County
Historical Museum Created 40 years ago
By Ralph Lea and Christi Kennedy
Special to the News-Sentinel
The San Joaquin County
Historical Museum, which marked its 40th anniversary this summer, can
trace its roots to Lodi and a few memorable personalities.
Beginning in October
1954, a few Lodi people with a burning interest in local history
started holding regular meetings. City Librarian Amy Boynton,
businessman and city councilman Willard Robinson, Naomi Carey, Gertrude
Kettleman and Medora Johnson were the first members of the initial Lodi
Historical Society.
The
society’s membership grew and its scope of historic interest
widened. The group became known as the Northern San Joaquin County
Historical Society. Then on March 27, 1961, the organization changed
its name to the San Joaquin County Historical Society.
One of the early
society members who became influential in the museum was Celia (Adams)
Meyers. Born on the family ranch on Bruella Road, Meyers was an
educator and interested in local history. In 1958, she and her husband
Elwood joined the historical society. By 1965, she was the
group’s secretary. Her recollections and writings tell about
the museum’s early days.
After William G.
Micke died in March 1961, historical society members began thinking of
the large oak grove he had donated to the county years earlier. They
thought of Micke’s legacy and their desires to have a place
for historical objects.
Amy Boynton,
president of the society, wrote a letter to county supervisors stating
that there were items in the Micke home that should be preserved for a
possible museum to pay tribute to Micke. Society members, led by Medora
Johnson, must have been active in persuading the supervisors.
Johnson was
described as “the driving force” behind the
proposed museum and a woman who knew how to promote an idea and get the
backing of the community. Her mother operated an Indian museum in Lake
County, and Johnson maintained that interest in museums and California
Indians. In 1965, she wrote a small book, “Indians of San
Joaquin County,” as a study guide for schoolchildren.
Johnson, no doubt, worked behind the scenes to convince county
supervisors that there needed to be a museum in Micke Grove Park.
Click
here
to read more.
Vintage Lodi is a
local history column that appears on the first and third Saturday of
the month. Article printed by permission of the Lodi
News-Sentinel
