 Remembering Kathy Leighton and Dr. Henry Go
The Delta recently lost two beloved leaders in our community: Kathy Leighton and Dr. Henry Go.
Kathy Leighton - local historian and author - passed away on March 4 in her home in Byron. Kathy's colleagues and friends with the East Contra Costa Historical Society had this to say about her: "Kathy's impact on local history is immeasurable. As the founding chairperson of the East Contra Costa Historical Society and a self-appointed local historian, Kathy spent over 40 years compiling the written and oral histories of the East Contra Costa area and its people. Her passion and enthusiasm for local history was boundless and infectious."
Dr. Henry Go peacefully passed away in his Delta home on March 16. Dr. Go received the Delta Regional Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his 60+ year career as the North Delta’s doctor. His practice was based in Courtland and he was a key member of the community.
Please join us in remembering Ms. Leighton and Dr. Go for their service to the Delta. They have both left a lasting impact and have our gratitude.
National Heritage Area (NHA) Management Plan Updates
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta NHA (Delta NHA) Management Plan will guide the work of the Commission and its partners for the next 10 to 15 years. Over the last two years, the NHA Management Plan Advisory Committee and the four task groups have met to develop the Delta NHA’s mission, vision, objectives, strategies, and actions, resource inventory, and interpretive plan. We encourage you to be involved in the Management Plan process by participating in the NHA Advisory Committee and Commission meetings, as well as supporting your organization’s role as a partner in the NHA’s work.
Learn more about the Delta NHA Management Plan.
Join the May 4 Delta NHA Advisory Committee Meeting
The next Delta NHA Advisory Committee meeting will be held this Thursday, May 4 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM via Zoom. Visit the Delta NHA webpage for more information and to view the meeting notice.
Historic photo of downtown Isleton. Courtesty of the Isleton Chamber of Commerce.
Celebrating Delta Heritage
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage month. The Delta would not be the place it is today without the contributions of people of AANHPI heritage. Despite their contributions, such as building Delta levees, operating Delta farms, and developing agricultural innovations, AANHPI immigrants were subject to discrimination and exclusion. This led to waves of immigration from Asia, first Chinese, then Japanese, Sikh, and Filipino. It is the work of people of AANHPI heritage that helped make the Delta the agricultural powerhouse it is today.
Join us in celebrating AANHPI culture throughout the month of May:
Learn more about AANHIPI contributions to the Delta:
Juneteenth
Juneteenth (June 19th) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Celebrate Juneteenth by checking out one of these events in the Delta NHA:
City of Isleton Turns 100
Isleton will be celebrating its 100 years of incorporation on May 14. Isleton was founded in 1874 by Josiah Poole and incorporated as a city on May 14, 1923. On May 12, join Isleton's 100 Year Anniversary Open House hosted by the Isleton Chamber of Commerce at the Isleton Museum.
Historic photo of Alden Park on Mare Island. Courtesty of the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation.
Exhibitions, Events, and Updates
Sacramento National Park City Festival - Ongoing through May 14
Sacramento National Park City is an initiative to designate the City of Sacramento as a National Park City. A National Park City is a place, a vision, and a city-wide community that is acting together to make life better for people, places and nature. Sacramento National Park City is planning a month-long celebration to explore the region's nature, public art, and history. April 15 to May 14 will be filled with over a hundred events like hikes, bike rides, tours, garden days, mural paintings, trail building, and much more! Find out more on the Sacramento National Park City website.
Learning to Care for Paper Artifacts - May 4
Art conservator, Karen Zukor, will provide an introduction to the characteristics of paper and what causes its deterioration. She will emphasize how to properly care and store all varieties of paper artifacts (prints, drawings, books, maps, archival documents, etc.) so that they are protected long term. Learn more and register on the Los Medanos College website.
Digitization and Preservation Assistance Workshop - May 4 and 16
The Sacramento River Delta Historical Society and the SacArea History Consortium are sponsoring a FREE workshop on best practices for description, digitization, quality control, and digital preservation of historical collections. RSVP through California Revealed - a State-Library supported program that helps organizations digitize, preserve, and provide long-term online access to collections that are significant to California history. Two workshops will be held: one in Walnut Grove on May 4 and one in Stockton on May 16.
Los Medanos College Lectures on Delta History - May 16
Interested in learning more about the Delta? Los Medanos College's Lifelong Learning Center is hosting a series of lectures on the history of the Delta. The lectures are being taught by Carol Jensen, local historian and Delta NHA Advisory Committee member.
The final lecture will be held on Tuesday, May 16 and cover ghost stories from the San Joaquin Delta. This is not an event you want to miss!
You do not need to be enrolled at Los Medanos College to attend. The lectures fill quickly so be sure to register in advance on Los Medanos College website.
The History of Mare Island - May 20
The Benicia Historical Museum's History Talks is an ongoing lecture series to provide the public with a chance to learn about historical topics and meet local historians. The next History Talk will be presented by Dennis Kelly with the Mare Island Historical Museum. Learn more on the Benicia Historical Museum's website.
Annual Catfish Derby - June 3
San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation and the Delta Fly Fishers will host the annual Catfish Derby on June 3 in Stockton. Over 1,500 lbs. of catfish will be planted prior to the derby, which is open to everyone. Prizes will be awarded in youth and adult categories. Learn more on the San Joaquin County Parks website.
Isleton Crawdad Festival - June 17 and 18
The Crawdad Festival is a culturally based outdoor event which takes place on Main Street and along side of the Sacramento River. The event draws upon the culture and cuisine of Louisiana with a French Quarters look and feel and includes authentic sounds of Zydeco, Cajun, Blues, and Louisiana based Rock n' Roll. Learn more about the Crawdad Festival.
East Contra Costa Historical Museum Open - Ongoing through October
The East Contra Costa Historical Society Museum opened for the season on April 1. The Museum will remain open on Saturdays and the third Sunday of each month through October. Learn more about the East Contra Costa Historical Museum.
Uprooted an American Story, Briding the Past and the Present - Ongoing
The California Museum's revised signature exhibit is now open. This fully rebuilt, technology-enhanced exhibit focuses on the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII and explores how they responded to their forced removal and incarceration. It also highlights Japanese Americans’ ongoing efforts to ensure no other groups experience similar civil rights violations. Learn more on the California Museum website.
Locke Foundation Spring Newsletter
Check out the Spring 2023 issue of the Locke Foundation Newsletter. This issue includes articles on the history of prominent citizens of Courtland's Chinatown, the history of the lion dance in Chinese Culture, Chinese Lunar New Year in Locke, and more.
Save the Date: Dutra Museum Foundation Golf Tournament - August 21
The 7th annual golf tournament benefiting the Dutra Museum Foundation will be held on August 21. Follow the Dutra Museum Foundation for more details.
Training Opportunities and Resources
California Office of Historic Preservation, Section 106 Training
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and California Office of Historic Preservation are holding two, in-person training courses on compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. On July 12, there will be a day-long training on the Section 106 essentials. On July 13, there will be an additional course on how to build agreement and documents for Section 106 consultation. Find out more on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's website.
Grant Opportunities
National Park Service, Underrepresented Communities Grant Program
This program supports the survey, inventory, and designation of historic properties that are associated with communities currently underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places and among National Historic Landmarks. Applications are due by July 18. For more information and to apply, visit the National Park Service website.
|
