Clarence James Glacken (1909-1989) was a Sacramentan whose 1967 magnum opus, Traces on the Rhodian Shore: Nature and Culture in Western Thought from Ancient Times to the End of the Eighteenth Century, was one of the most widely influential contributions to environmental scholarship in the 20th century. Despite professional success as an academic geographer, after suffering a series of mental and physical health crises, he destroyed his highly anticipated sequel to Traces. He died in Sacramento soon after, convinced his life’s work had been futile. Glacken was a third-generation Sacramentan, a fairly unusual trait for someone born in 1909, given that in his grandmothers’ generation the sta

Local historian, author and preservation buff William Burg was appointed Tuesday to the Sacramento Heritage, Inc. Board of Directors – an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history of Sacramento. It comes as no surprise that Burg should be interested in the position: With three published local history books under his belt, a degree in public history from Sacramento State and years on the boards of both the Sacramento County Historical Society and the Sacramento Old City Association – history is what Burg is all about. “Public history is for historians who do things other than teach,” Burg said Monday. “It’s for historians working in museums, archivists – anyone i

I was a radio groupie. Much like it sounds, it fell somewhere between teenaged werewolf and rock & roll groupie. I begged for the attention of silky or raspy-voiced radio guys, who, because the internet had not yet been invented, I was free to invent images of for weeks—or even months, until I could stalk them, that is, track them down, in person. It was the ‘80s. Radio personalities were still allowed that luxury, personality. They actually went to the State Fair and hung around in the sweltering heat under the tent and talked to people. They went to clubs like the Shire Road Pub, Eldorado Saloon, Club Can't Tell or Oasis Ballroom and introduced the bands. Some drank at the bar durin

As you enter, to the left is the cornerstone collection of Crabshaw Corners and Oasis Ballroom artwork from Roger Shepherd, Jim Carrico, and Jim Ford. Rock enthusiasts may marvel over the nearly complete collection of psychedelia from the Sound Factory. And any native Sacramentan over a certain age will wax nostalgic at the wall of Tower calendar posters on display. Dennis Newhall, founder and curator of the Sacramento Rock and Radio Museum, has assembled and showcased a myriad of rock and radio memorabilia dating back to 1957. Newhall started listening to rock and roll when he was six years old and Hounddog was at the top of the charts. Every inch of his West Sacramento bedroom was cov

How? By contributing to local history!  While researching my recent article on the Capitol Area Plan and the Ron Mandella Community Garden, I noticed how widely the facts varied from source to source, and how many facts were just plain missing. And even though this is a story that is relatively recent in living memory, the most frequent answer given in every interview I conducted was: “I don’t remember.”  If you have any information about any version of the Capitol Area Plan, the relationship between the Capitol Area Plan and the West End redevelopment project, the history of the Ron Mandella Community Garden (also known as the Terra Firma Garden and the adjacent garden known until the m

Sacramento County Historical Society's holiday display at 1001 K Street formally opened on November 26, but its operation continues through the beginning of the New Year and it attracted attention from passersby even before the display formally opened. The display uses figures originally built by the Gaffney Display Company in the 1950s, used in Breuner's Department Store holiday display windows. This tradition began in Sacramento in 1934, continuing until 1974. Gaffney figures were used throughout the Breuner's chain, but have been absent from K Street for decades. More information on the historic Breuner's displays can be found in this article: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/4

Sacramento's Preservation Roundtable is a quarterly gathering of local history and historic preservation organizations, intended to share current information on local preservation topics, public policy, events, and plans in progress. Everyone is welcome to attend. Preservation Roundtable - Saturday June 13th 9:00am to Noon at the Young Ladies Institute – 27th & N Sts. (1400 27th Street) Continental Breakfast * $5 donation 6/13/09 AGENDA: 9:00 Welcome & Introductions 9:10 Preservation Issues & Updates: - CA State RR Museum Foundation - Kathy Daigle - Capitol Dist. State Museum & Historic Parks-Pati Brown - DOC (Devel. Oversight Committee) update - City Preservation Office - Roberta Deeri