Berkeley Historical Society Reintroduces Students to the Past

Just across the street and through the park from Berkeley High is an excellent resource that few students have discovered. The Berkeley Historical Society, though slightly hidden among the mass of buildings in the area, holds a unique history of the city we live in that you just can’t get anywhere else.

BHS yearbooks dating back to 1896 line the back cabinets, while copies of the Berkeley Gazette are shelved in order. There’s so much to uncover, so much to explore, that it’s a shame we haven’t all been there just to check out what our house looked like twenty years ago. People commonly visit the Berkeley Historical Society to learn about the history of their neighborhood, or research their families genealogy. There are black and white photographs available with views of the streets of Berkeley from long ago, and an exhibit that changes twice a year. Currently showing are old artifacts from the WPA (Works Progress Administration) in Berkeley. The Rose Garden on Euclid, for instance, was built to give unemployed people jobs during the great depression.

Also offered are walking tours and lectures, for the even more curious. Experts will walk you around a neighborhood and give interesting details to you about things such as trees, houses, buildings, and more. There is also a booth by the Berkeley Historical Society at the Solano Stroll.

Since 1978, the Berkeley Historical Society has been in Berkeley. “We focus more on people’s culture and politics and life in Berkeley,” said Shelley Rideout of the Berkeley Historical Society. You can really get a feel of what life used to be like by visiting. There are a few shelves of helpful reference books, and some posters with old advertisements for Cracker Jack. People, often volunteers, are always willing to help as well.

One pamphlet explained why Berkeley was named “Berkeley”. Did you know that the city of Berkeley and it’s university were named after a poet who wrote “westward the course of empire takes its way/the first four acts already past/a fifth shall close the drama with the day;/time’s noblest offspring is the last”? The poet was able to express idealism that the people who named the city agreed with. Its mission is to “celebrate the diversity of Berkeley people by keeping Berkeley’s History a vital part of our lives.”

However, because it is a non-profit organization, it relies on volunteers, donations, memberships, and the occasional city grants for its funding. I strongly suggest you visit it, whether working on a research project of sorts, or just wanting to learn more.

Photos:

• Berkeley Historical Society (Anais Azul)