San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum




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 


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