About
An all-volunteer, member-supported nonprofit preserving Orinda's history since 1970.
Established in 1970, the Orinda Historical Society is an all-volunteer, membership-based, 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit (Tax ID # 94-6204287) organization that seeks to serve the public by preserving our local historical artifacts, documents, and images, publishing a regular members' newsletter, and offering educational walking tours and lectures on related subjects.
President
Born and brought up in England, Alison lived in France, The Netherlands, Michigan, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Connecticut, and Southern California (where she served as President of the Encinitas Historical Society) before finally settling in Orinda in 2015, and joining OHS and the Orinda Historical Landmarks Committee.
Alison is a writer and editor and the author of Legendary Locals of Encinitas. Her second book, Images of America: Orinda, was published by Arcadia Publishing in August 2022 and is widely available. Copies can also be purchased directly through OHS, with all proceeds supporting the Society.
Vice President
Archivist
Board Member
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Board Member
Membership Secretary
Board Member
Board Member
orindawomansclub.org
One of our most loyal supporters, OWC has recently made a generous donation to help us cover the cost of new carpeting in our Museum as we prepare to open our doors, post-covid, and welcome you back to our local historical museum.
cityoforinda.org/201/Historical-Landmarks-Committee
Overseen by the City of Orinda, the committee works towards the preservation, protection, perpetuation, enhancement and use of sites, buildings, structures, trees, works of art and other objects that have a special historical or architectural value within Orinda.
moragaadobe.org
Orinda's Joaquin Moraga Adobe, built in 1841 by Don Joaquin Moraga, is the oldest surviving building in Contra Costa County. FJMA is a group of Lamorinda community members dedicated to preserving the Moraga Adobe and making it accessible to the public as a History and Learning Center.
facebook.com/NetZeroHomes
You'll have no doubt noticed this 19th-century house as you've driven along Moraga Way, so click on the link to learn more about its fascinating history, and how it was saved by an enterprising local architect.
MORAGAHISTORY.ORG
Our closest neighbor picked up the same thread we did: they've been documenting the Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados land grant since 1965, and that grant covered a good slice of what is now Orinda. Their History Center shares a building with the Moraga Library, and their work on the Joaquin Moraga Adobe overlaps happily with our own.
COCOHISTORY.ORG
Their History Center in downtown Martinez holds the county archives going back to 1850, including court and probate records, naturalization papers, maps, and 19th-century newspapers. Call ahead for a research appointment, and give yourself the whole afternoon.
LAFAYETTEHISTORY.ORG
Just down Mt. Diablo Boulevard, our friends in Lafayette run a History Room inside the Library & Learning Center, open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They also record oral histories by phone, so if you have memories of growing up in Lamorinda, they would very much like to hear from you.
