: Oct. 6, 1881

Known for: Jerome C. Davis was a rancher and landholder for whom the city of Davis, originally called "Davisville," is named.

Background: An Ohio native, Davis arrived in California in 1845 as part of Capt. John C. Fremont's topographical survey expedition. In the early 1850s, Davis started the first dairy in Yolo County with Col. Joseph B. Chiles. With the help of Davis' father, Isaac, the farm prospered until the mid-1860s. Davis deeded the ranch to his father in 1866. A year later, Isaac Davis sold part of his ranch to the California Pacific Railroad. In 1868, the railroad filed a plot for the new town of Davisville. In 1917, the community incorporated. The "ville" was dropped from its name about the same time.

A highlight: In 1905, legislation was approved for the establishment of a state agricultural school. A year later, purchase of 778 acres of the original Jerome C. Davis ranch formed the basis for the University Farm School. It grew into a branch of Berkeley's College of Agriculture in 1922, then into a separate campus - the University of California at Davis - in 1959.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Jan. 13, 1957

Known for: Roseville native Steve Cook captured 15 career titles, including three major championships, on the Professional Bowlers Association tour.

Background: Cook played only baseball at Oakmont High School and didn't begin bowling seriously until age 17. He began competing in junior leagues, then adult leagues. He eventually began practicing every day at Fireside Lanes in Citrus Heights. He joined the PBA tour in 1977, earned $14,500 and was second in Rookie of the Year balloting. The 6-foot-7, 265-pound lefthander became a staple on the sport's televised Saturday broadcasts, appearing 40 times during his 15-year career. He won the 1981 Tournament of Champions, the 1983 Touring Players Championship and the 1986 BPAA U.S. Open. He earned more than $800,000 in prize money during his career. The Granite Bay resident now owns Steve Cook Bowling Supply based in Sacramento.

A highlight: Cook was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Sacramento Bowling Association's Hall of Fame in 2004. He bowled a perfect 300 game 27 times during his pro career.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: April 15, 1898
Died: July 12, 1983

Known for: Guy West was the first president of what became California State University, Sacramento, when the school opened in 1947. He served until 1965.

Background: An Arkansas native, West taught and was an administrator at New Mexico Western College before moving to college in Chico in 1933. There, he was professor, director of research, registrar and dean. In 1947, West was appointed president of then-Sacramento State College. The college shared space with Sacramento Junior (now Community) College until 1953, when classes began on the present east Sacramento site. During his tenure, the campus's buildings and athletic fields took shape, and enrollment increased from 235 in 1947 to 6,282 in the 1964-65 academic year. Enrollment during the 2006-07 academic year reached 28,529.

A highlight: Besides CSUS, the president's legacy lives on with the Guy West Bridge, which opened in 1967 for pedestrians and is modeled after the Golden Gate Bridge. It connects the campus with what is now the Campus Commons neighborhood.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

A mainstay of community journalism, many newspapers run historical columns summarizing news stories from decades gone by. These generally spotlight items from past editions that are published at milestone intervals (25, 50, years ago, etc.). The availability of microfilm copies of the paper make these tidbits easy to find.

If you're interested in Yuba and Sutter County history, check out This Week in Local History, the Marysville Appeal-Democrat timeline feature. Each column references news stories from five, ten, 25, 50 and 100 years in the past, drawing on precursor papers the Marysville Appeal (founded 1860) and Marysville Evening Democrat (founded 1884). You can find past columns on the paper's web site.

The latest item from ten years ago concerned the brisk sale of the Sacramento Kings bobblehead dolls in town. Apparently the debut of last player doll -- Scot Pollard -- brought long lines of buyers to two Marysville-Yuba City Carl's Jr. restaurants. You have to wonder if Kings bobbleheads would generate even a quarter of the interest today.

Incidentally The Associated Press produces its own Today in History that is national and international in scope. You can browse about a year's worth on Sacbee.com. They include those celebrity birthdays you see on page A2 of The Bee.

PHOTO CREDIT: A section of The Appeal-Democrat from Dec. 1955 displaying the devastating flood that almost inundated Marysville. Courtesy Jerry Matthews

Born: May 9, 1969

Known for: Sacramento-based director and screenwriter Joe Carnahan has gained acclaim for his movies, including "Smokin' Aces" and "Narc."

Background: A Delaware native who grew up in Detroit, Carnahan moved to Sacramento and took a job in the promotions department at Channel 31. He made short films before completing the independent movie, "Blood Guts Bullets and Octane," which was filmed in and around Sacramento and shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. His breakthrough came in 2002, with the edgy, violent drama "Narc" starring Ray Liotta and Jason Patric. The film, which cost $2 million to make, earned raves at the Sundance Festival. Most recently, he directed "Smokin' Aces," with an ensemble cast featuring Jeremy Piven.

A highlight: "Narc" was a finalist for Sundance's prestigious Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. A filmmaker with an independent streak, Carnahan told The Bee in 2002: "I'll never leave Sacramento. I find it difficult to work in Los Angeles. ... I do what I want to do. I don't answer to some studio flack. I'd rather make small movies about a couple of people than some big blockbuster."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Award-winning author Kiyo Sato will speak at Sacramento State on her family's experiences in an internment camp during World War II.

Prior to the war, Sato and her eight siblings grew up on a thriving family farm near Sacramento. The 1942 Executive Order 9066 forced them to relocate to the Poston Internment Camp in Arizona. The trauma of moving and giving up everything is recounted in Sato's book Kiyo's Story: a Japanese-American family's quest for the American Dream.

This lecture program also features Mas Hatano, a docent for the California State Railroad Museum and the California State Museum, who was interned at the Tule Lake camp during the war.

What: Kiyo Sato speaking on the Japanese Internment
Where: Foothill Suite, University Union, California State University Sacramento
When: April 18, 12 to 1:15 p.m.
Cost: free
For more info: website

PHOTO CREDIT: Kiyo Sato of Folsom stands at Sacramento City College with her book entitled Kiyo's Story. 2009 Sacramento Bee photograph by Hector Amezcua

Born: Jan. 13, 1950

Known for: Sacramento native Bob Forsch won 168 games, including two no-hitters, during a 16-year pitching career, mainly with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Background: Forsch was a star player at Hiram Johnson High School. He struck out a record six consecutive batters during the 1968 prep playoffs and led the Warriors to the first Tournament of Champions title that year over Grant. Drafted by the Cardinals, he made his major league debut in 1974. He won 20 games in 1977 and led the Cardinals in victories six times. He no-hit the Phillies in 1978 and the Expos in 1983. An excellent hitter, Forsch won the Sporting News' Silver Slugger Award in 1980 and 1987 and hit 12 career home runs. He also played in three World Series with the Cardinals.

Highlights: Forsch's older brother, Ken, threw a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves in 1979, making the Forsches the only siblings to pitch no-hit games in major league history. Ken Forsch also played 16 years in the majors, winning 114 games. Bob Forsch was the winningest pitcher (93 games) in the history of St. Louis' old Busch Stadium, which was demolished in 2005.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Aug. 11, 1831
Died: Jan. 27, 1907

Known for: William Curtis was patriarch of the family partnership that built the Curtis Park neighborhood and donated the land for the neighborhood's park in 1919, stipulating that it be named for Curtis.

Background: A Massachusetts native, Curtis arrived in Sacramento in 1852. Two years later, he took over his brother's 200-acre homestead on what is now Montgomery Way, establishing a farm and dairy. By 1882, Curtis and his wife, Susan, owned the entire southeastern portion of what is now the Curtis Park neighborhood. Curtis was elected to the county Board of Supervisors in 1893 and served for eight years, becoming chairman his last two years. He was a Republican, remembered for improving roads. The Curtis Park neighborhood land was subdivided in three phases: late 1880s, early 1900s and early 1920s.

A highlight: A building boom during the Roaring '20s brought new schools, including Bret Harte and Sierra elementaries (the latter now the Sierra 2 Center), to the area. Nearby, Christian Brothers School and what was then Sacramento Junior College also were built during that decade.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Sierra College's electronic journal, called "The Journal of the Sierra College Natural History Museum," has just published a new issue with a valuable resource for history buffs - a directory of about 200 museums, libraries and other cultural organizations in the Sierra Nevada region.

Seventeen California counties, including Sacramento, are represented in the journal, accompanied by a short, explanatory description of the venue, contact information and a photo gallery. It also features a special section highlighting the Sierra College Natural History Museum.

For more information and to purchase the electronic journal, go to www.jscnhm.org or through the college website at www.sierracollege.edu/press.

-- Sam McManis

Born: July 31, 1943

Known for: Sacramento native Sab Shimono has fashioned a long acting career in television shows, movies and Broadway plays.

Background: Shimono was born in an apartment on Third and L streets in Sacramento. During World War II, Shimono's family was relocated to the Tule Lake camp in Northern California and then to Amache, Colo., as part of Executive Order 9066, which uprooted more than 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry. When Shimono's family returned home, his father opened the Diamond Cafe on K Street. Shimono attended Sacramento High School and then University of California, Berkeley, where he took acting classes. He made his Broadway debut in "Mame," with Angela Lansbury. His film credits include "Presumed Innocent." On TV, he's appeared in "2 1/2 Men", "Friends" "Seinfeld" and "M.A.S.H." He also has won awards for his work in regional theater, including San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

A highlight: He was the voice of Uncle on the hit TV series "Jackie Chan Adventures." He also has provided voice work for "The Simpsons."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Sept. 1, 1937

Known for: Al Geiberger won 11 tournaments on the PGA Tour, including the 1966 PGA Championship. He became the first golfer to break 60 in an official PGA Tour event when he shot a 59 at the Danny Thomas-Memphis Classic in 1977.

Background: Born in Red Bluff, Geiberger grew up in Sacramento, playing often at the nine-hole Land Park course from ages 5 to 15. He won the Land Park Junior Club championship before moving to Santa Barbara as a teenager. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1959 before turning professional and played on the 1967 and 1975 Ryder Cup teams. During his historic 1977 round at the Colonial Country Club, at which he earned the nickname "Mr. 59," he shot a 13-under-par round and remains the only player ever to win a tour event without shooting a round in the 60s. He shot 72-59-72-70 -- 273 (15-under par) in the event. He also won 10 tournaments on the Senior PGA Tour, now called the Champions Tour.

A highlight: Geiberger's son Brent, also a professional golfer, has won two PGA tournaments. Another son, John, is golf coach at Pepperdine University.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Snowy Range Reflections, Sierra College's journal of Sierra Nevada history and biography, observes Women's History Month with an issue devoted to Northern California pioneer women.

On the Sierra Nevada: Women Writers of the 19th Century features excerpts of memoirs, travel sketches and other writings of fourteen remarkable individuals.

Included in this collection are Jessie Benton Fremont's first impressions of the rough and ready life in Mariposa County, Caroline Churchill's sketch of Lake Tahoe as it existed in the 1870s, and Eliza Poor Donner Houghton's memory of death and survival in the fateful winter of 1846-47 at Donner Lake.

Previous editions of Snowy Range Reflections (published twice a year since 2008) may be viewed for free on the Sierra College Press web site.

News release

IMAGE CREDIT: A young Jessie Benton Fremont (wife of explorer and military leader John C. Fremont) in a portrait by T. Buchanan.

Born: March 2, 1819
Died: May 14, 1889

Known for: California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan owned a store at Sutter's Fort during the Gold Rush. He was also a real estate magnate who, with John Sutter Jr., subdivided 4 square miles along the Sacramento River, selling parcels for $200-500.

Background: A Maine native, Brannan moved to Ohio and New York before embarking with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for California via ship around Cape Horn. Brannan established himself in San Francisco before opening the Sutter's Fort store where he stocked gold-panning supplies and profited handsomely. He became a leader of a group of Mormons who staked a claim on what became Mormon Island (now covered by Folsom Lake) but was later excommunicated. During the 1850s and 1860s, he bought land throughout the state and in Hawaii. He lost most of his fortune in a divorce settlement.

A highlight: Brannan's legacy is evident at Brannan Island in the Delta, Sam Brannan Middle School in Sacramento and Brannan Street in San Francisco. He also founded the village of Calistoga.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

This week Arcadia released its latest illustrated book on the history of Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe's West Shore traces the evolution of the "Jewel of the Sierra" from its European discovery in 1844 through its development into one of the world's prime vacation spot.

Author Carol A. Jensen utilized beautiful images borrowed from private collections and archives, such as the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society, the Tahoe Yacht Club, and the California State Library.

Arcadia Publishing is known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Lake Tahoe's West Shore (Images of America), 128 pages, price $21.99.

Born: Sept. 30, 1922
Died: Aug. 4, 1987

Known for: Called "one of California's most influential public officials in the 20th century," Jesse Unruh served as Assembly speaker from 1961 to 1969 and state treasurer from 1975 until his death.

Background: A Kansas native, Unruh hitchhiked to California as a teenager. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Unruh enrolled at the University of Southern California. While still a student, he ran unsuccessfully for the Assembly in 1948. After graduating, he established himself as a grass-roots leader in the Democratic Party. On his third try, in 1954, Unruh won a legislative seat and quickly worked his way up through the ranks. In 1966, Unruh was a key architect of Proposition 1-A, creating the state's full-time Legislature. He unsuccessfully ran for governor against Ronald Reagan in 1970 and for mayor of Los Angeles in 1973.

Highlights: Unruh wrote California's landmark Civil Rights Act and a host of consumer protection, civil liberties and anti-poverty laws. He also turned the obscure state treasurer's office into an investment powerhouse with clout in both the state and nation.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

The Sacramento Public Library is going for broke this year with its Sacramento One Book program, celebrating two books rather than one, according to director Rivkah Sass.

Appropriately for an election year, the library's main book choice is "The Penguin Guide to the United States Constitution" by constitutional scholar Richard Beeman (Penguin, $12, 224 pages), Sass announced.

"The book is set in a small colony where a group of terrorists is plotting the overthrow of a king," Sass joked about the guide to the making of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. "Much like the characters in the movie 'Oceans 11,' each has a special skill."

The library's "companion" selection, "Constitution Cafe," is by educator Christopher Phillips (W.W. Norton, $24.95, 321 pages).

"The Penguin Guide" is described as "a marvel of accessibility and what every American should have: a compact, fully annotated copy of the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution and amendments." Visit Beeman at www.richardbeeman.com.

Publishers Weekly magazine writes of "Constitution Cafe": "In an era of hyper-partisanship, it's refreshing to read instances of Americans from all political persuasions holding rational and respectful conversations with one another." Visit Phillips at www.christopherphillips.com.

California Reads: Sacramento One Book asks everyone in our community to read the same book and participate in events online and at library branches, schools and other venues. Programs will be tailored to adults, teens and children, and will include hands-on activities, films, music, writing projects, and group readings and discussions. The program is on track to start in mid-September and run through October.

For other information, call (916) 264-2920 or visit www.saclibrary.org.

-- Allen Pierleoni

This Saturday the California State Railroad Museum will debut a new exhibit based on the illustrated book Steam: An Enduring Legacy, the Railroad Photographs of Joel Jensen. Fifty dramatic black-and-white images selected from the volume celebrate the era of steam locomotives, which ended around 1960.

In addition to the exhibit, Joel Jensen will appear at the Museum this Sunday for two special presentations and book signings.

What: Steam: An Enduring Legacy, the Railroad Photographs of Joel Jensen - Exhibit & Presentation/Book Signing Opportunity
Where: California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park
When: Exhibit - March 9 thru July 29, 2012. Presentation/Book Signing - March 11, 2012 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Cost: $9 adults, $4 youths ages 6-17, free for children ages 5 and under (regular Museum admission)
For more info: 916-445-6645 or visit the California State Railroad Museum.

News Release

Born: July 20, 1962

Known for: A Sacramento native, Carlos Alazraqui is a comedian and actor best known for his voice work in movies and television, including the Chihuahua in the "(degrees)Yo quiero Taco Bell!" advertisements.

Background: Alazraqui was born in Sacramento, moved to Concord at an early age but returned to graduate from California State University, Sacramento. He then embarked on a career as a comedian and began competing in Sacramento at open-mike nights. Four years later, he won the San Francisco International Comedy Competition. His big break came in 1995 when he became the voice pitchman for Taco Bell. His catch phrase, Spanish for "I want Taco Bell!" became a pop culture flash point. He then lent his voice to an array of television programs, including "Rocko's Modern Life" on Nickleodeon, and movies, including "Happy Feet."

A highlight: Since 2003, Alazraqui has portrayed Deputy James Oswaldo Garcia in the Comedy Central TV show "Reno 911!" In February, the show was spun off into a movie, "Reno 911: Miami!"

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Feb. 19 was the 70th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. Signed by Franklin Roosevelt a few months after U.S. entry into World War II, the document authorized the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

The Bee observed this milestone with an article by Anita Creamer that examined the lasting psychological impact of the internment on the children of those who were evacuated to remote camps. Some researchers believe the wartime experience of parents have left scars of low-level depression and insecurity on the next generation.

The story is accompanied by two large photo slide shows.

Executive Order 9066: Legacy of Shame includes many historic images of interned Japanese by the renowned photographer Dorothea Lange. There are also contemporary pictures by the Bee's Paul Kitagaki, who has embarked on an ongoing project to photograph veterans of the camps and their descendents.

Unknown Japanese Internment Photographs contains over 200 historic pictures by Lange, Ansel Adams and others. Many of the people in these photographs are unidentified. If you recognize any of them, please contact Paul Kitagaki at The Bee.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nisei, second generation Japanese Americans of the Mochida family are Hiroko Mochida, 69, and seated Miyuki Hirano, 72, photographed May 21, 2006. The Mochida family operated a nursery and five greenhouses on a two-acre site in the Eden Township, now Fremont, Calif. Their father, Moriki Mochida raised snapdragons and sweet peas. They were interned at the Tanforan Assembly center and the Topaz Interment Camp during WWII and when they returned they had lost their business and had to start over. Copyright 2012 by Paul Kitagaki Jr.

Born: Oct. 3, 1857
Died: July 27, 1917

Known for: As state librarian beginning in 1899, James L. Gillis led the movement to establish a county library system in California. He also extended the use of the State Library to the general public.

Background: An Iowa native, Gillis and his family moved to Sacramento in 1870. In 1894, he became chief clerk of the Assembly Committee of Ways and Means. He was also keeper of the archives of the secretary of state. In 1898, he was appointed a deputy in the State Library, then became state librarian. In 1909, the Legislature passed a law allowing each county to install a tax-supported library controlled by a board of supervisors and managed by a qualified librarian.

A highlight: In 1899, the State Library was in the Capitol and had more than 100,000 volumes. Its use was restricted to state officials, legislators, clergy and press. Gillis opened it to the general public. He also helped create the first union catalog in the country -- the California Information File -- and the Books for the Blind department at the State Library.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Jan. 29, 1960

Known for: Steve Sax, a second baseman and West Sacramento native, played 14 seasons with four major league teams. He was a five-time All-Star and National League Rookie of the Year.

Background: Sax graduated from Marshall (now River City) High School. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being picked in the ninth round of the 1978 summer draft. Sax was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1982, hitting .282 and setting a club rookie record with 49 stolen bases. He followed that up by hitting .281 and stealing 56 bases in 1983. He played for the Dodgers through the 1988 season, when Los Angeles upset the Oakland A's in the World Series. He then played three seasons with the New York Yankees, two with the Chicago White Sox and completed his career with Oakland in 1994. After moving to Loomis, Sax ran as a Republican for the 4th Assembly District in 1995 but withdrew in early 1996.

A highlight: In 1986, Sax batted a career best .332 but lost the National League batting title by a point to Montreal's Tim Raines. He amassed a career batting average of .281 and 444 stolen bases.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

In a serious nod to Valentine's Day, the California State Military Museum will host a program describing one American soldier's heart-felt correspondence to his wife from the jungles of Vietnam.

It's Lonely Here in Hell: Love Letters from Nam is a collection written by James Dennis Piper who was drafted in August 1966 and killed in action just eight months later. His wife Michelle entrusted the letters to local author Charity Maness who put them in a historical context in this book.

What: Charity Maness, author of It's Lonely Here in Hell: Love Letters from Nam
Where: California State Military Museum, 1119 2nd St., Sacramento
When: Feb. 18, 1 p.m.
Cost: free
For more info: 916-854-1904 or website

Born: Sept. 19, 1950

Known for: A Fair Oaks native, Joan Lunden (originally Blunden) co-hosted ABC's "Good Morning America" from 1980 to 1997.

Background: Lunden grew up in what is now the Phoenix Field subdivision. She attended California State University, Sacramento, and became a news anchor at Channel 3 (KCRA). After working in New York, she joined "Good Morning America" in 1976 as a consumer reporter. Four years later she was named co-host with David Hartman, and later with Charles Gibson. On the show, she traveled the world, covered five Olympic Games, four presidents and two royal weddings. Since leaving the show, she has hosted a prime-time series, "Wickedly Perfect," and has written books, including her latest, "Growing Up Healthy: A Complete Guide to Childhood Nutrition, Birth Through Adolescence." She also appeared as herself in the 2005 movie "Thank You for Smoking."

A highlight: Among some of her on-air feats during her "GMA" run were flying in an F-18, hang gliding, dog sledding, river rafting, ice climbing and bungee jumping.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Historian, lecturer and photographer Mark McLaughlin has authored two new volumes for Arcadia devoted to the history of Lake Tahoe skiing. McLaughlin tells the story of the development of the sport with images found at the Donner Summit Historical Society, North Lake Tahoe Historical Society and private collections,

Skiing in Lake Tahoe (Images of America), 128 pages, price $21.99.
Skiing at Lake Tahoe (Postcards of America), 15 pages, price $7.99.

Arcadia Publishing is known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

The importance of beer production in Sacramento history is generally known. But less known is the proliferation of breweries in the foothill region that began in the Gold Rush. Now a new Arcadia illustrated volume aims to document the historic Gold Country breweries and the people who operated them.

Local archaeologists R. Scott Baxter and Kimberly J. Wooten co-authored this book and several others in the Images of America series, including Shenandoah Valley and Amador Wine Country and Sutter Creek.

Breweries of the Gold Country (Images of America series) is now available for purchase for $21.99.

Arcadia Publishing is known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: Feb. 7, 1918
Died: June 4, 2000

Known for: Richard Marriott served nearly eight years as mayor and 16 years on the City Council.

Background: Born in Ely, Nev., Marriott later moved with his family to Nevada City. He graduated from Nevada City Union High School in 1935, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of San Francisco in 1940, and did graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley. After World War II, he began selling newspaper advertising. He then worked briefly for the Catholic Herald in Sacramento before joining the Sacramento Valley Union Labor Bulletin, where he worked as editor and manager. He entered local politics in 1959, when there was no district system. He served two two-year terms as mayor. At that time, the council picked the mayor from its members. In 1971, Marriott won a four-year term in the first citywide mayoral election.

A highlight: In 1975, Marriott was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the State Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Four years later, he was named deputy secretary of the Health and Welfare Agency. He retired in 1982.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Today is the 155th birthday of the The Sacramento Bee and its parent firm, the McClatchy Company.

We made quite a deal of the 150 anniversary back in 2007. That year the paper published a nine-part history of the company based on Steve Wiegand's book, Papers of Permanance: The First 150 Years of The McClatchy Company. It's an authorized profile, but Wiegand covers most of the important developments, warts and all. You can read an excerpt about James McClatchy and the birth of The Bee here.

As part of the 2007 celebration, The Bee also published In History's Spotlight, a series of brief profiles of notable Sacramentans. These are being reprinted in this blog every Sunday.

The Bee's online site recently launched a new section devoted to Scoopy, the newspaper's loveable mascot. There you'll find a photo gallery of Scoopy through the years, a couple stories on his creation and a brief history of the company.

IMAGE CREDIT: Reproduction of the first edition of The Daily Bee, published Feb. 3, 1857. Click it to see a full-size version.

Peter Goin, a professor of art at the University of Nevada, has assembled a new Arcadia volume on the maritime history of Lake Tahoe.

Drawing on photo collections at the Nevada Historical Society, North Lake Tahoe Historical Society, South Lake Tahoe Historical Society, Special Collections at the University of Nevada and Tahoe Maritime Museum, the book illustrates the wide variety of commercial and recreational vessels that plied the lake over the years.

Lake Tahoe: A Maritime History (Images of America series) is now available for purchase at $21.99.

Arcadia Publishing is known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: June 25, 1947

Known for: A Mira Loma High School graduate, John Powell won two Olympic medals in the discus and won the national discus championship seven times.

Background: Powell began his discus career as the fourth-best thrower on the American River College track and field team. A shot-putter at Mira Loma, Powell switched to discus during his freshman season at ARC. Powell threw the discus 141 feet as a college freshman in 1966. He reached 164 feet the following season, competed at San Jose State University and improved each of the next nine years, culminating in his world-record throw of 226 feet 8 inches in 1975. He then won bronze medals in the 1976 and 1984 Olympics in Montreal and Los Angeles, respectively. He won the national discus championship in 1974 and 1975 and from 1983 through 1987.

A highlight: Summarizing his discus career, which spanned more than two decades, Powell told The Bee in 1988, "At some point you want to say, 'Look, I do something well.' I'm not saying it shakes the roots of humanity like the Salk vaccine, but I always wanted to say I'm one of the best in the world at something."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

The city of Stockton, founded in 1848, is the focus of a new "Then and Now" volume from Arcadia Publishing.

Authors Daniel Kasser and Amanda Zimmerman of the University of the Pacific's Department of Visual Arts illustrated the work with images borrowed from the Bank of Stockton, Haggin Museum, San Joaquin County Historical Museum, the University of the Pacific Special Archives Collection and other sources.

Stockton (Then and Now) is 96 pages and is priced at $21.99.

Arcadia Publishing is known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: Nov. 7, 1847
Died: Sept. 25, 1924

Known for: Discovered in Grass Valley at age 8, Lotta Crabtree received accolades for her dancing and singing for gold miners. She grew up to be an actress and the highest-paid performer in America.

Background: During the Gold Rush, Crabtree became kind of a Shirley Temple of her time. The daughter of the operator of a boardinghouse for miners, Crabtree met Lola Montez, an infamous chanteuse who taught her to sing and dance. Crabtree performed childish songs and dances regularly for miners and at venues in Nevada City and Sacramento, including the Forrest Theater on K Street, during the late 1850s. She eventually became a San Francisco favorite and, by the 1870s, was touring the nation with her own theatrical company. When her career ended, she had amassed a fortune estimated at $4 million.

A highlight: In 1875, Crabtree donated a fountain on Market Street to the city of San Francisco. During the 1906 earthquake, the fountain served as a message center, a pole in a refugee tent or both. The fountain's role in the earthquake has been celebrated every year on April 18.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

The University of California has launched a reprint service that provides access to digitally scanned "rare, out-of-print, and hard to find books" from its library collections. You can purchase printed and bound copies of these titles. In addition, you can read hundreds of out-of-copyright books for free online.

Note that these electronic volumes contain images of each page. So what you see is the original typography (which may be hard to read), not generic flowing text (such as displayed in a device like the Kindle).

The UC LIbrary Reprints website has a handy search interface for finding books by author, title, category and description word. Here are just a few volumes related to California history and historical fiction that can be read online:

History of Santa Cruz County, California (1892).
Rezanov by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton (1906).
The founding of Spanish California by Charles E. Chapman (1916).
Three years in California, 1846-1849 by Walter Colton (1852).
A history of the College of California by Samuel H. Willey (1887).
History of early California journalism by Ralph S. Kuykendall (1918).
California, romantic and resourceful by John F. Davis (1914).
Glimpses of California and the missions by Helen Hunt Jackson (1914).
A brief history of astronomy in California by William Wallace Campbell (1913).
Stories of California by Ella May Sexton (1902).

Local author Naida West will speak on Rest for the Wicked, the third volume in her California Gold trilogy, a series of historical novels set in 19th century Sacramento.

The latest book tells the story of Mae Duffy, who emigrates from Iowa to California with her family in search of a better life. But what they find is a state in economic panic.

Last year Rest for the Wicked won the New Generation Book Award for historical fiction. You can listen to West's 2010 interview on the KXJZ radio program Insight. You can also read Allen Pierleoni's author profile that appeared in The Bee.

The program is co-sponsored by the Rancho Cordova Public Library and Rancho Cordova Historical Society.

What: Naida West speaking on her book Rest for the Wicked
Where: Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento
When: Jan. 22, 3 - 5 p.m.
Cost: free
For more info: 916-264-2700 or web site

Born: Aug. 2, 1825
Died: Aug. 31, 1872

Known for: California's governor when The Bee launched its first edition in 1857, J. Neely Johnson became the state's youngest leader after taking office at age 30.

Background: An Indiana native, Johnson moved to Sacramento in 1849 and became an attorney. He then served as Sacramento's city attorney, and was re-elected in 1851. Johnson became a state assemblyman in 1852 before being elected the state's fourth governor in 1855. He represented the new American Party, better known as the Know-Nothings. During his term, California's first railroad was completed and the first wagon road was accessible over the Sierra Nevada. Johnson served one term as governor, and in 1867 was appointed to the bench of the Nevada Supreme Court.

A highlight: J. Neely Johnson Park at 11th and F streets in Sacramento was named for the former governor. The Greek Revival style J. Neely Johnson House -- one of the city's oldest homes -- stands at 1029 F St.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Arcadia this week unveiled another Images of America volume dealing with a Sacramento area community. Woodland documents the history of the Yolo County county seat from its founding in 1853 to the present

Using images from the Yolo County Archives, UC Davis Library and private collections, local geographers Robin Datel and Thomas Krabacher at CSUS and Dennis Dingemans at UC Davis have assembled an attractive portrait of this ever-changing Central Valley city.

Images of America: Woodland may be purchased online for $21.99. Proceeds benefit the Yolo County Historical Society.

Arcadia Publishing is well known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Mather Air Force Base, originally called Mills Field when it opened in 1918, served the nation in several important capacities until its closure in 1993. Now there's a new Arcadia volume which honors the Sacramento base's distinguished service that spanned two world wars and the Cold War.

Richly illustrated, Images of America: Mather Field documents the changing role of the facility as a classroom for pilots, navigators and bombardiers, as well as home to a strategic radar station and refueling squadron. Authors James Scott and Tom Tolley of Sacramento Public Library Special Collections delved into city and state archives for photographs and background. Scott and SPL Archivist Amanda Graham discussed the project in an interview conducted last week during the Capital Public Radio program Insight.

Mather Field may be purchased online. Price is $21.99. Proceeds benefit the Public Library.

Arcadia Publishing is well known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 7,500 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: Oct. 16, 1953

Known for: As a Rio Americano High sophomore, Pedersen won two gold medals and two silver medals in swimming events at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

Background: Pedersen, along with teammate Debbie Meyer, was trained by Sherm Chavoor at the Arden Hills Swim Club. Called "the baby of the American Olympic team," Pedersen celebrated her 15th birthday at the Mexico City Games. She won gold medals in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and the 4x100-meter medley relay events and silver medals in the 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley events. Shortly after the Olympics, Pedersen retired from competitive swimming after compiling six national championships and setting nine American records. She eventually moved to Washington state and became a certified public accountant.

A highlight: Pedersen set a world record time of 59.0 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle event at the 1968 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles. She swam a 1:00.3 in the event in Mexico, trailing U.S. teammate Jan Henne by 0.3 seconds. She was selected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1995.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were originally published in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Jan. 31, 1812
Died: Sept. 10, 1872

Known for: Russell was the front man for the overland freight company Russell, Majors and Waddell, which formed the Pony Express, whose western terminus was Sacramento.

Background: A successful Missouri businessman, Russell was called "Napoleon of the West." He and his partners' freight company transported supplies to forts and government outposts throughout the West. At the suggestion of U.S. Sen. William M. Gwin of California, the company formed the Pony Express to keep California in touch with the Union in case of Civil War. The Pony Express began April 3, 1860, when a rider dashed from St. Joseph, Mo., toward Sacramento. Before, it took more than three weeks to move mail across the 1,966-mile span. Pony Express riders cut that by more than half. Because of the advent of the transcontinental telegraph, the Pony Express was no longer needed after one year, five months and 21 days of service. Russell, Majors and Waddell are said to have lost at least $100,000 on the venture.

A highlight: At its height, the Pony Express had 400 horses, 80 riders and 190 stations. A statue of a Pony Express rider and horse stands in Old Sacramento.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Oct. 27, 1942

Known for: Raised in North Sacramento, Greenwood became an award-winning singer-songwriter whose "God Bless the USA" has been a patriotic favorite for more than two decades.

Background: Greenwood was raised on a chicken farm by his grandparents and attended Norte Del Rio High School. A musician for much of his young life, he skipped his high school graduation ceremony because he had a show to play at the Golden Hotel and Casino in Reno. Wanting to pursue a solo career, he eventually became a regular on the Las Vegas casino circuit. Greenwood was signed in 1981 by the Nashville-based MCA label, and his first hit was "Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands." In 1984, he released "God Bless the USA," which was played at that year's Republican National Convention. The song became increasingly popular after the 1991 Gulf War and the 9/11 attacks. It is now regularly played during fireworks, at parades and other events.

A highlight: Greenwood has won two Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association. He also won the CMA Song of the Year honor in 1985 for "God Bless the USA." and the Top Male Vocal Performance in 1983 for "I.O.U."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Carson Hendricks must have a great job. He's an archivist working in the California History Section of the State Library who recently finished organizing the huge Postcard Collection there.

He describes the 24,000-card resource in the latest Bulletin of the California State Library Foundation. Generally speaking the vintage postcards (1900-1970) idealize life in the state, depicting the best places and events for tourists and would-be tourists.

They're not all about big cities and travel destinations, Hendricks explains. "A substantial number of cards in the Postcard Collection are devoted to the history of small towns and remote places as they once appeared. More than half the collection consists of places away from the major population centers of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area."

The cards are also a terrific historical tool, often depicting "images of buildings long since demolished and street scenes that have changed dramatically."

The Bulletin article is richly illustrated with reproductions of a variety of beautiful and interesting California scenes. Worth a look.

IMAGE CREDIT: Sacramento River scene published in Sacramento (Postcard History Series) by Tom Myers. Courtesy of Tom Myers

Born: July 30, 1957

Known for: Considered the Sacramento area's greatest basketball talent, 7-foot Bill Cartwright won three championships with the Chicago Bulls, was an NBA All-Star with the New York Knicks and an All-American at the University of San Francisco.

Background: An Elk Grove High School graduate, Cartwright was the centerpiece of the Thundering Herd's championship teams in the mid-1970s. Cartwright was USF's all-time leading scorer averaging 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. The New York Knicks selected him in the 1979 NBA draft. He played for New York until 1988, when he was traded to Chicago where he helped the Michael Jordan-led Bulls win three NBA titles (1991-93), retiring in 1995. Cartwright was an assistant for six seasons in Chicago, followed by parts of three seasons as head coach before being fired during the 2003-04 season. He then became an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets. He interviewed this year for the Kings' head coaching position.

A highlight: Elk Grove High School has honored Cartwright by naming its gym and boys holiday basketball tournament after him.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Elizabeth Pinkerton, history columnist for the Elk Grove Citizen, recently described the strange story of how an early 19th century French cannonball found its way to the Elk Grove Historical Society.

As Pinkerton explains, John Sutter acquired the cannonball along with arms, ammunition, hardware and other valuables sold by the Russians who abandoned Fort Ross in 1841. In 1851 Sacramento-area pioneer Jared Sheldon acquired one of the cannons to protect his dam on the Cosumnes River. He was killed by miners and the artillery piece, plus ammo, passed to Sheldon's descendents. The cannon was destroyed in the 1890s and apparently was disposed of in the River. Eventually one of the cannonballs was discovered by the family, preserved and was donated to the Historical Society this past month.

Experts have determined that the cannonball isn't Russian all, but French -- a survivor of the Napoleonic invasion of Russia in 1812. Quite an odyssey for a hunk of metal!

PHOTO CREDIT: The grave site of Jared Sheldon, one of the founders of Sloughhouse 1998 Sacramento Bee photograph by Bryan Patrick

Among the growing body of scholarly publications that have been digitized for electronic consumption is the University of California Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004.

Maintained in collaboration with the California Digital Library, the Collection contains almost 2,000 electronic editions of academic titles published by UC Press. All the e-books are freely available to UC faculty, staff, and students. And the public may view more than 25 percent of the online books for free.

The Collection is easily browsed by author, title and/or subject via the search interface. There are over 500 books in the field of history. Among the 68 volumes related to California that might interest you:

Contested Eden: California before the Gold Rush (1998)
Taming the elephant: politics, government, and law in pioneer California (2003)
A golden state: mining and economic development in gold rush California (1999)
California progressivism revisited (1994)
Days of gold: the California Gold Rush and the American nation (1997)
Gold: the California story (2000)
Railroad crossing: Californians and the railroad, 1850-1910 (1994)
Working people of California (1995)
Willie Brown: a biography (1996)
Battling the inland sea: American political culture, public policy, and the Sacramento Valley, 1850-1986 (1998)
Sierra crossing: first roads to California (1998)

The Center for Sacramento History last week announced that Tim Holt, former Suttertown News publisher, has donated the complete run of that defunct publication to the city archive. Back in 1994 Holt gave the Center over 2,000 of its photographs.

In its day Suttertown News was the "other" alternative paper in Sacramento. Holt began publishing in 1975 to champion community activism, vintage architecture and bohemian culture of the central city. In its first edition it opposed a proposed 18-story hotel at 18th and L Sts. and rallied against the growing "Manhattanization of Sacramento." As Holt recalled in a 1994 Bee op-ed piece:

The challenge to conservative Sacramento, and ultimately City Hall, would come from a downtown community inhabited not only by artists and writers but also by alternative-style entrepreneurs who set up crafts stores, restaurants, coffee houses and art galleries. They were joined by more solid, mainstream types, mostly state workers, who aimed for an elegant, House Beautiful existence in rehabbed downtown Victorians.

Suttertown News ended publication in Dec. 1993 because "we simply ran out of money" explained Holt in a Bee interview. It was tough for the paper to make ends meet and the competition from the expanding News & Review didn't help.

Holt subsequently moved to Dunsmuir where he is active in local politics and railroad history. He continues to write and is author of Song of the Simple Life, a collection of essays on sustainable living.

PHOTO CREDIT: Time Holt in the Suttertown News office in 1982. Sacramento Bee photograph by Leilani Hu

Born: April 2, 1923

Known for: Gregory Kondos is one of the top contemporary landscape painters in the country. His style of "painterly realism" and devotion to landscape has influenced generations of Sacramento painters.

Background: Kondos was born in East Lynn, Mass., and moved with his family to Sacramento in 1927. He enrolled at Sacramento Junior College in 1941 to study art. Two years later, he began three years of active duty during World War II. Upon his discharge, Kondos completed his degree, then switched to California State University, Sacramento, to pursue a college teaching career. In 1958, he accepted a position in the art department at Sacramento Junior (now City) College. Kondos retired in 1982. During his career, he painted an array of subjects, including the Sacramento River Delta, Yosemite Valley, Big Sur, the American Southwest, France and Greece.

A highlight: The Sacramento City College art gallery, which he founded, is named after him. He donated his Sacramento painting "River Palms" to hang in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library in memory of his parents, Steve and Kanela Kondos.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

There have been three warships named the USS Sacramento. The second one (PG-19) was a WWI-era gunboat that served mostly in Japan and China between the wars. In August 1941 the ship was assigned to the 14th Naval District stationed at Pearl Harbor.

When the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, the Sacramento was berthed next to a couple destroyers across from Battleship Row. The gunship's crew scrambled shortly after 8 a.m and helped shoot down two enemy planes targeting the larger vessels. Later they helped rescue a couple dozen sailors from the battleship Oklahoma. For its distinguished service during the attack, the Sacramento was awarded a battle star.

The Sacramento served in various capacities during World War II and was decommissioned in 1946. The following year it was sold as a merchant ship, initially under Italian registry. We don't know her ultimate fate, but fortunately her bell, signal flags, radio messages and other artifacts were preserved by sailors and donated to the City. On Oct. 16,1984, the bell was formally dedicated in a ceremony at the Old Sacramento Docking Barge at L Street and the river.

For this 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, The Bee has published articles on aging WWII vets and an El Dorado County woman who witnessed the battle as a child. Accompanying the stories is a photo gallery and list of informative online resources.

USS Sacramento (PG-19) resources:
NavSource Gunboat Photo Archive
Wikipedia article
USS Sacramento history, 1914-1947
Naval Warfare: USS Sacramento
Center for Sacramento History photos and artifacts
Sacramento Bee articles about the USS Sacramento

PHOTO CREDITS: (Top) the USS Sacramento, circa 1940. (Left) the bell from the USS Sacramento hangs near the Tower Bridge. 2009 Sacramento Bee photograph by Randy Pench

Born: Dec. 26, 1870
Died: April 13, 1926

Known for: Rudolph Herold was a Sacramento architect who designed many prominent structures, including Sacramento City Hall, the Masonic Temple, the Sacramento Hall of Justice and Capitol National Bank Building.

Background: A San Francisco native, he taught architectural drawing at Lincoln Evening School. He then traveled to Europe and spent three years working and studying in large cities. Herold moved to Sacramento in 1901 and gained a reputation for his work on public buildings. He was a master of many styles, but was best known for his use of terra cotta ornamentation. Unlike Herold's other buildings in Sacramento, the Masonic Temple was never remodeled.

A highlight: Herold also designed the home of C.K. and Ella K. McClatchy and their family on 22nd Street in Sacramento. The house became a library in 1940 after Eleanor McClatchy and Charlotte Maloney presented it to the city as a memorial to their mother.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Sept. 25, 1954

Known for: Craig Chaquico, who grew up in Carmichael, was lead guitarist for 16 years (1974-90) for the rock band Jefferson Starship (later named Starship) before becoming a successful artist in the smooth-jazz genre.

Background: Chaquico, the son of jazz musicians, attended La Sierra High School. At age 14, he joined a band with his English teacher, who had known members of Jefferson Airplane. Eventually Chaquico was asked to play guitar on some of Airplane alumni Paul Kantner and Grace Slick's solo albums. He then joined the Jefferson Starship, which included Kantner and Slick. On his 16th birthday, he completed his first recording session. By the time he was a freshman at American River College, he was touring with the group. Later, he was asked to join the band officially. He left the band in 1990 and began primarily playing acoustic guitar. Today he has a successful career on the New Age and smooth-jazz circuits.

A highlight: Chaquico's solo debut, "Acoustic Highway," topped Billboard's New Age charts. His follow-up album, "Acoustic Planet," was nominated for a Grammy in 1995

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Sac History Happenings wishes our readers a very happy Thanksgiving.

If you're curious as to what the gentry ate during the holiday in 1870s San Francisco, check out the vintage hotel dinner menus posted at the California Historical Society blog. They're taken from William Laird MacGregor's Hotels and Hotel Life at San Francisco, California, in 1876 (S.F. News Company, 1877).

IMAGE CREDIT: Thanksgiving menu from The Cosmopolitan Hotel (corner of Bush and Sansome Sts.), 1876.

Born: Dec. 6, 1945

Known for: A McClatchy High School graduate, Larry Bowa was a five-time All-Star shortstop who played stellar defense in 16 years in the major leagues while collecting 2,191 hits. He also managed two teams.

Background: After being cut twice from the varsity squad at McClatchy High, Bowa played American Legion ball and became a workaholic at Sacramento City College. The fiery switch hitter was drafted in 1965 by the Philadelphia Phillies. During his career, he posted the highest lifetime fielding percentage for a shortstop. In his first three seasons, he made only 33 errors in 2,202 chances. In 1975, he became the first $100,000-a-year shortstop. Five years later, the Phillies won their only World Series championship. After his playing career, he managed the San Diego Padres (1987-88) and the Phillies (2001-2004), compiling a 418-435 record. This season, he is the third-base coach for the New York Yankees.

A highlight: Bowa led the major leagues in fielding six times, won two Gold Gloves and set a National League record for most games by a shortstop (2,222), playing 12 seasons for the Phillies, three for the Chicago Cubs and his final season for the Cubs and Mets.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

The November "Food For Thought: Thinking and Talking at the California State Library" program  will feature Master Paper Engineers and authors David A. Carter and Noelle Carter and their latest, Lots of Bots! - the first title in a new pop-up series by the creators of the hugely successful Bugs in a Box and One Red Dot series. David A. Carter learned the fine art of Paper-Engineering and Pop-Up bookmaking at Intervisual Communications Inc. working with creative director Jim Diaz and various other artists. While at I.C.I. he met his wife Noelle, who was a production artist learning the art of paper engineering with her father Tor Lokvig. David started his own business in 1987 and has created over 75 pop-up books. Lots of Bots! has been released with a companion app, Bot Garage for iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod touch®. A trailer for the app can be viewed at RHKidsApps.com and at www.library.ca.gov

The program will take place on Wednesday, November 16 at 6 p.m. at 900 N Street, in the California History Room. Light refreshments will be served when doors open at 5 p.m. Books will be available for purchase and authors signing at discount prices between $10 and $15 tax included. Children and children at heart of all ages' are encouraged to attend! For more information please contact Rebecca Ann Fontaine at rfontaine@library.ca.gov or (916) 215-9280.

In addition, the California State Library Foundation's latest Bulletin is now available and can be viewed online at the Library's web site. It contains articles on the French culinary journal l'Art Culinare, prominent California historian and author JoAnn Levy, and an overview of some of the interesting public transit collections owned by the library. But since this is the 100th issue of the Bulletin, it also features a history of the publication itself, and a list of the many fine historians and writers who have contributed to it.

When the K Street officially closed to traffic in December 1969, the occasion was celebrated with speeches, music and frivolity. So it's fitting that the reopening of the avenue to traffic Saturday was also marked with oration and fun.

The conversion of K Street into a pedestrian plaza was culmination of a 10-year battle to reverse the exodus of shoppers from downtown to the suburban stores. At the time the dedication of the space was considered a great milestone in the revival of the central city. A Bee editorial proclaimed:

The chief goals of the plaza have been accomplished. Private cars are swept off the mall, except at some intersections. Pedestrians are given an environment in which traffic will not harass them from becoming leisurely shoppers.

What is more the design of the plaza could turn out to offer a supreme value to any downtown, namely, an interesting diversity [sic] attracting people in ever enlarging numbers to the central business district. The keys to the design are compounded: Up-tilted concrete concrete quadrangles to be covered with vines, islands of quietude amid the heart of the city, grottoes of waterfalls inviting active pedestrian participation and trees and grass.

Oh well, some things don't work out the way they're first imagined.

See the attached 1969 dedication story and editorial reproduced from Bee microfilm. And enjoy this gallery of photos showing K Street through the decades.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kids play on K Street Mall's fountain structures, Dec. 3, 1969. Sacramento Bee photograph

Born: May 19, 1817
Died: July 19, 1855

Known for: Joseph Folsom, with the help of railroad pioneer Theodore Judah, helped establish a town site near the Negro Bar mining spot on the American River that became the city named for him.

Background: A New Hampshire native, Folsom was an 1840 graduate of West Point. Capt. Folsom arrived in California in 1847 and became interested in capitalizing on the state's potential. He purchased several lots in San Francisco and became interested in the estate of William A. Leidesdorff. After a long fight to obtain the land, Folsom hired Judah to survey and lay out the town site to be called Granite City. Folsom and Judah's early plans included shops along Sutter Street and a railroad depot, before there were railroads in California.

A highlight: Three weeks after Folsom's death, the first rail was laid on the new Sacramento Valley Railroad. The first train completed the trip to Granite City, which was renamed Folsom, in February 1856. That same month town lots in Folsom were placed on the auction block. Most of the 2,048 lots sold the first day.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Seventy-five years ago today, President Franklin Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington signaling the official opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Some 300,000 spectators witness the dedication of what United Press called "the world's superlative engineering achievement."

Indeed, at 23,000 feet long (8-1/4 miles with approaches), the Bay Bridge dwarfed other great spans around the world. Costing $77 million (in 1936 dollars), the double-deck bridge took more than three years to build. At the time of its opening the upper deck was devoted to passenger vehicles, the lower deck to suburban trains.

A Bee editorial rhapsodized about the "massive and impressive structure:"

What influences on the future development of the bay district and of Superior California generally the bridge will set in motion today are speculative.

Some have one theory, others another.

But that they will work for progress and human comfort and convenience is certain.

And the bridge itself -- massive and yet simple, impressive but with a beauty that even a dullard can see -- is a monument to another great dream realized, a structure that will stand firm and strong long after all those who had a part in its construction have departed forever.

Men will come from all parts of the world to see and say to themselves: Titans must have walked this way.

See the attached Nov. 12, 1936 front page story and editorial reproduced from Bee microfilm. And the California Historical Society's blog posting linking to Opening Day memorabilia.

PHOTO CREDITS: Associated Press photographs taken a few days before the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Nov. 12, 1936. (top) One of the on-ramps, winding up from the waterfront at right and an off-ramp at left with the main incline in center. (bottom) A motorist's view of the great span when driving toward the great tunnel on Yerba Buena Island toward the Oakland shore.

For 30 years Marion Blumenthal Lazan has been speaking publicly about her and her family's experiences in the Holocaust. She comes to El Dorado County next week to give a first-person account of their arrest, imprisonment and liberation from Nazi concentration camps. Her two public talks (appropriate for people over 10) emphasize "tolerance towards others and the importance of positive thinking and inner strength to overcome adversity."

Lazan is co-author of Four Perfect Pebbles, the Blumenthal family's story of surviving the Holocaust.

The lectures are sponsored by the El Dorado County Library, El Dorado Adventist School, Rolling Hills Middle School, the Mountain Democrat, and other local organizations.

What: Marion Blumenthal Lazan, author, international speaker, and Holocaust survivor
When & Where: Nov. 14, 7 p.m., El Dorado Adventist School, 1900 Broadway, Placerville.
Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m., Rolling Hills Middle School, 7141 Silva Valley, El Dorado Hills.
Cost: $2 suggested donation
For more info: (530) 621‐5540 and eldoradolibrary.org

Event flyer

Born: Dec. 11, 1810
Died: May 18, 1848

Known for: William Alexander Liedesdorff was a debonair seafarer who became a business and civic leader in San Francisco before acquiring 35,000 acres in what is now Rancho Cordova and Folsom.

Background: The son of a white Danish planter and a black woman, Leidesdorf was born on the island of St. Croix. He earned a fortune through cotton speculation. In 1841, he sailed to San Francisco, where he owned a general store and opened the city's first hotel. Called "the first black millionaire," he also captained the first steamship in California. In 1844, he acquired a massive land grant from Mexico, which started at about the point where Bradshaw Road connects with the river. He operated it as a wheat farm and cattle ranch. After his death, his mother sold the land rights to Joseph Folsom for $75,000. A few months later, pioneers discovered gold in the region, raising the land's value to $1.5 million.

A highlight: In 2004, a stretch of Highway 50 from Bradshaw Road to the eastern Sacramento County line was named for Leidesdorff. In Folsom, the Sutter Street plaza and a residential road are named for him.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: June 30, 1967

Known for: A Rio Linda High School graduate, Sheila Hudson was a track pioneer in the women's triple jump event. She was a five-time USA Indoor champion who competed in the event at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Background: Hudson began competing in track at age 10 in all-comers meets. Her family moved to South Korea for two years, and she didn't compete again until her freshman year of high school. She was the 1985 state champion as a senior and won six NCAA titles at the University of California, Berkeley. Hudson was the best in the United States for nearly 10 years when the women's triple jump was first admitted into the Olympic Games in 1996. At 5-foot-4 with superb technique, Hudson was a hometown favorite of fans at the 2000 Trials in Sacramento, placing second at 45-81/2. Only Nicole Gamble qualified for the Sydney Games for the United States.

A highlight: Hudson was the only American to reach the finals in the first Olympic triple jump at the 1996 Olympic Games, where she placed 10th. Her American record of 47-31/2 stood for eight years.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the first transcontinental telegraph message linking the Atlantic and Pacific United States. It was sent from the B.F. Hastings Building in Sacramento to Washington, D.C. on Oct. 24, 1861, the day the telegraph line between Sacramento and Salt Lake City was completed. The message's content was fairly momentous. Stephen J. Field, Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court, informed President Abraham Lincoln that California would stay loyal to the Union.

Apparently The Sacramento Bee (then known as The Daily Bee) wasn't privy to Field's historic communication, since the newspaper reported on Oct. 25:

The overland telegraph line between this city and Salt Lake was completed yesterday, and at dark, last evening, the first communication passed over the wires between these points; but there was no direct communication with any point east of Salt Lake!

The Daily Bee did report other Eastern news that was forwarded from Utah via telegraph. The most important being the death of Oregon Sen. Edward Dickinson Baker. Baker, serving as a colonel in the Union Army, was killed at the Battle of Ball's Bluff fought in Loudoun County, Virginia. See the 1861 Bee article taken from microfilm.

You can also see the original hand-written letter from Justice Field to President Lincoln housed at the Library of Congress.

PHOTO CREDIT: California Chief Justice Stephen J. Field (between 1855 and 1865). Brady-Handy Photograph Collection, Library of Congress.

Born: Dec. 22, 1865
Died: April 25, 1955

Known for: Frank Merriam was governor of California during the later years of the Depression.

Background: An Iowa native, he served in his home state's legislature and as state auditor. He moved to California at age 45 and served in the Assembly and Senate before becoming lieutenant governor. He ascended to the top spot when Gov. James Rolph died near the end of his term in June 1934. Two years earlier, California had gone Democratic in supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt for president. But Republicans managed to elect Merriam as governor in a 1934 race that pitted him against socialist Upton Sinclair, a controversial Democratic nominee, and retain control of state government. As governor, Merriam waged a war against corrupt lobbyists and appointed a committee to investigate them.

A highlight: Merriam was California's ninth consecutive Republican governor, a streak that lasted from 1899 to 1938. He was defeated by Democrat Culbert Olson. Merriam was also the first governor to marry in office.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Whether members of the Donner Party, trapped in the Sierra in 1846-47, engaged in cannibalism continues to be an unsettled question. Last year news media reported a study of bones at the Alder Creek campsite found no evidence of the practice. Though some jumped to the conclusion that cannibalism never happened, many experts -- based on survivor accounts and other documentation -- continue to believe it did occur to some extent.

A new book, An Archaeology of Desperation: Exploring the Donner Party's Alder Creek Camp, examines old data and recent research using methods of history, ethnohistory, archaeology, bioarchaeology and social anthropology to shed new light on the controversy.

KXJZ's Jeffrey Callison interviewed the authors during yesterday's Insight radio program. They explain that the scientific evidence is more complicated and less conclusive than is commonly thought.

PHOTO CREDIT: James F. Reed and his wife, Margret W. Keyes Reed were survivors of the tragic Donner Party, who were stranded in the Sierra Nevada during the heavy winter of 1846-47. Associated Press/Utah State Historical Society

Arcadia, a major publisher of local histories, announced that many of its titles are now available in an electronic format. These eBooks are sold through the Apple iTunes bookstore and are readable on Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices.

Nearly 2,400 Arcadia volumes are in eBook form. You can browse or keyword search for titles using the publisher's web catalog. Among the eBooks pertaining to the Sacramento region:

Carmichael
Elk Grove
Elk Grove Village
Folsom, California
Folsom Prison
Sacramento's Greenhaven/Pocket Area
Sacramento's Midtown
Sacramento's Southern Pacific Shops
Sacramento's Southside Park
Sacramento: Indomitable City
The Good Life: Sacramento's Consumer Culture

Born: Sept. 26, 1947
Died: Dec. 4, 1997

Known for: Sacramento native Sam Pannell represented District 8 on the Sacramento City Council from 1992 until his death. A longtime community activist, he was also a teacher and counselor in city schools.

Background: Pannell was a Sacramento High School and California State University, Sacramento, graduate. He tried twice to win a council seat before succeeding on his third try in 1992. He won re-election easily in 1996. He was regarded by friends and opponents as a fierce and independent spirit in city politics who pushed for diversity on civic boards and in city government. He pursued an energetic and stressful civic life while suffering from severe health problems. He died of a heart attack at age 50.

A highlight: His greatest council success was lobbying successfully for the Meadowview Community Center, which had languished for more than a decade as a city promise to south-area residents. The center, opened in 1995, was named for him after his death. His wife, Bonnie, was elected to his council seat in June 1998 and still represents the area.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Today Arcadia debuted a new illustrated volume on the Amador Central Railroad, the turn of the century short line that transported passengers and freight in the Sierra foothills. The railroad was built in 1904 and operated until 2004 running 12 miles from Ione to Martell. In 2010 the owner sold it to a nonprofit preservation group.

The author is historical archaeologist and former Amador County archivist Deborah Coleen Cook who found many of the book's photographs in railroad and county collections. She also wrote the Arcadia publications Jackson and Ione and the Jackson Valley.

Amador Central Railroad (Images of Rail series)
Author: Deborah Coleen Cook
ISBN: 9780738575506
No. of Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
On Sale Date: 10/10/2011

One hundred years ago today California women got the right to vote.

The election that approved the suffrage amendment (Proposition 4) was extremely close. In a "Dewey Defeats Truman" moment, The Sacramento Bee initially reported the measure losing because of the big vote against it in San Francisco. "Woman suffrage has been defeated in California. With all precincts counted, the majority [margin] in San Francisco against granting suffrage to women is 13,705, while in the State at large the majority [margin] in favor of granting suffrage to women will not exceed 8,000," the paper concluded.

But the next day the tide turned with late returns from Los Angeles and rural northern counties coming in strong for the amendment. This time The Bee reported: "Unless another kaleidoscopic change takes place in the present trend of the vote on woman suffrage, the women of California have won their fight for the ballot."

(Read The Bee's front-page election stories from Oct. 11 and Oct. 12.)

In the end suffrage triumphed by a margin of just 3,587 votes out of 246,487 cast statewide. With the approval of Prop. 4, California became the sixth state to grant women the right to vote.

Born: April 21, 1905
Died: Feb. 16, 1996

Known for: The 32nd governor of California, Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Sr. also was the patriarch of a Democratic political family that has played a large role (i.e., son Jerry, the state attorney general, and former state Treasurer Kathleen Brown) in shaping the state.

Background: Governor from 1959 to 1966, his political career intersected with future presidents: Richard Nixon, whom he defeated in 1962 to win re-election, and Ronald Reagan, whom he lost to in 1966. His son Jerry sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination while governor in 1976. Brown ushered California into the modern era, developing the California Aqueduct and the California Master Plan for Higher Education. He also was a staunch opponent of the death penalty.

A highlight: The nickname comes from his Patrick Henry-esque pitch to sell Liberty Bonds during World War II.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

The debut of a Ken Burns documentary is always a big occasion for history buffs. This time the filmmaker tells the story of the century-long fight to outlaw liquor in the United States and the consequences of that 13-year ban. Prohibition started on Sunday and concludes today on KVIE Channel 6 at 8 p.m. You can also view it with the PBS iPhone/iPad application.

But how did Sacramento fare during the dry time? According to a 1999 Bee article by Dixie Reid (attached), local denizens didn't sacrifice much in the way of spirits. In fact, the city was considered one of the "wettest" places in the state, supporting many speakeasies and a flourishing moonshine trade out in the countryside.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nationwide prohibition began Jan. 16, 1920. This photo shows beer being dumped into Lake Michigan in Chicago. UPI

Born: Aug. 15, 1954

Known for: Gregg Lukenbill formed Lukenbill Enterprises with his father, Frank, and led the group that forged a new era of sports in Sacramento, bringing the Kings here from Kansas City in 1985. Without Lukenbill, we'd have no passion for purple, although back then the losing team was bathed in baby blues.

Background: A Sacramento native, he picked up his first paycheck at age 7 and worked in construction for his dad. They became partners in 1976. In 1983, he and investors bought the Kings and moved them two years later to Natomas, where he built the old Arco Arena and then the current one to house the NBA team. He sold the team in 1992. In 1990, he founded Sky King, which flies the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers.

A highlight: On a rain-soaked night, March 1, 1989, clad in his trademark plaid shirt, he climbed the rafters of Arco Arena and plugged a leak so the Kings could play on.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

A reminder that the online readings of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer begin today. You can see and hear community leaders read chapters from the Mark Twain classic on your computer. Access Sacramento and The Bee teamed up to produce the series. And every day from Sept. 29 through Oct. 31 you'll find new chapter texts and recordings.

Celebrity readers include McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt; Bee Publisher Cheryl Dell; KFBK news anchor Kitty O'Neal; novelist John Lescroart; Mayor Kevin Johnson; Public Library director Rivkah Sass; and Sactown magazine co-editor Elyssa Lee. Today's readings feature U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, Sacramento Society for the Blind Reader Abe Sass, Bee Executive Editor Joyce Terhaar and Twain impersonator McAvoy Layne.

The videos supplement this year's Big Read / One Book Sacramento, the Public Library's annual city-wide literature appreciation program. The Library system will host 75 related events at 28 locations starting with the kick-off lecture tonight by Twain scholar and editor Michael Hirst

What: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. Robert Hirst of UC Berkeley, the editor-in-charge of "The Autobiography of Mark Twain." Also actor McAvoy Layne as the "Ghost of Mark Twain."
Where: Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St., Sacramento.
When: Sept. 29, 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. The event is open to the public on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Cost: Free
For more info:  (916) 264-2920, (916) 321-1128, www.saclibrary.org.

Born: Feb. 11, 1909
Died: Nov. 21, 1959

Known for: Max Baer was a colorful heavyweight champ who made his home in Sacramento. Most probably know him as the father of Max Baer Jr., Jethro on "The Beverly Hillbillies."

Background: Nicknamed "Madcap Maxie" and the "Livermore Larupper," Baer beat Primo Carnera for the heavyweight crown in 1934 and lost it a year later to James J. Braddock. That bout was immortalized in "Cinderella Man," a depiction criticized for casting Baer as malicious and cruel. He, as the movie said, had dealt lethal blows to Frankie Campbell in the ring, but was haunted by his death. Outgoing and social, he also made movies. He rests at St. Mary's Mausoleum and a park bears his name in Sacramento.

A highlight: Baer proudly wore the Star of David on his trunks and beat Germany's Max Schmeling in 1933.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Sunbury Press recently released the third edition of A Pennsylvania Mennonite and the California Gold Rush: The Journal and Letters of David Baer Hackman.

Hackman was a Mennonite from Lancaster County, Pa., who traveled by wagon to California in 1850 to seek his fortune in the Gold Rush. A talented writer, he vividly described life in the mining camps and boom towns (including Sacramento), as well as encounters with Indians, bears and the Big Trees of Calaveras County. Hackman later documented his trip home by steamship and overland through Panama.

A good primary source on the Gold Rush era, this new edition contains additional period illustrations, higher grade paper and a new cover.

A Pennsylvania Mennonite and the California Gold Rush: The Journal and Letters of David Baer Hackman
By Lawrence Knorr
List Price: $14.95
196 pages
Sunbury Press, Inc.

Born: May 14, 1966

Known for: Based in Sacramento in the '80s, Raphael Saadiq formed the R&B band Tony Toni Tone, which challenged punctuation purists everywhere (exclamation points? accent?). He also has a successful solo career as a singer, writer and producer.

Background: Born Raphael Wiggins in Oakland, he, his brother Dwayne Wiggins and cousin Timothy Christian formed the group Tony Toni Tone, debuting with "Little Walter" in 1988 and having hits with "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" and "Feels Good." Saadiq moved on and now works mostly out of Los Angeles, penning movie soundtrack singles, forming the R&B group Lucy Pearl, producing, and creating what he calls "gospeldelic" on the CD "Instant Village."

A highlight: In 2003, he was nominated for five Grammys, winning two for his songwriting.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Aug. 26, 1895
Died: May 26, 1958

Known for: A Sacramento native and California state senator, Earl Desmond pushed through legislation to authorize Sacramento State College in 1947.

Background: The son of a police officer, Desmond attended Christian Brothers and Sacramento high schools. In his first year at Santa Clara University, he left to enlist in World War I. He earned his degree in 1932 from McGeorge School of Law. Two years later, he was elected to the state Assembly from Sacramento, and in 1944 was elected a state senator. His SB 1221 authorizing "a four-year institution of higher education" was passed and signed by Gov. Earl Warren in July 1947. The college originally shared quarters with Sacramento Junior College -- now Sacramento City College. A permanent site was chosen on the banks of the American River at 6000 J St., where classes started in February 1953.

A highlight: In 1991, the senator's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered for the dedication of a new CSUS residence hall named in his honor.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Feb. 6, 1911
Died: June 5, 2004

Known for: Ronald Reagan was a two-term U.S. president and the 33rd governor of California.

Background: Raised in Illinois, Reagan became a sportscaster, movie star and president of the Screen Actors Guild before entering politics. During his eight years in the state Capitol, he had to deal with a Democrat-dominated Legislature most of the time. He could never accomplish a conservative makeover of state government, but he did become a national political star. After failing in a challenge to President Ford in 1976, he won the GOP presidential nomination in 1980 and unseated Jimmy Carter. At age 69, he was the oldest man ever elected president. Known as the "great communicator," he hastened the end of the Cold War and brought renewed optimism to the nation. He left office in 1989 with the highest popularity rating of any retiring president in history and returned to California, his adopted state.

A highlight: Washington National Airport was renamed for him in 1998 and the USS Ronald Reagan was christened by former first lady Nancy Reagan and the U.S. Navy in 2001.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Transportation historian Paul C. Trimble has penned a photo book exploring the contributions of river-going vessels in the 19th century development of northern California. Riverboats of Northern California features images selected from the California State Library, Sacramento City Library, Western Railway Museum Archives, J. Porter Shaw Library at the National Maritime Museum, and other sources. From the publisher's description:

California's mighty rivers served as the state's early superhighways. Riverboats transported countless tons of supplies, workers, and settlers from the coast to inland gold rush colonies and everywhere in between. Majestic sidewheelers and sternwheelers burning coal, wood, and oil plied the waterways of the delta, as well as the Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Napa Rivers, and the lesser-known routes of the Sonoma and Petaluma.

Arcadia Publishing is well known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 6,000 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: June 15, 1949

Known for: A multisport star at Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, Dusty Baker played for four major league baseball teams and managed two teams.

Background: Born in Riverside, Johnnie B. Baker Jr. moved with his family to Sacramento at age 15. He starred in football, basketball, baseball and track at Del Campo, where he graduated in 1967. He attended American River College until he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves, for whom he played through 1975. The outfielder had his best years with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1976-1983), when he made the All-Star team twice and played in the World Series three times. He later played for the Giants and A's before retiring in 1986 with a .278 lifetime batting average and 242 home runs. He was the Giants' batting coach and became their manager in 1993. He managed the Cubs from 2003 to 2006. Today he is a baseball analyst for ESPN.

A highlight: Baker was named National League Manager of the Year three times (1993, 1997, 2000) and led the Giants to the 2002 World Series. He was named to the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Sept. 29, 1939
Died: April 10, 2000

Known for: Larry Linville, a veteran television actor who grew up in Sacramento, played Maj. Frank Burns on "M*A*S*H," one of the longest-running shows in television history (1972-83).

Background: Born in Ojai, Linville moved to Sacramento and graduated from El Camino High School. He studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Colorado before attending London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He appeared in dozens of television shows, including "Marcus Welby, M.D." and "Mannix" before landing the "M*A*S*H" role. He appeared in 115 episodes of the hit show before leaving in 1977. He continued to appear on TV shows, including "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island," through the late '90s. In 1998, he underwent surgery to remove part of his lung after doctors found a malignant tumor under his sternum.

A highlight: He was one of three Americans out of 300 applicants to win a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Columnist Bil Paul has written a string of informative historic pieces for Dixon Patch. His latest surveys the impact of the Great Depression (1929-41) on that Solano County burg. Though focused on Dixon, the article reflects what likely was going on in towns across the region.

Bank failures were a central factor in the collapse of the U.S. economy. Some 11,000 of the country's 33,000 banks failed by 1933. "... the major share of the blame rests on those [rural] banks that have failed [due to] disregarding fundamental principles in loaning other people's money," Paul quotes from a Dixon Tribune article at the time. Many depositors panicked and the run on the banks prompted the federal government to close them temporarily to cool things down. It took some time for bankers to convince people to return their money.

Unemployment soared and many farms went into foreclosure in the area, though some local agricultural businesses, such as Dixon's meat packing plant, actually grew.

The Patch column includes some interesting photographs of Dixon residents from the 1930s, courtesy of the Dixon Library archives.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bank of Dixon teller's cage, circa 1930s. Courtesy Dixon Public Library.

Brandon Darnell of the Sacramento Press recently profiled Osaka-Ya, a Japanese bakery that's been in business almost a century.

The pastry shop at 2215 10th St. is known for traditional rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste. But the big hit in the summer are shaved ice snow cones made with a variety of flavorings including cherry, strawberry, orange, vanilla, and an exotic version mixed with azuki beans.

Darnell explains that Osaka-Ya is located in the vestiges of Sacramento's once bustling Japantown, a neighborhood bordered by L, N, Third and Fourth Streets. The Bee's Elizabeth Hume wrote about the shop and other surviving Japanese businesses in 2002.

PHOTO CREDIT: Etsuko Dote (l) and Kyoko Tokunaga box up some mochi, Japanese tea cakes, at Osaka-Ya. 2001 Sacramento Bee photograph by Leilani Hu

Born: Aug. 9, 1897
Died: Feb. 12, 1974

Known for: Artie Samish was a powerful lobbyist in the 1930s and '40s who described himself as "the governor of the Legislature."

Background: Born in Los Angeles, Samish grew up poor in San Francisco. He came to Sacramento in his 20s as a legislative clerk but found that the real money and power were in lobbying. Samish's influence grew by following a formula: A special interest would come to him with a specific problem. He would use campaign contributions and organizational help and other "incentives" to get the problem solved legislatively. Then he would make it clear that it could be unfixed unless his services were retained. State lawmakers banned Samish after a photograph appeared in Collier's magazine in 1949 showing him with a ventriloquist's dummy on his knee and asking, "And how are you today, Mr. Legislature?" In 1953, he was convicted of income tax evasion and eventually served two years in federal prison.

A highlight: By 1949, Samish was said to be worth $10 million and at one point, had 17 operatives monitoring activity under the Capitol dome.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Oct. 1, 1893
Died: Sept. 28, 1983

Known for: Donald Cox was Sacramento County sheriff for 28 years (1932-60), the longest tenure for a sheriff in department history.

Background: A native of Spencer County, Ind., and a Navy veteran in World War I, Cox joined the Sheriff's Department in 1921 as a bookkeeper. He was named undersheriff six months later. He attended night classes at McGeorge School of Law shortly after he joined the department and was admitted to the State Bar five years later. He was appointed sheriff in 1932 after Ellis Jones suffered a stroke. Elected to a four-year term in 1934, Cox was re-elected for six more terms before retiring. He was a founder of the Sheriff's Air Squadron, the Boat Patrol and the Reserve Deputy Program.

A highlight: An avid horseman, he once rode with film cowboy star Roy Rogers and formed the Sacramento County Sheriff's Posse in 1938. The state Senate Rules Committee in 1972 praised Cox's efforts in advancing law enforcement such as encouraging officers to study law and promoting higher education in criminal justice studies.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: March 4, 1966

Known for: Kevin Johnson, a Sacramento native, played 12 seasons in the NBA and was a three-time All-Star. Via his St. Hope organization, he's made a major investment in the economic and educational future of his childhood Oak Park neighborhood. [Elected Sacramento Mayor in 2008.]

Background: Johnson emerged as a top player at Sacramento High, leading the state in scoring in 1983. He had a stellar college career at Cal before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1987. A year later, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, who reached the 1993 NBA Finals before losing to the Chicago Bulls. In 1989, he founded the St. Hope Academy, which started in a portable classroom at Sacramento High School. Through St. Hope, Johnson has invested more than $11 million in Oak Park, creating 14 businesses and 282 jobs. His 40 Acres complex on Broadway at 35th Street includes a Starbucks, Guild Theater, a bookstore and apartments.

A highlight: St. Hope also operates St. Hope Public Schools, a K-12 independent public charter school district composed of six small schools, which is planning to take the reins of a New York City school with historic ties to the famous Boys Choir of Harlem

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Genealogists having trouble finding San Francisco records prior to the great earthquake can get some valuable tips in the new, expanded edition of Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research.

Written by Nancy Peterson of the California Genealogical Society, the handbook "is a must have for researching San Francisco ancestors, providing invaluable guidance on which records were lost in 1906, which records survived, and where to find them."

You can order Raking the Ashes on the Society's web page. Price: $25.00 ($20.00 for CGS members).

News release

It may surprise you that Sacramento's earliest cemetery vanished decades ago when it became a city park and later a school, the current Sutter Middle School at Alhambra Blvd. and J St. Only an historic marker is evidence of its prior existence. But one question persists: where did all the tombstones go? Lance Armstrong of Valley Community Newspapers sheds light on the mystery in his recent two-part series on the defunct New Helvetia Cemetery.

Armstrong traces its history from its Gold Rush beginnings as a burial plot for Sutter's Fort. New Helvetia operated until 1912 after which Sacramento officials took steps to convert it into a city park. Over several years the remains were re-interned at various cemeteries in the region. Many of the grave markers were also relocated, but some were simply lost. Strangely, some of the flat tombstones ended up in the gardens and driveways of a couple East Sacramento homes.

The Bee reported in 2008 on the transfer of grave markers from Sutter Middle School to East Lawn Memorial Park. Volunteers carried the rescued tombstones in a horse-drawn wagon to underscore the solemnity of the occasion.

PHOTO CREDIT: An historic marker in East Sacramento tells how the property that is now Sutter Middle School, was once the New Helvetia Cemetery, established in 1847 by John Sutter. 2010 Sacramento Bee photo by Lezlie Sterling

Born: June 2, 1953

Known for: Cornel West, a John F. Kennedy High School graduate, is a social and economic philosopher. He is professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University.

Background: West was born in Tulsa, Okla. His father was a civilian Air Force administrator and his mother a teacher. West grew up in Sacramento before moving east and earning degrees from Harvard and Princeton. West's 1993 "Race Matters," which sold 400,000 copies, touched a nerve in the American public and triggered a national debate on race issues. He was also part of former President Clinton's National Conversation on Race. West received the Lannan 2005 Prize for Cultural Freedom at Shiloh Baptist Church in Sacramento, his childhood house of worship. The award recognizes work celebrating the human right to freedom of imagination, inquiry and expression. His latest book is "Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism."

A highlight: Irene B. West Elementary School in North Laguna Creek is named for West's mother, who was a teacher and a principal in the Elk Grove Unified School District for 27 years.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Arcadia Publishing just released two new volumes of regional interest: Donner Summit and its companion postcard book. They're written by Arthur Sommers who used images from his personal collection, the Donner Summit Historical Society, Nevada County Historical Society, Placer County Museums Division, and California State Library. The publisher's description:

The pass over Donner Peak in Northern California is known as Donner Summit and has been a critical route across the Sierra Nevada Mountains for centuries. First it was used by Native Americans, then early settlers, and then emigrant wagon trains such as those used by the ill-fated Donner Party, in whose honor the region is named. The first transcontinental railroad in the United States and the first transcontinental highway in America both made use of the Donner Summit route to gain access to California; even early aviators used a beacon at the Summit for guidance across the Sierras. Most of the communities and points of interest along the railroad and highway route up and over Donner Summit are covered in this book.

Arcadia Publishing is well known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 6,000 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: Dec. 30, 1825
Died: July 14, 1892

Known for: Republican Newton Booth was California's 11th governor (1872-1874) and a U.S. senator.

Background: Born in Salem, Ind., Booth arrived in Sacramento in 1850 and started a successful merchandising business with Charles Smith. He retired in 1856 and returned to Indiana but came back in 1860 and was elected a state senator two years later. In 1871, he became governor. Booth helped to form the "Dolly Vardens" party in 1873, and with its support was elected to the U.S. Senate. Since his swearing-in would take place 18 months later, he remained in office as governor after being elected. The controversial move prompted an attempt to amend the state constitution to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

A highlight: Sacramento's Newton Booth neighborhood -- bordered by 24th Street to the west, 30th Street to the east, X Street to the south and R Street to the north -- is named for the governor. He is buried at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Lodi's post-war period is the subject of a new volume in the Images of America series produced by Arcadia Publishing Co. Lodi: 1945-2005 was written by local author Ralph A. Clark, who selected photographs from the Hill House Museum, the Lodi Public Library and other groups and individuals. Here's the publisher's description:

From its beginning as a small pioneering settlement in 1869 to its growth into an agricultural and industrial modern city, Lodi has been touted for years as a desirable place to put down roots and raise a family. The fertile soil here on the south bank of the Mokelumne River has seen several generations of citizens proud of their city at the crossroads of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. Following World War II, Lodi's attractiveness as a family city has caused it to boom and grow, to the delight of some and consternation of others. In 2006, Lodi celebrated the centennial anniversary of its incorporation as a city and is now trying to preserve its unique heritage and identity as the livable and lovable place that it is.

Arcadia Publishing is well known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 6,000 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Born: Nov. 27, 1980

Known for: Jackie Greene, a Curtis Park resident, has attracted national attention as a multifaceted singer-songwriter who plays guitar, keyboards and harmonica. He has legions of "Greeneheads," who follow him from show to show.

Background: Greene was born in Monterey on Thanksgiving Day and settled in Cameron Park at age 11. He lived with his mother, Karen, who once played the flute, and three younger siblings. Greene started to show promise as a musician at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills. A Led Zeppelin devotee, he sought out some of the Willie Dixon tunes covered by the famed British band and was floored by the music's gut-level directness. Greene has performed as an opening act for Los Lobos, B.B. King and Buddy Guy. By age 23, Greene had produced three albums, a DVD and toured extensively. Last year, he took an unexpected turn to rock and roll with the American Myth CD for the Verve Forecast/Universal label.

A highlight: Last August, Greene made a debut performance before a national television audience when he sang "So Hard to Find My Way" on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Feb. 24, 1963

Known for: Tony Lopez was a three-time world champion boxer who compiled a 50-8-1 record with 34 knockouts. He was the first Sacramento-born fighter to win a world title.

Background: Lopez grew up in south Sacramento as a member of a boxing family. His father, Sal Lopez Sr., fought professionally as a lightweight in Southern California in the 1950s. His brother, Sal Jr., fought as a junior welterweight in the late 1970s and early '80s. Tony Lopez boasted a 29-1 record when he took on Rocky Lockridge for the IBF junior- lightweight title in July 1988 before 7,590 fans at the old, temporary Kings arena. Lopez was knocked down in the eighth round but recovered to dominate the final rounds and win a unanimous decision. He won nine other title fights, including a rematch against Lockridge, before retiring in 1999.

A highlight: In 1990, Lopez successfully defended his junior-lightweight title against Jorge Paez before an Arco Arena crowd of 15,008 and a gate of $601,000. For 10 years, both figures were state highs for a professional boxing match. His first fight against Lockridge was Ring Magazine's 1988 fight of the year.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

While the bloggers here at Sac History Happenings try and refrain from adding too much personal detail in our posts, I must confess that the release of Arcadia's book on Citrus Heights is for me, a total delight. I grew up in Citrus Heights, rode bicycles down Van Maren Lane, built forts in the oak trees near Misty Creek, and attended Sylvan Middle School.

As a youngster, I sensed that my surroundings had some history and heard that the junior high I attended was "pretty old."From the windows of my seventh grade science classroom, I looked out toward Sylvan Cemetery, not knowing that area residents established it as early as 1862.

Jim Van Maren, a descendant of one of Citrus Heights' founding families, authors this small illustrated publication. According to an Arcadia press release, the book's historic images are culled largely from the collection of the Van Maren family, who started farming the community in the 1850s.

The press release also mentions how "Citrus Heights has grown from a farming community settlement to a modern suburb and a favorite place for families to thrive in Sacramento County." Citrus Heights is now an officially incorporated city and is dotted with exceptional contemporary amenities. What I like about the place though, are the remnants of its rural past. There are still groves of oak trees, large lots of land, and plenty of early architecture to enjoy and explore.

I look forward to Van Maren's book and learning more about the past of my hometown.

Born: Dec. 9, 1822
Died: Sept. 13, 1914

Known for: James Ben Ali Haggin owned most of Rancho Del Paso in northern Sacramento County where he developed the world's largest and most successful horse breeding farm. At one time he owned 1,000 thoroughbreds, and in 1886 his namesake, Ben Ali, won the 12th Kentucky Derby.

Background: Haggin was the son of Ferah Temple Haggin, a prominent Louisville, Ky., attorney. He came to Sacramento in 1850, and by 1860 was a successful attorney in San Francisco. His partner and brother-in-law, Lloyd Tevis, was sued in 1862 by the owner of 44,374-acre Rancho Del Paso. Tevis won and he and Haggin acquired the land, which today is bordered by the American River, Northgate Boulevard, Manzanita Avenue-Fair Oaks Boulevard and Rio Linda's U Street. They sold it in 1910 for $1.5 million.

A highlight: Haggin's legacy here is very apparent: Ben Ali Temple and Activity Center, across from Hagginwood Park; Ben Ali School; and at least seven Haggins or Hagginwoods, including Haggin Oaks Municipal Golf Course. And streets are named for his horses -- Frienza, Dixieanne and Salvator.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Summertime is travel time. And if you're driving west on Interstate 80 past Dixon, you may wonder about that lonely "Milk Farm" sign just off the highway.

There's nothing around that curious sign except weeds. But Milk Farm was once a flourishing retail complex with gas stations, restaurant, gift store, fruit stand, and overnight cabins. There was even a kiddie train and pony rides. It was a real tourist mecca.

The restaurant closed in 1986 after a windstorm damaged its roof. Despite efforts to revive Milk Farm, it died a slow death.

Check out Bil Paul's recent "Then and Now" column in Dixon Patch explaining the rise and fall of the landmark.

PHOTO CREDIT: A bulldozer begins demolition of the a former gas station on the Milk Farm property in January 2000. Sacramento Bee photo by Dick Schmidt

Summer has finally come to Northern California. History buffs will doubtless be looking for educational day trips and Chico is one interesting destination.

It has a long, rich history that goes all the way back to 1850. That's when John Bidwell acquired the 28,000 acres comprising Rancho del Arroyo Chico. Arriving in 1841, Gen. Bidwell was part of the first American settler group to travel overland to California. For a time he worked for John Sutter in various capacities. In 1848 he made his fortune in gold discovered along the Middle Fork of the Feather River. Bidwell used his mining gains to purchase the Chico land grant and establish a major farming/ranching operation there.

The Chico News & Review recently published a helpful illustrated article on the city's history and historic attractions you can visit. These include the Bidwell Mansion, Chico Museum and Stansbury House.

You can also find a lot of basic information on Chico's history on the town's Wiki site.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Bidwell Mansion was built in 1865. 2001 Sacramento Bee photo by Christine Vovakes

Born: Feb. 18, 1968

Known for: A Roseville native, actress and singer Molly Ringwald starred in a trio of films -- "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club" and "Pretty in Pink" -- that helped usher in the 1980s "Brat Pack" era.

Background: Ringwald was born to blind jazz pianist Robert Scott Ringwald and homemaker Adele Edith. The family moved to Los Angeles when she was 10 so that she could pursue an acting career. (Her family later moved back to the area.) She worked on stage and in television, but it was starring in the 1980s films that made her a household name. Ringwald has spent the better part of her career trying to distance herself from her earlier work via independent film roles, stage forays and a stint living in France. Last fall, she performed in Sacramento at the Community Center Theater in a touring production of "Sweet Charity."

A highlight: She grew up singing for her father's traditional and swing bands in Sacramento. In 1974, the 6-year-old Ringwald stood on a chair to reach the microphone while performing at the first Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Before there was the News and Review, Midtown Monthly, or Sacramento Press, local readers flipped through pages of a neighborhood publication called Suttertown News. Founded by Tim Holt in 1977, the small paper, which ran until 1994, focused on issues of community, activism, politics, and the city's arts and cultural scene.

This Sunday, Holt makes a return to Sacramento as guest speaker for the Sacramento Living Library. He'll chat about his time in our community, the Suttertown publication, and his current life as a writer in Dunsmuir, California.

In addition to Holt's talk, guests can view a small exhibition of images from the Center for Sacramento History's Suttertown News Collection. The display will run through the night of Holt's talk and is currently on window display at Time Tested Books.

The Sacramento Living Library takes place on the third Sunday of every month at Time Tested Books. Doors open at 6:30 pm and talks begin at 7pm. Time Tested is located at 1114 21st Street, Sacramento. The event is free and all are invited.

PHOTO CREDIT: Suttertown News Staff, c. 1986, Center for Sacramento History, Suttertown News Collection, 1995/026/0362

The California State Library Foundation, though its membership fees and outside contributions, helps support the programs, services, and collections of the State Library. One of the benefits of foundation membership is receipt of its California State Library Foundation Bulletin, which is "published when [they] are able," usually two or three times a year. Copies are available to the public for purchase in the library's California History Room, but past and present issues can also be viewed online at http://www.cslfdn.org/pub.html

The current issue of the Bulletin available online is number #99 which, like the rest, features numerous articles of historical interest tied in to the library and its collections. The lead feature is on Gold Rush era San Francisco musicians Stephen C. Massett and Joseph F. Atwill, and includes contemporary sheet music from the California collection. Following is an article on Jack London's White Fang by former Talisman Press proprietor Robert Greenwood, whose analysis of the novel is complemented by stunning photographs from the library's collection depicting its 1898 Klondike Gold Rush setting. And not only does the library own a presentation copy of the book signed by London, but its special collections also contain the Talisman Press archives.

Another article in Bulletin #99 highlights trade card and citrus crate labels donated to the State Library from the collection of the late Dean L. Mawdsley, dating back to a pre-computer era when advertising and commercial art was hand-created by skilled artists (an amazing Sunkist California Dream orange crate label is featured on the Bulletin's cover). The donation of former State Librarian Gary E. Strong's California mystery book collection is highlighted, and in an article on the October 4, 2010 "Snapshot Day" to gather State Library usage data, library regulars will recognize some of the smiling faces depicted.

Many will find interesting the article in Bulletin #99 which relates the successful efforts of library staff members Vincent Beiderbecke and Matthew Bartok to photograph the Maynard Dixon mural Pageant of Tradition, on the wall of Gillis Hall in the old Library and Courts Building at 914 Capitol Mall, undertaken at a time when the room had been cleared prior to the structure's renovation. This is a fascinating story about the challenges involved in building a tracking, dolly, and lighting setup addressing the specific circumstances of this project. 

Shown here are photos of Gillis Hall in the old Library and Courts Building showing Dixon's mural and the system developed to photograph it, the Sunkist label on the cover of California State Library Foundation Bulletin #99, and a photo of Jack London from the California History Room collection.

Arcadia Publishing is well known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 6,000 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

This blog will announce Arcadia publications of regional interest as they are published. The most recent offerings are two volumes by Truckee historian and journalist Sherry Jennings.

Truckee (Images of America)

"In just over 150 years, Truckee has morphed from a collection of lawless rough-and-tumble settlements to a close-knit community with a sense of adventure at its core. The Truckee area was also at the cornerstone of many 19th-century technological innovations. From logging that kept trains stoked and fed Nevada mines to an ice-harvesting industry that transformed refrigerated transportation and the largest paper mill west of the Mississippi, Truckee proved its engineering mettle."

Truckee (Postcards of America)

"In this collection of vintage-photograph postcards, Sherry E. Jennings explores the town's past."

Born: Dec. 12, 1909
Died: Dec. 15, 1979

Known for: A Sacramento native, Stan Hack was a five-time All-Star third baseman who played 16 seasons (1932-47) and in four World Series for the Chicago Cubs.

Background: "Smiling" Stan Hack was a clerk in a Sacramento bank before he played for the Sacramento Solons in 1931. In his only season playing for the city's Triple-A club, the Sacramento High School product batted .352 with 232 hits and 128 runs. He was then sold to the Cubs for $50,000. As a Cub, the left-handed batter amassed a career .301 average and twice led the National League in hits, stolen bases and singles. Mainly a leadoff hitter, Hack smacked 57 home runs, drove in 642 runs and stole 165 bases during his Major League career. He batted .348 in 69 World Series at-bats. He also compiled a 199-272 record as a manager for the Cubs (1954-1956) and St. Louis (1958).

A highlight: On Oct. 8, 1945, Hack's double with two outs in the 12th inning gave the Cubs an 8-7 win in the sixth game of the World Series. It is the last World Series game the Cubs have won.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Here's a followup to a blog posting about the Doolittle Raiders practicing short takeoffs in Willows: a well-researched article about preparations for the famous bombing run with an emphasis on the aircraft modifications done at McClellan Field.

The Doolittle Raid, of course, was a morale-boosting attack on the Japanese mainland early in the war. The B-25 Mitchell bombers used in the operation normally takeoff on long, land-based runways. But Lt. Col. James Doolittle had the audacious idea of launching them from an aircraft carrier.

As Ronald H. Bailey and Susan Zimmerman write in the June World War II magazine, Doolittle supervised the B-25 training and retrofitting with a meticulous eye -- all while keeping the mission secret from virtually everyone, including McClellan maintenance workers. The article relates many interesting details on how the planes were specially modified to take off from the USS Hornet, make their attack on Japan and fly on to China.

PHOTO CREDIT: U.S. Army Air Corps Maj. Gen. James Doolittle fastens a medal on the tail of a 500-lb. bomb that he and the crew of sixteen B-25s dropped on Tokyo during a surprise raid on April 18, 1942. Associated Press photo

Born: Sept. 17, 1941
Died: Jan. 1, 2005

Known for: For 26 years, Robert Matsui, a Sacramento native, represented the 5th Congressional District. He was a leader in improving flood protection for the area and helped pass the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994.

Background: During most of World War II, Matsui and his family were confined in the Tule Lake internment camp. He graduated from McClatchy High School in 1959 before earning degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and Hastings College of the Law. Matsui won his Greenhaven-area City Council seat in 1971, the first Japanese American elected to the council. He was elected to Congress in 1978. Ten years later, he co-authored a bill that gave $20,000 apiece in cash reparations and an apology to surviving Japanese American internees. He was re-elected to Congress 13 times before dying of complications from a rare blood disorder.

A highlight: "It's a very emotional day for us," Matsui said when President Reagan signed the reparations bill into law. "It demonstrates that we as a nation do believe in the Constitution and the rights of individuals."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Sept. 15, 1943

Known for: Karen Kijewski is the author of nine successful mystery novels, all with "Kat" in the title and mostly set in Sacramento, featuring Kat Colorado.

Background: Kijewski (pronounced kee-EF-skee) moved to Sacramento in 1982 and supported her children by tending bar at the Sloughhouse Inn and later at A.J. Bumps. Her customers were politicians, professional athletes, businessmen, truck drivers and traveling salesmen. For eight years, she wrote during the day and tended bar at night. The bars were where she learned the quick comebacks that are so integral to Kat Colorado's language. She finished four books, which were rejected by every publishing house she approached. Then Kijewski started writing mysteries after hearing of a contest for first-time private-eye novelists, with prizes of $10,000 and the assurance of publication. Her first Kat book, "Kat Walk," won. The award allowed her to cut back on one bartending shift. She started writing full time after finishing her third Kat book, "Kat's Cradle" in 1991.

A highlight: Kijewski told The Bee in 1997: "I won three awards with 'Kat Walk.' It put me on the map. So after eight years of incredibly hard work, I became an overnight success."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: June 25, 1828
Died: Feb. 3, 1887

Known for: Mike Bryte was a successful dairyman and area landowner. The community of Bryte (now part of West Sacramento) was named for his family.

Background: Born in Clearcreek Township, Ohio, Bryte came to California and became a gold miner and businessman. In 1853, Bryte bought a small dairy north of Washington (now also part of West Sacramento).

In 1854, he contracted with the California Steam Navigation Co. to supply its river steamers with milk at 40 cents per gallon. In 1872, Bryte moved his family to Sacramento County, where he served two terms as sheriff.

A highlight: Bryte's son George later sold his and his two sisters' interest in the Bryte family land. Originally called the Riverbank settlement, the conditions of the sale required that the area carry the name of Bryte and that a street must carry the names of the sellers. Anna and Carrie streets in northern West Sacramento are named after the two Bryte sisters.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Local historian Lance Armstrong has provided us with an informative two-part series on Rancho del Paso, published recently in Valley Community Newspapers.

Rancho del Paso was a 44,000-acre Mexican land grant that covered much of present-day Carmichael and Arden. Its rich agricultural soil gave rise to orchards, vineyards, oak groves, and fields of alfalfa, hops and other crops. It also was an excellent environment for stock farms.

Armstrong explains that Capt. John A. Sutter claimed rights to this land and deeded it to Eliab Grimes, Hiram Grimes and John Sinclair, even though Sutter didn't actually own it. The property passed through several owners before being subdivided and sold off.

The most famous owner was James Ben Ali Haggin, a rancher who raised sheep, cattle and world-renowned race horses. Haggin's great thoroughbred, Ben Ali, won the 1886 Kentucky Derby.

PHOTO CREDITS: Ben Ali, the Kentucky Derby winner, is immortalized as a statue in developer Paul Petrovich's newest public art contribution at the corner of Marconi and Eastern Avenues in Sacramento. 2009 Sacramento Bee photo by Anne Williams. James Ben Ali Haggin.

Born: Jan. 20, 1883
Died: Feb. 16, 1977

Known for: Often called "the father of McClellan Air Force Base," Arthur S. Dudley, as secretary-manager of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce for 23 years, was instrumental in establishing McClellan Field and reactivating Mather Field.

Background: A native of West Salem, Wis., Dudley in 1920 was hired by the local chamber. In 1932, the Army closed Mather Field despite his campaign to keep it open. Dudley testified several times before congressional committees on bills that affected Sacramento and the West Coast. On June 22, 1936, President Roosevelt signed a bill that paved the way for six bases to be built, including the Sacramento Air Depot. In 1941, the Army Air Corps reopened Mather as a flight training school and enlarged it by several thousand acres.

A highlight: With a one-time population of 24,000 workers and residents, McClellan was a critical link in the nation's defense from World War II through the Persian Gulf War. An elementary school is named for Dudley in the Antelope area of Sacramento.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

At the start of spring, the University of California Press released a new arts, culture, and history-based publication called Boom: A Journal of California.

The first issue features several scholarly articles which address California's economic and social difficulties (titles include "How to Fix a Broken State" by Joe Matthews and Mark Paul, and "Race and the Mythology of California's Lost Paradise" by Daniel HoSang.) A music-related article by Jesse Drew, Associate Professor of Technocultural Studies at UC Davis, addresses something slightly different.

The article, titled "Country Music's California Heart," discusses the musical genre's reputation as an art form steeped in traditional or conservative values, and the ways in which those values may be at odds with California as a place of "nontraditional lifestyles, radical protest movements and a rejection of the status quo." In the article, Drew considers where California Country music fits into the vast political spectrum.

"County Music's California Heart" features images obtained from the Center for Sacramento History and makes specific reference to longtime Sacramento resident Bob Wills, his western swing band, the Texas Playboys, and the bygone era of Wills Point (an entertainment venue located near today's I-80 off ramp to Auburn Boulevard.) Some Sac History Happenings readers may be surprised to know that country music has locally established roots...

Information regarding subscriptions to Boom: A Journal of California may be found at the following link: http://ucpressjournals.com/journal.asp?j=boom and details regarding Jesse Drew's current film project "Big Country: The Politics of Country Music" may be found through his website: http://www.jessedrew.com/ 

IMAGE CREDIT: Postcard of Wills Point, Courtesy of the Center for Sacramento History, City of Sacramento Collection, 2001/x-03/0126

Born: May 1, 1894
Died: May 25, 1936

Known for: A U.S. Army aviation pioneer, Maj. Hezekiah McClellan died while testing a Consolidated PB-2A aircraft, which went into a spin and crashed near Centerville, Ohio. On Dec. 1, 1939, the War Department renamed the Sacramento Air Depot as McClellan Field in his honor.

Background: Born in Hall, Ill., McClellan attended Butler University in Indianapolis. In 1917, he enlisted in the aviation section of the U.S. Army Signal Corps and went to the University of California, Berkeley, to study military aeronautics. By 1934, McClellan had become one of the Army Air Corps' top pilots. The following year, he made the first landing of a military aircraft above the Arctic Circle at Point Barrow, Alaska. The Army promoted McClellan to major in September 1935.

A highlight: During a 38-day trip to Nome and Point Barrow, Alaska, in 1935, McClellan gathered information about the area from people living there, took many aerial and ground photographs and compiled charts and records about the Arctic that helped pilots who later flew there.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Aug. 29, 1926
Died: Sept. 22, 2010

Known for: Grant High School athlete Don Doll was a four-time All-Pro defensive back with the Detroit Lions who intercepted 41 passes in his NFL career.

Background: Doll, known as Don Burnside during his prep career, was named Cal-Hi Sports' State Player of the Year for football as a quarterback in 1943. He is one of only four Sacramento-area players to earn that honor. He led the University of Southern California in rushing three times. His USC career was interrupted by World War II. He was named all-conference at USC in 1947 and 1948. He was a fourth-round selection in the 1949 National Football League draft for the Lions. He holds Detroit's record for interceptions in a season (12) and return yards (301). He was named most valuable player in the 1953 Pro Bowl game. He coached USC's football team in 1957 and 1958.

A highlight: On Oct. 23, 1949, Doll intercepted four passes in a 24-7 victory over the Chicago Cardinals, an NFL record he shares with 17 players.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

That California's government is seriously broken is apparent to observers on all points of the political spectrum. A much lauded new compilation Remaking California: Reclaiming the Public Good presents the analysis of leading writers and scholars who "probe the roots of this crisis, trace its effects on people's lives and the environment, and propose reforms to remedy problems and restore the state's democratic promise."

The book's editor and three contributors will be on hand for an upcoming panel discussion organized by the Center for Sacramento History and the Sacramento History Foundation. The event features Dr. Jeffrey Lustig, CSUS professor of government; Dan Walters, Bee political columnist; Lenny Goldberg, California Tax Reform Association Executive Director; and Osha Meserve, Sacramento attorney specializing in environmental concerns.

What: Remaking California, Breaking Political Gridlock
When: Wednesday, May 4, 201: doors open at 6:30 p.m.; lecture at 7:00 p.m.
Place: Jean Runyon Little Theater, Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J Street, Sacramento
Cost: $5.00 suggested donation at the door
For more information: call (916) 808-7072

Press Release

UC Davis history professor Louis S. Warren has won a prestigious fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.

Warren, who is the W. Turrentine Jackson Professor of Western U.S. History, studies "the history of the American West, especially the changing connections between people and nature, Native American history and the history of California." He is author of Buffalo Bill's America and American Environmental History. Warren also co-edits Boom, a new journal concerned with the Golden State's culture, history and politics.

Warren intends to use the $40,000 research grant to complete his latest work: A Hole in the Dream: the Ghost Dance and the Making of Modern America, a book examining the struggle of Native Americans to preserve their religion and culture in the 1890s.

Incidentally, Prof. Warren was interviewed on the public radio program Studio 360 about the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody. Listen to the program here.

A Leap of Imagination, the newest exhibit at the Placer County Museums, boasts a zoo full of beautifully painted antique carousel animals. In addition to a herd of horses, there swans, bears, rabbits, tigers, camels and other critters. Check out the photos in the Museum's blog.

What: A Leap of Imagination
Where: Placer County Museum (Historic Courthouse), 101 Maple St., Auburn
When: Open everyday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm; closed Holidays
Cost: Free
For more information: (530) 889-6500
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The latest edition of The Placer, the Placer County Museums' newsletter, contains an interesting article describing travel along the Auburn-Sacramento Road in the 1850s. According to historian Ralph Gibson, it took ten hours for the average wagon to make the 45-mile trip. The road started out as a miners trail used to bring supplies to the upper foothills. It evolved into a dirt thoroughfare that became a muddy mess in the rainy season.

Born: March 31, 1897
Died: Nov. 20, 1993

Known for: An active member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Oak Park, Sparks was a driving force in the growth of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Background: Born in Longview, Texas, Sparks came to Sacramento in 1917. She worked as a maid in a brothel, an elevator operator at the Capitol, a silver polisher at Breuner's department store and a domestic helper in the homes of the wealthy. Deciding to do something about the shortage of housing for African American women here after World War I, Sparks and six other women formed the Negro Women's Civic Improvement Club and raised enough money to buy a house so women had a place to stay. In the 1920s, she was the NAACP chapter's first secretary. In the 1930s, she was the lead organizer for the group's youth council. In the 1940s, when the African American population of Sacramento grew rapidly as a result of the war, she was the chapter's president.

A highlight: The Netta Sparks Senior Activity Annex in Oak Park is named in her honor.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

The Southern Pacific shops at Sacramento, the oldest and largest of the railroad, are the focus of this month's general membership meeting of the Sacramento County Historical Society.

Historian Bob Pecotich, author of Southern Pacific's Sacramento Shops: Incubator of Innovation, will lecture on the enormously productive facility which "built or rebuilt hundreds of steam and diesel locomotives, and thousands of freight and passenger cars, along with extensive work on passenger and official cars, in its history from 1868 to 1990."

Pecotich is also co-author of Southern Pacific Steam Pictorial, Vols. 1 & 2, which are heavily illustrated with photographs and statistics on dozens of vintage steam locomotives.

What: Sacramento's SP Railroad Shops
When: Tuesday, April 26, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society Building, 5380 Elvas Ave., Sacramento.
Cost: Free for SCHS members and the general public.
For more information: 916-443-6265 or www.sachistoricalsociety.org

On this 105th anniversary of the massive earthquake that devastated San Francisco, it's appropriate to ponder the role Sacramento played in the tragedy.

Though there was no damage locally, the 5:12 a.m. tremors were widely felt in the capital. After news of the destruction hit town, Sacramentans responded quickly to the emergency by forming a relief committee, sending money, food and supplies, and taking care of the several thousand refugees who fled the Bay Area.

A 2006 Bee story recalled three Sacramento-based U.S. Geological Survey employees who left us detailed accounts of their experiences with the earthquake.

And speaking of the Bee, on the day of the quake the newspaper quickly dispatched a team of journalists to San Francisco and published their initial impressions in the afternoon edition:

San Francisco was practically wrecked by an earthquake at 5:10 this morning. The shock lasted three minutes. Thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed. The loss of life is reported to be great.

There is no water and fire rages all over the city. All wires with the exception of one are gone. The City Hall, costing $7,000,000, is in ruins. Modern buildings suffered less than brick and frame.

The terror and excitement are indescribable. Most of the people were asleep, and were suddenly aroused and rushed into the streets, undressed. Buildings swayed and crashed, burying occupants. ... People flocked to the telegraph offices to send messages to friends and were frantic because there were no wires. ...

The greatest damage to buildings was done south of Market Street, where there are mostly frame houses and tenement houses. Fire broke out in nearly every block of the district.

PHOTO CREDIT: USGS stenographer Adelena M. Fontaine in the Pacific Region Topographic Mapping office in Sacramento. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, she assisted refugees who arrived in Sacramento by train. Courtesy the George R. Davis family.

Born: Feb. 4, 1820
Died: Sept. 16, 1859

Known for: A California state senator, lieutenant governor and U.S. senator, David Broderick was killed in a duel with David Terry, former chief justice of the state Supreme Court. The former town of Broderick (now part of West Sacramento) was named for him.

Background: Broderick started his political career in his native state of New York and came to California during the Gold Rush. He acquired wealth by privately minting gold coins. Broderick served in the state Senate from 1850--1851 and was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, beginning his service in 1857. An anti-slavery advocate, he clashed with Terry, who favored extending slavery into California. Broderick read some inflammatory remarks Terry made against him at a Democratic Party convention, then responded in kind. Terry and Broderick met at Lake Merced for a duel Sept. 13, 1859. Terry shot Broderick in the chest after Broderick's gun fired prematurely. Broderick died three days later.

A highlight: Broderick was elected president of the state Senate in 1851, thereby becoming California's second lieutenant governor.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings. 

On Sunday, April 17 at 7pm, Peter Keat of Time Tested Books and Tim Foster of Midtown Monthly will host another one of their successful Sacramento Living Library speaker's events. This time around, the discussion will include "well-known radio personalities Jeff Hughson, Bob Keller, Dennis Newhall, and Robert Williams for a look back at the Valley's much beloved rock station, 98.5, KZAP."

According to Foster, the series' official host and sometimes-moderator, the KZAP-related event offers community members the opportunity to "get a look at the behind-the-scenes history of the region's best-loved rock station. For an entire generation, KZAP was the sound of Sacramento. "

KZAP certainly left its mark on the city, as did the station's infamous grinning cat.

Seats for Remembering KZAP 1968-1992 are sure to fill up quickly and guests should plan an early arrival. Doors open at 6:30pm and the discussion kicks off at 7pm. Time Tested Books is located at 1114 21st Street, Sacramento. The event is free and all are invited.

 IMAGE CREDIT: Center for Sacramento History, Jeffrey Hughson Collection, 2009/014/XX 

A new biography of Elizabeth Bacon Custer, wife of Indian fighter George Armstrong Custer, will be released this week. None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead is co-written by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss, a Nevada City author of many histories and historical novels, mostly about women in the Old West.

In her new book Enss recounts the couple's early romance, adventurous life in the military, the death of the General at Little Big Horn and Libby's career afterwards as a writer, lecturer and tireless defender of her husband's reputation. She emerges as a master propagandist who successfully crafted the image of George Custer as a heroic figure.

Enss recently discussed Elizabeth Custer's legacy on the local KXPR radio program Insight with Jeffrey Callison. You can hear a recording of that segment here.  Enss was also interviewed about her book by KNCO and Chronicle of the Old West.

PHOTO CREDIT: Maj. Gen. George and Elizabeth Custer. Photo courtesy of the Medford Historical Society.

Born: March 25, 1971 Known for: Auburn native Stacy Dragila won the first women's Olympic pole vaulting gold medal in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 and set the American record of 15 feet, 10 inches in 2004.

Background: Stacy Mikaelson grew up on her father's farm in Auburn and attended Alta Vista Elementary, E.V. Cain Middle and Placer High schools. She met her husband, Brent Dragila, at Placer High. She was recruited by Yuba College and trained for the seven-event heptathlon before earning a scholarship to Idaho State University. In 1997, she became the first woman to win the world indoor pole vaulting championship and in 1999 became the first woman to win the outdoor title. At the 2000 Olympic Trials at California State University, Sacramento, Dragila qualified for the Olympic team by vaulting 15 feet, 21/4 inches. She placed fourth in the pole vault at the 2004 Athens Games. Her goal is to make the U.S. team for the world championships in Osaka, Japan, in August and qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

A highlight: Following the 2000 Olympics, Dragila's photo was featured on a Wheaties box. Pocatello, Idaho, has named a street after her, Dragila Way.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

On Nov. 18, 1942 an Army AT-7 aircraft flying from Mather Field to Corning with a four-man crew went missing. Five years later a hiker found its wreckage in the mountains of Kings Canyon National Park. Although a dog tag was found at that time, it took another 58 years to recover any of the bodies.

The discovery of the first "Frozen Airman," Leo Mustonen, made big news in 2005. The remains of a second crewman, Ernest Munn, were recovered in 2007, found by Peter Stekel, a writer who was researching the crash. His findings were documented in a blog and later in a book, Final Flight.

Stekel will discuss the story of the airmen and their ill-fated training mission this Sunday at the California State Military Museum.

What: Meet the Author, Peter Stekel
Where: California State Military Museum, 1119 2nd St., Sacramento
When: Aug. 10, 1 to 3 p.m.
Cost: The event is free with museum admission. Adults, $5; children (Age 6-17) & seniors (55+), $3; children (Age 0-5), veterans, military members (with ID) and museum members, free.
For more info: phone (916) 854-1904 or email the museum

PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Stekel with wreckage of the AT-7 aircraft that crashed on Mount Mendel in 1942. August 2007 photo by Michele Hinatsu.

Born: June 12, 1957

Known for: Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield founded the Fantasy Theatre in Sacramento and with his older brother, Buck, the B Street Theatre. He has appeared in more than 40 films, including "Field of Dreams," and 20 television shows, including most recently "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." He has directed many plays and more than 50 TV episodes.

Background: A Lansing, Mich., native, Busfield attended East Tennessee State University. His early film roles included "Stripes" and "Revenge of the Nerds," along with television roles in "The Paper Chase" and "Trapper John, M.D." In 1986, he created Fantasy Theatre, a touring group that performs for 200,000 students annually in Northern California. In 1991, he and Buck opened the B Street Theatre, where he has appeared in and directed numerous contemporary works. The theater has premiered original or West Coast productions by Aaron Sorkin, Kenneth Lonergan and other noted playwrights.

A highlight: Timothy Busfield has been nominated four times for television's Emmy Award, winning in 1991 for his work in "thirtysomething."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Sacramento philanthropist Margaret Crocker is the subject of a 2-part series recently penned by local historian Lance Armstrong for Valley Community Newspapers. Armstrong's focus is the May 6, 1885 grand celebration honoring Crocker for her many contributions to the city that included the donation of land and Bell Conservatory to the city cemetery, the Marguerite Home for "aged gentlewomen," and most notably, the E.B. Crocker Art Galley (now known as the Crocker Museum). The event took the form of an elaborate flower festival held at the then-new Pavilion of the California State Agricultural Society (15th and N Streets). The affair drew thousands of well-wishers and was described as "the most magnificent floral fete in the world's history."

To help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Crocker Art Gallery in 1985, The Bee published a lengthy profile of Margaret Crocker written by freelance author Lillieanne Chase.

Born: Feb. 25, 1939

Known for: Phil Isenberg served for seven years as Sacramento mayor (1975-82) and 14 years in the state Assembly.

Background: Isenberg, the son of a state parole hearing officer and a school administrator, graduated from El Camino High School and went to California State University, Sacramento. In 1967, he earned his law degree at the University of California, Berkeley's Boalt Hall and went immediately to work as a lawyer in Willie Brown's San Francisco law office. In 1969, he came back to Sacramento to open a law office. Two years later, he began serving two years as a member of the Sacramento City Council before becoming mayor. During his tenure in the Legislature, he specialized in a variety of governmental activities, including the state budget and state-local government financial relations. He serves on a variety of boards of directors, including WEAVE (Women Escaping a Violent Environment) in Sacramento.

A highlight: During the 63-day delay in passing a state budget in 1992, Isenberg and Republican Sen. Frank Hill proposed an alternative budget that helped lead to an eventual settlement of the deadlock.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were compiled by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Born: Nov. 2, 1956

Known for: Dale Brown, a former Folsom resident and U.S. Air Force captain, is the author of a string of best-selling military-action-aviation adventure novels.

Background: A Buffalo, N.Y., native, Brown graduated from Penn State University with a degree in western European history and received a U.S. Air Force commission in 1978. In 1986, Brown left the Air Force, where he worked as a navigator, to write books. While stationed in Sacramento, he and his wife "fell in love" with the area and stayed after his retirement. His wife, Diane Brown, retired from the Sacramento Police Department, where she worked as a lieutenant. They now live in Incline Village, near Lake Tahoe. Brown's latest novel, "Strike Force," went on sale earlier this month. Other recent best-sellers include "Edge of Battle," "Act of War," "Plan of Attack" and "Air Battle Force."

A highlight: Brown is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a nonprofit national charitable medical transportation organization that flies needy patients free of charge to receive treatment.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were compiled by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Here's motivation for finishing that family chronicle you've been meaning to write. Enter Root Cellar's Family History Writing Contest.

The Sacramento Genealogical Society is looking for "factual articles about family or local history, character sketches, or memoirs. Submissions should relate the experiences of a family or individuals, revealing their character and personality. The best entries will display the human drama and historical or social situation of the subjects."

Entries should be 500 to 2,000 words in length and may include images or documents, though the judges consider only writing for this contest. See complete description of prizes and contest rules. The deadline for submissions is April 30. Winners will be announced by May 25. For more information, contact Ron Setzer, PreservesEditor@macnexus.org.

To help get you started, here are Ten Easy Steps to Writing Your Family History from Ancestry Magazine.

UPDATE: Winning essays announced (May 24, 2011)

*  *  *
Root Cellar is also sponsoring a 1-day class in which participants will learn a variety of online tools for researching ancestors. Guest instructor is Geoff Rasmussen, genealogist with Legacy Millennia Corp.

Root Cellar Spring Seminar
April 9, 2011. 9:00-3:45 p.m.
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
11427 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Pre-registration required (use this online form)
$22 - Root Cellar Members
$27 - Non-Members (application on website)
$32 - After March 31st
Lunch optional - pre-order only - with registration
For more information:
Sammie Hudgens (916) 481-4930
Billie Helms (916) 991-5971
www.rootcellar.org

Born: Sept. 5, 1825
Died: Jan. 3, 1910

Known for: Darius Ogden Mills was a merchant, banker and philanthropist who made his fortune during the Gold Rush. He founded Bank of California.

Background: Mills accompanied his brothers, James and Edgar, to California in 1849. Mills invested his savings in miners' supplies and, working with his brothers, sold enough goods to earn the nucleus of a fortune. He opened his first bank in his brothers' Sacramento store. In 1852, Mills erected a bank building at 226 J St. He became a dominant figure in Pacific Coast banking circles. He was president of the Bank of California, established in 1864 in San Francisco, and later a leading figure in the Bank of New York. Three Mills hotels in New York for homeless men were internationally famous. The D.O. Mills Bank was moved to Seventh and J streets in 1912 and later merged with the California National Bank, which closed in 1930.

A highlight: In 1883, Mills donated to the state of California a marble statue of Christopher Columbus soliciting assistance from Queen Isabella of Spain for his pioneering journeys. It is displayed in the first floor of the state Capitol.

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were compiled by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

Mexican Americans aren't prominent in historical fiction and movie depictions of early California. When they do appear, says writer Fausto Avendaño, they are often treated stereotypically.

Avendaño is a novelist, poet and playwright, who retired last year after teaching Spanish language and literature for 37 years at Sacramento State. His latest book, Santa Maria, is intended to paint a more balanced picture of Mexican-American life in the first decades of the state. It's the story of two families--one Mexican, one Anglo--who are "caught up in the turmoil of the 1850's, a time of upheaval, when Mexican rural society is turned upside down."

"The main thing I want people to understand about the book is that Mexican-Americans have a story to tell during the 1850s and that they were not absent and were here all along and that it was a very difficult time for them," Avendaño said in a Valley Community Newspaper interview.

The struggles and loss of land of Mexican Americans are major themes in Santa Maria, as well as in Avendaño's prior novel, Salazar's Gold.

You can purchase both books at the Spanishpress.com web site, where you can also download the first chapter of Santa Maria for free.

Genealogists and military historians will appreciate the online availability of World War II-era casualty lists that have been scanned by the National Archives.

The War Department published these booklets in 1946 with the "intent was to disseminate the information to the general public in a timely manner, for the benefit of next of kin, and even with an eye towards the needs of veterans and patriotic organizations". Each volume covers an individual state and may be retrieved and browsed using the Archival Research Catalog.

The Army and Navy Departments issued separate and differently organized lists. The Army series is entitled World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Organized by county, these state booklets lists the names of soldiers and airmen who died (or were missing) during the war along with their serial numbers, ranks and types of casualty (KIA, MIA, DOW, etc.).

The Navy version, entitled State Summary of War Casualties, displays the dead and wounded among the sailors, marines and coast guardsman who served. These state volumes are organized by casualty type, then alphabetically by name. The entries include rank and the name, address and relationship of next-of-kin.

When this blog began I turned to Kevin Starr's California: A History for a quick overview of the people and events that shaped the Golden State. I also needed a good one-volume history of Sacramento and fortunately found it in Sacramento: Indomitable City by Steven M. Avella.

Like Starr's book, Avella's is packed with names, dates and events, but reads well. Its over-arching theme is summed up in the subtitle -- a reference to the town's Latin motto Urbs indomita. Throughout its 161-year history, Sacramento did manage to survive -- if not flourish -- despite flood, fire, disease, depression and war. And Avella covers it all, from prehistory up to the opening of Raley Field in 2000.

One bit of Sacramento history that surprised me was the accidental location of the city's commercial district. Samuel Brannan was a land speculator and merchant who wanted to get rich selling goods to prospectors invading the region. He needed a riverfront base for trade and sought property in Sutterville (a settlement about four miles south of the mouth of the American River). When Brannan was refused by Sutterville developer Lansford Hastings, he moved his operation upriver to a spot where K St. is today. As Avella notes: "By this simple act, Brannan established the location of the present-day city of Sacramento, for around this wilderness embarcadero, a new community would arise."

All in all, Sacramento: Indomitable City is an insightful survey of the transformation of a Gold Rush frontier settlement through its evolution as a railroad terminus, government town, military center and modern metropolis. It's worth a look by anyone interested in the subject.

A little about the author: Steven M. Avella is Professor of History of Marquette University. He grew up in Sacramento and has written several books about the town, including Sacramento and the Catholic Church: Shaping a Capital City, The Diocese of Sacramento: A Journey of Faith and The Good Life: Sacramento's Consumer Culture. He's currently working on a biography of Charles K. McClatchy (The Bee's Editor from 1883-1936).

Bee staff writer Dixie Reid wrote an interesting profile of Avella in 2008 when his Good Life was published.

PHOTO CREDIT: Samuel Brannan. The Bancroft Library.

The volatile weather has got folks wondering if it will snow overnight. Weather experts expect just a light dusting in the Valley.

The white stuff doesn't fall often in Sacramento, and the prospect reminds us of past snowfall in the city. When did it last snow appreciably? That's a matter of contention. According to Climate of Sacramento, California, NOAA's almanac of weather records, there have been trace amounts in 2002, 1996, 1988 and 1988. But you have to go back to Feb. 5, 1976 to get any accumulation (2 inches).

NOAA's climate records go back to 1879. In these 132 years snow fell in Sacramento only 42 times (and only 14 times with more than a trace). The biggest month in history was January 1888 when a total of 3.6 inches came down.

The Center for Sacramento History has some vintage Sacramento snow photos in its online catalog, mostly from the Jan. 30, 1922 storm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Chibi, the dog, has second thoughts about wandering around Land Park in the snow. Land Park pro Don Oreb braved the weather to give a putting lesson to 4 year old Rickey Gregson on Feb. 5, 1976. Leo Neibaur / Sacramento Bee

Root Cellar, the local genealogical group, recently published the second volume of Sacramento County Coroner records, 1887-1969. An important source of data for family historians, this new collection consists of three books: Record of Inquisition Certificates, 1903-1907; Coroner's Record of Inquests, 1903-1909; and Coroner's Record -- Alphabetical, 1903-1914. Together these records yield essential bits of information including: "place, date or cause of death; date and arrangements for burial; and property description and name and relationship of the person receiving such property."

Researchers may consult this and other materials at the Root Cellar Library. Or you may purchase Volume II by using the online form on the Root Cellar website.

Read the full press release.

Feb. 19 marks the 69th anniversary of the Executive Order 90066, the presidential directive that authorized the forced evacuation of Japanese Americans during World War II. It's also the Day of Remembrance at the Manzanar National Historic Site, one of the internment camps.

This year authors Elaine Elinson and Stan Yogi will speak on civil rights struggles in the state's history. Their 2010 book, Wherever There's a Fight; How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers, and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California, "captures the sweeping story of how freedom and equality have grown in California, from the gold rush right up to the precarious post-9/11 era." Lectures are scheduled for Saturday, February 19 and Sunday, February 20 at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.at the Manzanar Interpretive Center. Manzanar is located at 5001 Hwy. 395, six miles south of Independence, Calif.

If you can't get over to Manzanar, you can meet the writers at two upcoming appearances in the region: March 5, 7 p.m. at Davis Avid Reader, 617 2nd St.; and March 6, 4 p.m. at Sacramento Avid Reader, 1600 Broadway. Both readings are free and open to the public.

Incidentally, the Wherever There's a Fight website has some useful historical resources, including Resources for Educators and a California Civil Liberties Timeline.

The Sacramento County Historical Society maintains a partial online collection of back issues of Golden Notes, the group's scholarly journal originating in 1954.

To commemorate Black History Month, SCHS uploaded the Spring 1999 edition, Ungraded School No. 2 Colored: The African American Struggle for Education in Victorian Sacramento by Marilyn K. Demas. In this in-depth study, Demas, retired teacher and activist with the Old City Cemetery Committee, recounted the "tenacity, courage and ingenuity" of Sacramento African Americans in the 1800s who overcame prejudice and segregation to obtain decent schooling for their children. Central to the story was Sarah Mildred Jones, a teacher at Ungraded School No. 2, who later became principal of Fremont Primary School when it was integrated by the Sacramento Board of Education in 1894.

A 2004 Bee article profiled Demas and describes how her work at the Old Sacramento School House Museum led to her research on early California educators.

True or false, did Mark Twain say: "whiskey is for drinking, but water is worth fighting over"?

Despite the many politicians who have used the quip (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gray Davis, Dianne Feinstein, among them), scholars maintain there's no evidence the humorist wrote it.

"I have never run across that quotation," says Clemens biographer Jerome R. Loving who has combed through the extensive Mark Twain collection at UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library. Loving was interviewed for the recent McClatchy DC Bureau story describing the controversy.

Speaking of Twain, much has been made of his connection to Sacramento, where he reported for the Daily Union. But as the attached 2005 Bee story explained, the writer's relationship to this city -- and Northern California in general -- was fleeting at best. Still, that hasn't stopped historians, tourism concerns and newspapers from promoting it.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Twain Monument in Utica Park at Angel's Camp, Calif. 1985 photo by Skip Shuman / Sacramento Bee.

I have a confession. My knowledge of California history is fairly miniscule. So to avoid making stupid mistakes in this blog, I thought I better cram with a good one-volume history of the Golden State. And who better to turn to than Kevin Starr, former State Librarian, current USC Professor and one of the most eminent of California's historians?

Starr has penned seven authoritative books chronicling the state's story, starting with Americans and the California Dream and ending with Golden Dreams: California in the Age of Abundance. Fortunately for us, he condensed his vast scholarship into a very readable and insightful single volume.

Although California: a History covers a lot of ground (prehistory to the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger) and mentions dozens (if not hundreds) of names, places and events, a coherent picture of the state emerges out of some elegant writing. Starr's book is balanced, recounting both the triumphs and tragedies, accomplishments and mistakes, the best and the worst that characterizes the California experience. He goes beyond the usual military conquests and political developments to describe the profound contributions of explorers, missionaries, businessmen, scientists, engineers, writers, architects, painters, film makers, labor leaders and environmentalists, who gave so much to the state -- and to the world.

California: a History is a great read and worth a look. But I'm sure there are other vauable sources for the novice (books, journals, films, etc.). Share your suggestions in the comments below.

PHOTO CREDIT: Former state librarian Kevin Starr is congratulated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during the annual California Hall of Fame ceremony, Dec. 2010. Sacramento Bee photo by Hector Amezcua.

The Elk Grove Library (8900 Elk Grove Blvd.) will host three local history authors this Saturday, January 22 at 1 p.m.:

The history of Sacramento and Elk Grove unfolds through the work of three well-known local authors ... Historians Nadia West, Elizabeth Pinkerton, and Lawrence Tom will bring their perspectives to the Elk Grove Library. Hear discussions about the survivors of the Donner Party and their lives in Rancho Murrieta, life in Sacramento's early Chinatown, and how roads and towns were named after local settlers.

For more information about this and other Elk Grove Library programs, visit http://www.saclibrary.org/ElkGrove.

The latest issue of Golden Nuggets (the newsletter of the Sacramento County Historical Society) is out.

The lead item announces that Jody and Ric Honor will speak at the Jan. 25 meeting. The Honors publish a unique series of California history books. Unique because he texts are composed entirely of the words of people who lived in 19th century California. The Golden History Books "are compiled from primary sources including circa 1880s history books, diaries, journals, letters, and newspaper articles" and include "no interpretation, no editing (except for length), and no repetition between books". The volumes are richly illustrated with restored photographs collected from dozens of archives around the country.

Sacramento County Historical Society Meeting
January, 25, 2011, 7 p.m.
Sierra Sac Valley Medical Society Building
5380 Elvas Ave, Sacramento
Directions: http://www.ssvms.org/directions/
SCHS Message Phone: 916-443- 6265

On this (and every) Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, we pause to appreciate the civil rights leader's magnificent oratory, especially the "I Have a Dream" address he gave to thousands of people in 1963 on the National Mall in Washington.

Despite the fact that this famous speech is often quoted in lecture halls, newspapers and classrooms, it's actually illegal to reprint the text in full - at least without permission. That's because all forms of the speech are owned by the King estate, which has enforced its copyright strenuously over the years.

King himself sought copyright for the address about a month after delivering it. In December 1963, he successfully stopped the unauthorized sale of recordings in a case known as King v. Mister Maestro, Inc. Much later in 1999, a federal court upheld the copyright in Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr. v. CBS, Inc., a case in which the TV network argued unsuccessfully that the speech had fallen into public domain.

The NPR program On the Media recently discussed the irony of the copyright, noting that Dr. King appropriated key elements of his address from other sources.

In any case, there are plenty of places on the Internet where you can read the complete text, hear and watch the speech in full. Martin Luther King Online is one handy source.

PHOTO CREDIT: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial for his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington, in this Aug. 28, 1963. AP file photo.

California Northern: A New Regionalism is a new biannual publication that explores the region's culture, politics and history with high-quality photography, essays, poetry, fiction and long-form journalism. Its publisher is former Contra Costa Times reporter Casey Mills, who describes the magazine as:

a place that offers windows into various aspects of life here in Northern California. A place where people can write about what they know. A place to explore our collective and regional identities, to think about who we are and what we share. It's an effort to explain why so many of us believe Northern California is a unique place worth caring for. And it's a forum for sparking dialogue, a home for strong opinions, in-depth reportage, basic storytelling, and for everything in between.

CN's first issue featured a lengthy profile of Jerry Brown, written by Calitics blogger Robert Cruickshank before the November election. Cruickshank describes the serious economic challenges Brown faced in his first two terms as governor (1975-83) and suggests that his response to the crisis -- and to the taxpayer revolt embodied in Proposition 13 -- gives us some insight into how Brown will govern the third time around.

The second issue of California Northern was published on Dec. 10. Included is a piece on author Raymond Carver's connection to the state, as well as the memoir of Yoshito Wayne Osaki, a Japanese American interned during World War II

Today's Bee story by about the 100-ounce gold nugget unearthed in Nevada County is a fun read -- and a reminder of California's Gold Rush that brought 300,000 to the state. As any history buff knows, gold was found Jan. 24, 1848 at John Sutter's sawmill on the American River near Coloma. It was that discovery which triggered the prospecting boom.

The so-called Washington Nugget will be auctioned by geologist Fred Holabird in March. Reporter Carlos Alcala notes that Holabird once helped the Sacramento Public Library purchase an authenticated hand-written letter penned by Sutter.

Check out the online Gold Rush exhibits by the California State Library and the Oakland Museum of California.

On Wednesday, January 12 (6:30 - 7:45 p.m.), local author and freelance photographer Tom Myers will visit the Sacramento Room at the Central Library (828 I Street) to present a slide show of the history of Sacramento with images from his new book, Sacramento.  The book is part of Arcadia Publishing's "Postcard History" series and features more than 200 vintage postcards from Myers' own collection. The author will be on hand to sign copies of his book following the presentation.

In another happy marriage of high-tech and history, three local columnists are shining a historical spotlight on their communities via the newest of web journalism ventures.

They write for Patch, America Online's network of hyper-local blogs. Patch's mission is to provide news, events, business listings and discussion for neighborhoods and smaller cities. The network began less than two years ago and is expanding fairly quickly in Northern California. So far there are Patch operations in Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Elk Grove, Rosemont and Dixon. More are coming to Sacramento's suburbs.

One type of column appearing in some Patch blogs is the historical feature "Then and Now," a look back at a particular community landmark. Jo Ann Cabral Wilson, Historian for the Rosemont Community Association whose family has lived in the neighborhood since 1927, writes for Patch. Her latest Then and Now column discusses one of the oldest homes in the region that once stood at Mayhew and Goethe Roads. Built between 1847 and 1850, the structure served as a bar, school and roadhouse before being razed in the 1960s to make way for a freeway project that was never happened.

Bil Paul, a freelance writer who moved to Dixon in 2009, maintains that town's Then and Now feature. He's researched the origins of the Dixon library, train stations, slaughterhouse and old fire station. His latest column describes the evolution of the rowdy Fly Trap Saloon, built in the late 1800s, into today's more civilized Firehouse coffee house.

Elizabeth Pinkerton is a respected former educator who has authored several books on Elk Grove history. She also writes historical pieces for Elk Grove Patch, as well as the Elk Grove Citizen newspaper. Her debut Patch column chronicles the World War II internment of the Japanese Americans who farmed the strawberry fields and grape vineyards that now are Elk Grove and Florin housing developments. Pinkerton's latest "History Happens Here" column in the Elk Grove Citizen provides short histories of ten Florin and Elk Grove churches.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bartender Stormy Connell presides over the Fly Trap Saloon along 'A' Street in 1910. Dixon Public Library archives.

Arcadia Publishing is well known for producing small, beautifully illustrated books on local and regional history. It typically partners with local historians and organizations in developing its publications, which now number nearly 6,000 titles celebrating communities all across the country.

Images of America is Arcadia's main series of local history books. Each volume contains dozens of vintage photographs depicting the people, buildings and way of life of a particular town or neighborhood. Arcadia's other series include: Images of Rail, Images of Sports, Images of Baseball, Black America, Postcard History, Campus History, Corporate History, Scenes of America, and Then & Now.

There are nearly 70 titles related to our region. These cover many of the suburbs as well as many Sacramento neighborhoods. Here's a rundown of the newest local volumes.

California State Fair (Images of America) by Carson Hendricks

"Starting in San Francisco in 1854, the California State Fair and Exposition began as a vehicle to showcase, encourage, and expand California's agricultural industry. It quickly became an attraction for thousands of residents, both local and from across the state. By 1884, it occupied the largest exhibit hall in the United States."

California State Fair (Postcards of America) by Carson Hendricks

"The California State Fair boasts a rich history. In this collection of vintage-photograph postcards, Carson Hendricks explores the fair's past."

North Sacramento by V. Ehrenreich-Risner

"In 1910, the North Sacramento Land Company purchased 3,339 acres to establish the city of North Sacramento. Three years later, Del Paso and Company set up power and water operations, along with rail transport. A police and fire department and school sealed the deal, and the city incorporated on June 18, 1924."

Roseville by the Roseville Historical Society

"Long before white settlers arrived around 1849, the Maidu of Nisenan Indians, as they were sometimes called, were living in the vicinity of today's Roseville. Known for its gently rolling hills and beautiful old oak trees, the area had many new arrivals during the Gold Rush. Many came to try their luck, but some came looking for land, not gold, and so stayed here."

Sacramento's Chinatown by Lawrence Tom

"Sacramento's Chinatown has played a central role in the history of the Chinese in America since the Gold Rush. It was named Yee Fow (Second City) by the early Chinese pioneers because it was the second stop by steamboat on the way to the gold country."

Sacramento's Southern Pacific Shops by Kevin W. Hecteman

"In 1862, the Central Pacific Railroad was founded and began building eastward from Sacramento as part of the transcontinental railroad. This required a shop capable of keeping the railroad's equipment in running order. So in 1867, in the swamps just north of town, the Sacramento shops were born."

Southern Pacific in California by Kerry Sullivan

"The Southern Pacific Railroad is California's railroad. As the Central Pacific, it bored and blasted its way east from Sacramento, across the towering High Sierra, meeting with the Union Pacific at Promontory, Utah, completing the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, and profoundly changing the growing United States."