El Cerrito in Print

Here is a list of books, monographs, magazine articles and other materials about El Cerrito and the surrounding area. For example, “Harem Scarem in El Cerrito” is a book about growing up in El Cerrito in the 1930s and ‘40s; the Richmond Independent newspaper Special Souvenir Edition talks about the greater Richmond area in 1910, part of which became El Cerrito, “Richmond; Windows to the Past” is a book that includes a section about the town of Stege (part of which was incorporated into El Cerrito); and “Tales from the Iron Triangle” is a book about growing up in a Richmond neighborhood.

For each item on the list, we have tried to indicate the place most convenient to El Cerrito where that item can be found (some are available from multiple sources). These locations were correct when this list was first published in Spring of 2007. Please notify the El Cerrito Historical Society regarding any errors in this list or any items missing from this list.

Books About El Cerrito

“El Cerrito's History — a context statement,” 2018 draft report discussing significant themes in the development of El Cerrito from its earliest beginnings through the 1960s, by the El Cerrito Historical Society, Copyright © El Cerrito Historical Society 02-24-2012.

“Harem Scarem in El Cerrito: The Life of a Little Girl Growing Up in El Cerrito,” by Neva Callvert Carpenter, 2006, 105 pages. Self-published memoir of growing up in El Cerrito, starting in 1928 and continuing into 1941.

“Images of America: El Cerrito,” by the El Cerrito Historical Society, 2005, 128 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A collection of pictures and historical snippets about El Cerrito. In print.

“Mira Vista Golf and Country Club,” by Marge Collins, 1990, 163 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book tells the story of the Mira Vista Golf and Country Club from its founding in 1920 (at that time it was known as the Berkeley Country Club and the original name was restored in 2017). Not in print.

“Parish of St. John the Baptist 1925 - 1975,” by Father William N. Abeloe, 1975, 80 pages, Contra Costa County Library. An illustrated description of the first Catholic Church in El Cerrito on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Not in print.

“El Cerrito: Historical Evolution,” by Edward Staniford, illustrated by Betty Saarni, 1976, 116 pages, illustrated with photos and original drawings. A copy is available in the historical society’s Shadi History Room in El Cerrito City Halll. Published by the El Cerrito-Kensington Bicentennial Committee and the El Cerrito Historical Society.

Materials about El Cerrito and the surrounding area

Native Californians
“Aboriginal Population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties,” by Frederick Sherburne Cook, Anthropological Records magazine, June 1957, V16 No. 4, 26 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Analysis of aboriginal populations in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties with a special emphasis on listing the sources of knowledge. Includes a map showing the approximate areas inhabited by the principal tribal groups.

“I Never Saw One Laugh,” by Linda Stevens Switzer, 1969, 41 pages, Contra Costa County Library. An ethno-history of San Francisco Bay Indians, based on accounts of early visitors to the area. The title is a quote from Louis Choris, the artist on the Rurik, a Russian ship that visited California in 1816 as part of a round-the-world voyage, Choris’s sketches of the people and places the Rurik visited are the only known images of a number of subjects. Choris was commenting on the sad plight and state of mind of the Indians who were forced by the Franciscan fathers to live at the missions. Extensive bibliography.

“The Indians of Contra Costa County,” by Charles A. Bohakel, 1977, 40 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description of the Indians who inhabited Contra Costa County before the Spanish settlers arrived.

“The Ohlone Way,” by Malcolm Margolin, 1978, 190 pages, Contra Costa County Library. An excellent description of how the Ohlone Indians (including our local tribe, the Huchiun) lived before the Spanish arrived. It has a wonderful bibliography.

“An Overview of the Huchiun Band of The Ohlone Along the San Pablo Bay,” by Michael Ali (Cherokee), 2003, 50 pages, Richmond Public Library. A description of the life and culture of the local Indian groups before the Spanish arrived.

Spanish and Mexican Era
The Adobe At Cerrito Creek by Earl L. Scarbrough, 1975, 10 Pages, Contra Costa County Library. This document describes the Adobe that Victor Castro and some of his brothers built just north of Cerrito Creek.

Alta California, 1840-1842, the journal and observations of William Dane Phelps, master of the ship “Alert,”, by William Dane Phelps, 1983, 364, Berkeley Library. This is the diary of Captain Phelps. During his visit to California he spent considerable time ashore and describes very clearly what he saw and experienced. This excerpt describes his visit to Victor Castro’s Adobe in December of 1841. He provides an excellent description of the Adobe in its early years.

“The Boy Who Wanted a Saddle,” by the Richmond School District third grade study committee and students, 1955, 44 pages, Richmond Public Library. This book for grade-school children tells how California was first colonized by the Spanish, describes the Castro family who owned Rancho San Pablo, tells the fictional story of two young children who come to California from Mexico and describes how American pioneers moved west.

Diseño del Rancho de San Pablo map by James A. Forbes, 1830, 1 page. A wonderful map of Rancho San Pablo from 1830 with the original captions in Spanish. Ana Dominguez has translated the captions into English, providing a remarkable look at how Rancho San Pablo and its original landforms were viewed in those days. Sometimes referred to as the “Forbes Map.”

The Fages-Crespi Expedition of 1772, compiled by Janet Newton and Virginia Bennett of the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society, 1976, 23 pages, University of California Library. This booklet contains excerpts from the letters and journals of Lt. Pedro Fages and the journals of Father Juan Crespi relating to their 1772 expedition to the East Bay.

“First Lady of Rancho San Pablo, Martina Castro de Alvarado,” by Frances Conley**, 1999, 63 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. The story of Martina Castro de Alvarado (the sister of Victor Castro), who became the wife of Juan Bautista Alvarado, a governor of Mexican California, and after that became the most prominent woman in western Contra Costa County into the modern era. It includes an excellent bibliography/reading list.

“First Settlers: The Castros of Rancho San Pablo,” by Frances Conley**, 1980, 27 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book tells the story of the Castro family, the first Spanish settlers in Rancho San Pablo.

“Historical Memoirs of New California,” by Francisco Palóu, 1926, 4 volumes, University of California Library. Translated into English from the manuscript in Mexican archives and edited by Herbert Eugene Bolton. A history of Alta California and the Franciscan missions during the time of Father Palou's association with them. It contains Palóu 's account of the writings of many of the early Spanish explorers of California as well as many important documents, including "Copia del diario que se formó en el registro que se hizo del puerto de San Francisco" (Mar. 20-Apr. 5, 1772,”, Father Juan Crespi’s description of the 1772 trip when he, Lt. Pedro Fages, and some others were the first Europeans to visit and map El Cerrito and much of the East Bay. The Spanish version is "Noticias de la Nueva California "

Genealogy of the Family of Francisco Maria Castro, Grantee of the Rancho San Pablo, Including the Genealogy of Gov. Juan Bautista Alvarado by Earl Conley**, 1987, 38 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. This volume is primarily genealogical tables of the Francisco Castro (father of Victor Castro) and Juan Alvarado families.

Gray's Map by Nicholas Gray, 1856, 4 pages. The map was recorded at the County Recorder 's office as four separate sections and each page is available here, as is a recent digital combined version: Northwest; Northeast; Southwest; Southeast; and a combined map. The property owners of Rancho San Pablo likely commissioned this map to help understand exactly who owned which pieces of land in the rancho. Nicholas Gray was a U.S. Deputy Surveyor.

“Journey to a Distant Shore,” by Frances Conley**, 1984, 99 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. This work tells the story of the first Mexican settlers who came to California and includes an excellent bibliography/reading list.

“The Long Road to Rancho San Pablo,” by Frances Conley**, 1989, 34 pages, Contra Costa County Library. The story of Francisco Castro, whose herds of cattle once roamed the entire northeast shore of San Francisco Bay. It opens with the family’s departure from Sinaloa, Mexico as part of the Anza expedition and continues forward to the eventual establishment of Rancho San Pablo.

“Mexican Land Grant Cases in Contra Costa County,” [collierbook.pdf] by George C. Collier, 1977, 103 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book is a good source of information on the various Mexican land grants in Contra Costa County and the litigation pertaining to them.

“Pre-Americans at Play in Contra Costa County,” by Bernard Freeman, 1987, 37 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description of the games played in California by its residents before the Gold Rush.

Rancho El Sobrante Map: Referees appointed by the Supreme Court of California, 1909, 1 page. This map shows the borders of and landowners in Rancho El Sobrante as set down by the court at the close of the final court case regarding land ownership in Rancho El Sobrante.

Rancho San Pablo Map: Referees appointed by the Supreme Court of California, 1894, 1 page. This map shows the borders of and landowners in Rancho San Pablo as set down by the court at the close of the final court case regarding land ownership in Rancho San Pablo.

Rancho San Pablo Map - Southeast portion: Referees appointed by the Supreme Court of California, 1894, 1 page, This map shows the borders of and landowners in the southeast corner of Rancho San Pablo (the El Cerrito area) as set down by the Court at the close of the final court case regarding land ownership in Rancho San Pablo.

Rancho San Pablo Map - Western portion: Richmond Incorporation Committee, 1903, 1 page , This map shows the portion Rancho San Pablo west of San Pablo Avenue and south of San Pablo Creek marsh. Of the greatest importance is that this map clearly shows all the “tideland,” or “water,” lots and the identifying nomenclature assigned to each one. At some point in the late 1800s or early 1900s, the tidelands between the San Pablo Creek marsh and the Alameda County line were surveyed as if they were dry land (or the bay was filled). This information is not shown on many maps. Many of the early legal descriptions of Richmond include references to the tideland or water lots.

“The Spanish and Mexican adobe and other buildings in the nine San Francisco Bay counties, 1776 to about 1850,” by George Whiting Hendry and J.N. Bowman, 1945, 7 volumes, University of California Library. This document contains a wealth of information about most of the old Spanish and Mexican-era buildings in the nine Bay Area counties that were erected from the time of the Anza expedition until California became a state.

“The Story of Rancho San Antonio,” by Daisy Williamson De Veer, 1924, 93 pages, Contra Costa County Library. The story of Rancho San Antonio, the lands granted to the Peralta family, which ran from San Leandro on the south to Cerrito Creek on the north.

“Victor Castro: Stranger in a Familiar Land,” by Robert Brady, 2008, 20 pages. An excellent review and analysis of the forces that led to the disintegration of the once-vast landholdings of Victor Castro.

Views of the Castro Adobe by various photographers, 1956, 8 pages, University of California Library. Photographs of the Castro Adobe taken shortly before it was destroyed by fire in 1956.

“The Will of Julia Β. Castro/Petition for Final Distribution,” by Julia B. Galpin, Executrix, 1902, 26 pages. Victor Castro was widowed twice but he was survived by his third wife, Julia Townsend Lupton Beardsley Castro. Not surprisingly, the documents indicate that John Davis, William Rust and Thomas Conlon were the appraisers of the estate.

** Frances & Earl Conley are authoritative sources of information on the Castro family. They have developed a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the history of the Castro family through their translations of a number of Spanish works into English and their multiple trips to Mexico to research the Castro family.

El Cerrito History and Development

Don Bonini Interview: Don Bonini, who came to El Cerrito from Italy as a child in 1912, spends about 7 minutes sharing recollections about old-time El Cerrito.

Bouquet Key Route Business Blocks tract map, E. C. Prather, 1914, 1 page. Map shows the borders of the Bouquet Key Route Business Blocks subdivision. The subdivision is part of the legal description of El Cerrito.

Build dates for structures in El Cerrito is a list of the original build dates for most residential and a few commercial structures in El Cerrito. Compiled using information from the Contra Costa County Recorder's Office and El Cerrito's building records.

Castro Adobe Fire by Earl Scarbrough, 1961, 3 pages, reference pamphlet on file at the El Cerrito Library. A description of the 1956 fire that destroyed what remained of the Castro Adobe. The fire occurred shortly before construction was to start on the original El Cerrito Plaza and on the day after a feasibility study on preserving the Adobe had commenced.

“The City of El Cerrito, California,” by Judson C. Clark, 1962, 18 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. A description of the organization and operation of the City of El Cerrito.

City of El Cerrito: on shaky ground city maps, by the Association of Bay Area Governments, 1995, 4 maps, Berkeley Public Library. Maps showing seismic hazard levels in the area.

“Commemorative History of St. Jerome Church and Its Times,” by Lewis Vincent, 1992, 44 pages, Parish Office at St. Jeromes Catholic Church. This work describes the first 50 years of the St. Jerome Catholic Church and its parish.

El Cerrito - 50th Anniversary, various articles and memorabilia, 1967, 25 pages, Contra Costa County Historical Society. A folder of articles and memorabilia relating to the 50th anniversary of El Cerrito.

El Cerrito Annexations, El Cerrito Historical Society, 1976,1 page. The boundaries of El Cerrito have changed very little since the city incorporated in 1917. In addition to the three annexations shown on this map there have been a few small annexations of property bordering Wildcat Canyon since 1956.

“El Cerrito Begins,” chapter from “Days Gone By in Contra Costa County - Volume 1,” by Nilda Rego, 1997, 213 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A compendium of articles written by Nilda Rego for her weekly column in the Contra Costa Times newspaper.

El Cerrito City Council Members, compiled by the City of El Cerrito City Clerk, 2012, 8 pages. This is a list of all the people who had served on the El Cerrito City Council and the dates they served.

El Cerrito City Limits (as originally proposed), Citizens Committee, 1917, 1 page, This document is a description of the city limits as originally proposed and filed with the County Board of Supervisors on May 21, 1917. It is written in the classic “Meets and Bounds,” style so to be fully understood it should be reviewed in conjunction with the Rancho San Pablo Map.

El Cerrito City Limits (as revised by the Board of Supervisors), Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, 1917, 1 page. This document is a description of the city limits as revised by the Board of Supervisors after reviewing the protests put forth by parties who did not want to be included in the new city. The incorporation election was held August 16, 1917 and these boundaries became the city limits of the new city of El Cerrito. The document is written in the classic “Meets and Bounds,” style so to be fully understood it should be reviewed in conjunction with the Bouquet Key Route Business Blocks tract map and the Rancho San Pablo Map - Southeast portion.

El Cerrito Draft Citywide Historic Context Statement by the El Cerrito Historical Society, 2012 (updated 2018), 134 pages. This draft document is a discussion of why El Cerrito developed the way it did and a description of the significant historical themes in the development of El Cerrito.

“Green and White: Telling the ECHS Gaucho Story,” is a 45-minute documentary produced by the El Cerrito High School Archiving Project. Released in 2007, the video tells the history of El Cerrito High School from 1941-2005, when the school was torn down. Available at the Contra Costa County Library.

“El Cerrito, the Centennial Plan: A Community-based Vision to take El Cerrito into its Second Century,” by the Prince of Wales's Summer School in Architecture and the Building Arts, 1997, 1 sheet, University of California Library. A summary of several proposals on future development in El Cerrito.

“Endangered by Development: 10848 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito,” by Tom Panas, April 2011, 6 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Response to a 2011 request for information on critically endangered historic properties in the East Bay from the East Bay branch of the American Institute of Architects.

The Final Years of Gambling In El Cerrito, compiled by the El Cerrito Historical Society, undated, 53 pages. This document contains newspaper articles from 1949-55 relating to the end of the gambling era in El Cerrito. The El Cerrito and California scene at the time included California Attorney General (and eventual Governor) Edmund G. “Pat,” Brown, California Governor (and eventual Supreme Court justice) Earl Warren, well-known gambling bosses Fred Grunewold, Dave Kessel, William N. “ Big Bill,” Pechart, E. L. “Buster,” Price and Elmer “Bones,” Remer, The Wagon Wheel and many more people and places.

“Joseph Emeric vs. Henry V. Alvarado - Additional Findings and Interlocutory Decree,” by the Supreme Court of California, 1889, 677 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This volume is the court’s final word about who had proper title to land in the long and famous saga of the Rancho San Pablo land case. The outcome of this case was a list of which individuals owned the land in Rancho San Pablo and how much land they owned. However, it was the “Final Decree in Partition,” by Judge J.C.B. Hebbard on March 3, 1894, that settled for once and for all the disputed land titles in Rancho San Pablo. The Final Decree dictated where the land owned by each of the valid titleholders was located, bringing to a close a 40-year history of litigation regarding who owned what in Rancho San Pablo. It was not until this case was decided that Rancho San Pablo could be subdivided for development.

A Farewell Photo Tour - El Cerrito High School by J.J. Diliberto, 2005, 32 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. This book records El Cerrito High School as it looked just before it was torn down in 2005.

Fiesta del Cerrito: official program by the Fiesta Committee to benefit the El Cerrito Youth Foundation, 1948, 48 pages, Contra Costa County Historical Society. The program of the Festival del Cerrito held September 13-19, 1948.

“Melange and Fault Rocks Exposed in and Around An Abandoned Quarry At The Schmidt Lane Recycling Center, El Cerrito, California,” by John Wakabayashi, Ph.D., and Edmund W. Medley, Ph.D., 2002, 17 pages. This somewhat technical research paper has a detailed description of the very fractured and jumbled mass of rocks that underlies our hills in El Cerrito. It was included in an Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists field trip in 2002. Paper includes Appendix A , which describes the larger geologic context of California tectonics, bimrocks and fault rocks; and Appendix B, which establishes some guidelines to characterization of Franciscan melanges and other bimrocks.

“History of El Cerrito,” by the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce and the El Cerrito Historical Society, 1980, 3 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. The brochure provides a concise history of the El Cerrito area.

“The Little Hill,” by George D. Miner (Richmond School District), 1957, 18 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A book for primary-grade children about the origins of El Cerrito.

“Mira Vista Golf & Country Club,” by George Collier, 1977, 46 pages, and his research notes on Mira Vista. History of the Berkeley Country Club founded in 1920, then renamed Mira Vista Golf and Country Club. In 2017, the original name was restored. George Collier’s notes on the country club history.

Native Plant Garden at El Cerrito Library: In 2001 volunteers began work to establish a native plant garden on the west side of the El Cerrito Library. Read the background of the project and a list of native plants used.

Old Bars, Restaurants and Businesses in El Cerrito: A 15-page list of a number of old businesses in El Cerrito. This list was drawn up from old directories, promotional materials and the memories of old-timers. At the top there is a key for the type of businesses. The list runs from the south (including a few spots of note in Albany) to the north and includes businesses on and near San Pablo Avenue. Cross-streets along San Pablo Avenue are indicated.

“Outline History of Eskaton Hazel Shirley Manor,” by Art Schroeder, 1986, 10 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A history and description of the genesis and evolution of the Eskaton Hazel Shirley Manor senior housing development and the key persons involved in the effort. Art Schroeder was a longtime resident, co-founder and president of the El Cerrito Historical Society.

Parks and open spaces in El Cerrito have seen enormous changes over the years. Several documents have been compiled over the years to describe how the parks system evolved:

Records of the El Cerrito branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, by the NAACP El Cerrito branch, 1970-78, 3 cartons, University of California Library. Records and documents relating to the activities of the El Cerrito NAACP branch.

“Richard Stege, Entrepreneur,” excerpt from “Days Gone By in Contra Costa County - Volume 3,” by Nilda Rego, 2005, 192 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A compendium of articles written by Nilda Rego for her weekly column in the Contra Costa Times newspaper.

The Rifle Range in El Cerrito: This article from the January 1939 edition of the California Guardsman magazine describes the construction and early configuration of the rifle range in Wildcat Canyon. In subsequent years targets were set up across the canyon on the east side of Wildcat Creek to provide gunnery practice for those honing their skills on larger weaponry.

San Pablo Avenue Historic & Cultural Pavers: A brochure that describes each of the 28 pavers that were installed in May, 2011 along San Pablo Avenue. (Designed to be printed on 8 1/2 by 14 inch paper.)

“Some Historical Data on Camp Herms,” by Victor Linblad, 1958, 16 pages. The Mt. Diablo Silverado Council of the Boy Scouts of America has kindly allowed us to make this document available. This document is a thorough review of the development of Camp Herms during its first 30 years.

“Sundar Shadi,” by Tom Nixon, 1994, film/DVD - 40 minutes, Contra Costa County Library. This home-made production, originally shot on 8mm film, is an informal interview and conversation with the well-known Sundar Shadi about his garden and the holiday displays he created.

The TEPCO Story:An eye-opening video about the famous TEPCO chinaware plant in El Cerrito. This video was put together in 2008 using film from 1941 and shows the magnitude of the TEPCO enterprise. Thanks to the generosity of the Cabiati, Marchisco, and Pagliero families, this film is now available on the Historical Society's YouTube channel.

The Unassuming East Bay Beach Strewn With Ceramic Treasures: This KQED podcast talks about how TEPCO used to dump its chipped and damaged dishes on the part of the Point Isabel shoreline known as “TEPCO Beach.” Includes photos.

Beach trip provides lessons across time, 2020 San Francisco Chronicle column about TEPCO and the factor discards still visible on the part of the Point Isabel shoreline known as “TEPCO Beach.”

TEPCO: The Defunct Ceramics Factory That Still Dishes Out Nostalgia - Ariel Plotnick from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism put together a short book of photos featuring TEPCO ("The Technical Porcelain and Chinaware Company") as it would appear in a period restaurant and also did a radio story that aired on KQED FM. The Historical Society provided much of the original background information for the story as well as all the TEPCO china used in the photos for the book.

Tracts and Subdivisions in El Cerrito: Compiled from records at the Contra Costa County Recorder's Office, This is a list of subdivisions in El Cerrito and the surrounding area.

El Cerrito’s Asian Communities

“The Chessmen,” by Ken Kokka, 2002, film/DVD, 18 minutes, Contra Costa County Library. This film tells the fictional story of the changing of the guard at a Japanese nursery. It is based on the short story by Toshio Mori. It was filmed at the Sakai and Oishi nurseries in Richmond, where the oldest greenhouses in California were located when the film was made.

The Chung Mei Chronicles: An archive of newsletters published by Chinese boys living at Chung Mei Home. Published monthly from 1928 until 1944, the newsletters contain a wealth of information about the home and the activities of the boys who lived there. Additionally, through the generosity of Phil Chan, Chung Mei Alumnus, we have a collection of mostly color Chung Mei Lantern Slides documenting activities of the home and its residents.

“The Chung Mei Home and Ming Quong Home,” produced by Philip Chan, 2003, film/DVD, 15 minutes, Contra Costa County Library. This film was produced for the joint reunion in 2003 of the Chung Mei Home for boys of Chinese descent and the Ming Quong home for girls of Chinese descent. It includes a number of vintage pictures of the homes and residents.

“Japanese Nurseries in El Cerrito and Richmond,” El Cerrito Historical Society, a collection of documents about Japanese growers in the area, 2002, 28 pages. The northern El Cerrito/Richmond border area was at one time covered with wholesale nurseries, most of them belonging to Japanese families. The first families arrived in the area at the end of the 19th century. Documents include:
A table of information about the growers.
A map of the nurseries in the Richmond/northern El Cerrito border area.
A commemorative book containing 28 pages of photos and text about the Japanese nurseries in El Cerrito and Richmond.
A statement by the National Park Service on the significance of the history of the Japanese American flower industry in Contra Costa County.

“Living with Flowers,” by Gary Kawaguchi, 1995, 120 pages, Oakland Public Library. The history of the California Flower Market, the wholesale market where the Bay Area Japanese flower growers, including those from Richmond and El Cerrito, sold their flowers.

“The Story of Chung Mei,” by Charles R. Shepard, 1938, 264 pages, Berkeley Public Library. The story of the efforts by Charles R. Shepard in the first part of the 190’s to create the only shelter and residential home in the East Bay for neglected Chinese boys.

Topaz Consumers’ Cooperative, Second Anniversary Edition, by the Topaz Consumers’ Cooperative, 1944, 219 pages. This is an image of the book put together by the cooperative organization at the Topaz internment camp in Utah during World War II. The Topaz camp is where most Japanese from Western Contra Costa County were interned. This book provides the most detailed look that exists about the operation of the coop and the internees. It is almost entirely in Japanese but is currently being translated. The book was provided by area native Meriko Maida. You can also download a copy of the English translation of the first section of the book.

“The Way We Were,” collaborative effort, 1996, 62 pages, Richmond Public Library. Brief autobiographies of a number of the Japanese families who owned and worked in nurseries in the El Cerrito and Richmond areas. It was written as part of a reunion of the growers in 1996.

Regional History

“An Avalanche Hits Richmond,” by former Richmond City Manager J.A. McVittie, 1944, 141 pages, Richmond Public Library. This report describes the impact of World War II and the shipyards on the city of Richmond, which grew from 25,000 people in 1941 to more than 100,000 in 1945.

Battle of the Annex is a short article describing what happened in the 1920s when El Cerrito and Richmond both tried to add the area known as the “Richmond Annex” to their city. Richmond eventually prevailed in 1927.

“The Bench and Bar of Contra Costa County,” by Wayne A. Westover, Jr., 2002, 160 pages, Contra Costa County Library. An excellent resource on the history and development of the court system in Contra Costa County.

“Blake Estate Oral History Project,” by Suzanne B. Reiss, 1987, 583 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Interviews with a number of individuals about the Blake Estate and the Blake family.

“Blake Garden - A History of Landscape Change,” by Linda Jewell and John Norcross, 2006, 55 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description of the Blake Garden history, development, environment, and landscaping. Nicely illustrated.

“Blakemont Drainage Study,” Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, 1992, 12 pages, vertical file at the Kensington Library. A review of water, infiltration and drainage in the Blakemont Landslide area straddling El Cerrito and Kensington.

”The Blues Route,” by Hugh Merrill, 1990, 236 pages, Berkeley Public Library. This book is the story of Hugh Merrill's encounters with the blues as he travels across America. His travels included time in San Francisco, Oakland and El Cerrito.

“Build Ships! Wartime Shipbuilding Photographs, San Francisco Bay, 1940-1945,” by Wayne Bonnett, 2000, 172 pages. Illustrated history of World War II-era shipbuilding in the San Francisco Bay Area, where local shipyards built a thousand ships in a thousand days. Wartime photos record in detail construction, launching, repair and operation of warships, cargo vessels, patrol boats and auxiliary craft built by more than 30 Bay Area shipyards. In print.

“California’s Contra Costa County: An Illustrated History,” by George Emanuels, 1986, 251 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book provides a history and description of each town in Contra Costa County. Note: there are a number of instances in which this volume conflicts with other contemporary histories.

“A Continuing History of Contra Costa County,” a compendium of articles from the Tri-Valley News, 1976, 110 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A series of articles published over a number of weeks that describe the history and growth of all parts of Contra Costa County.

“Contra Costa Cities and Towns - El Cerrito, 1934 - 1988,” compiler unknown, 1988, 120 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A collection of news stories clipped from local newspapers.

“Contra Costa Cities and Towns - El Cerrito (Supplement), 1948 - 1990,” compiler unknown, 1990, 100 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Supplement to the collection listed above.

“Contra Costa County,” from The Resources of California magazine, 1898, 20 pages, Richmond Public Library. A largely promotional illustrated look at early Contra Costa County.

“Contra Costa County California as Reviewed Under the Vitascope,” by William L. Metcalfe, 1902, 112 pages, Contra Costa County Library. The author in 1901 set off across the county with photographers in tow to record what he saw and heard. Although it is clear that the subjects in many cases subsidized the printing of material about them, it is an interesting work and provides a great snapshot of Contra Costa County at that time. The original is rare, the 1994 reprint is more common.

Contra Costa County California as Reviewed Under the Vitascope - Index by The El Cerrito Historical Society, 2007. An index to the text and photos in the book described above. Using the index is slightly complicated, as the book does not have page numbers.

“Contra Costa County - Historical and Biographical,” by the Historic Record Company, 1926, 1,100 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book includes about 250 pages of history, followed by a chronology of events from 1858 through 1926, and about 700 pages of biographies, many with pictures, of various people who lived in Contra Costa County.

Creek & Watershed Map of Richmond & Vicinity, Oakland Museum of California, 2006, 2 pages, University of California Library. A detailed and informative map of the creeks and watersheds in Richmond and El Cerrito, however, for unknown reasons, the map has arbitrarily assigned new names to several creeks.

Early History of Richmond by Evan Griffins, 1938, 11 pages, and a supplement Early History of Richmond (Supplement) also by Griffins, 1939, 8 pages, both at Contra Costa County Library and posted here with permission from the Griffins family. An amazing amount of Rancho San Pablo history is packed into these documents.

“Earthquake Exodus,” by Richard Schwartz, 2005, 148 pages, Contra Costa County Library. An excellent work on how East Bay cities, in particular Berkeley, coped in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

“East Bay Then and Now,” book by Dennis Evanosky & Eric J. Kos, 2004, 144 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Old pictures of East Bay locations contrasted with current pictures taken in the same vicinity.

“El Sobrante Recollections,” by the El Sobrante Rotary Club, 1984, 64 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A collection of interviews with natives and others who are familiar with the history and culture of El Sobrante.

“The Formation of Country and Western Swing Bands in Richmond, California, during World War II,” by David Washburn, 2003, 41 pages, University of California Library. A UC Berkeley senior thesis on the effect of the flood of shipyard workers on the El Cerrito/Richmond band scene during World War II. It has an interesting bibliography.

“From a Rancho to a City called San Pablo,” edited by Beth Hansen, 1999, 147 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Pictures and vignettes of life in San Pablo from the days when it was the largest and most important town in the west county area up to today.

“Geologic Guidebook to the San Francisco Bay Counties,” by Olaf Pitt Jenkins/The California Division of Mines, 1951, 392 pages, Contra Costa County Library. An in-depth description of the geology of the nine Bay Area Counties.

“Geotechnical Investigation of the Blakemont Landslide Located in Kensington and El Cerrito, California,” Seidelman Associates, Inc., 1994, 300 pages, vertical file at the Kensington Library. This report describes the results of almost eight years of study of the Blakemont Landslide area, prepared for the Blakemont Property Owners Association.

“An Historical Review of the East Bay Exchange,” by R.S. Masters, R.C. Smith and W.E. Winter, 1927, 119 pages, Contra Costa County Library. An interesting historical review of the area from San Leandro north through El Cerrito with a particular emphasis on telephone service.

“History of Cattle Raising in Contra Costa County,” by William H. Baumgartner, 1970, 30 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book gives the early history of cattle ranching in Contra Costa County from the Rancho days forward.

“History of Contra Costa County,” by Mae Fisher Purcell, 1940, 742 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book includes both historical and current information on Contra Costa County. Of particular note is the list of all individuals to hold a county office up through 1940.

“History of Contra Costa County California,” by J.P. Munro-Fraser/W.A. Slocum & Co., 1882, 704 pages, Contra Costa County Library. The first significant reference book written about Contra Costa County includes considerable physical descriptions of the county, incidents of pioneer life, a description of each township and about 200 pages of biographical sketches. The original is rare, the 1974 and 2000 reprints are more common.

“The History of Contra Costa County California,” by F.J. Hulaniski, 1917, 623 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book includes about 400 pages of descriptions of the county and the cities in the county, followed by about 200 pages of biographies of various Contra Costa County residents.

“How the County Looked in Earliest Times,” by W. T. Helms, no date, 11 pages, Richmond Public Library. A brief description of the early days of Contra Costa County.

“Illustrations of Contra Costa County, California with Historical Sketch,” by Smith & Elliott, 1879, 180 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book was the first published history and description of Contra Costa County. It includes a description of the county plus historical accounts of California, elected county officials and voting districts, distances of prominent points from Mt. Diablo, many tables of things such as population, agricultural statistics, property values, rain tables, and much more. The original is rare, the 1952 reprint is more common.

“Images of America: Richmond,” by Donald Bastin, 2003, 128 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A collection of pictures and historical snippets about Richmond.

Insurance maps of Richmond, California (includes El Cerrito), by the Sanborn Map Company, 1930, 50 pages, University of California Library. The scale of “Sanborn maps,” is such that the size and shape of every building on each block is shown. In some cases the owner and type of building is listed as well. These detailed maps were created for most cities across the U.S. to facilitate fire insurance underwriting and contain a wealth of information.

“Its Name was M.U.D.,” by John Wesley Noble and Ida McClendon, 1999, 332 pages, Contra Costa County Library. “Its name was M.U.D. (Volume I),” written by John Wesley and first published in 1970, tells the story of the early East Bay water systems. In 1998 EBMUD wrote Volume II, covering the years 1968-98. This edition combines volumes I and II.

“Kensington - Past and Present,” by the Kensington Improvement Club, 2000, 136 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Pictures and stories of Kensington over the years.

“A Narrative History of Contra Costa County,” by George C. Collier, 1983, 172 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A wide-ranging history of the county that pays particular attention to the land grants and also provides information on the islands in San Francisco and San Pablo bays.

“Old Times in Contra Costa,” by Robert Daras Tatam, 1996, 201 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Text and vintage pictures describing Contra Costa County scenes and events in earlier times.

“The Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan,”, by the Tri-Cities Citizens Advisory Committee on Open Space and Conservation, 1973, 110 pages, University of California Library. A report to the cities of El Cerrito, Richmond, and San Pablo to help identify and protect the natural resources of the area and encourage growth in the areas where it is most suited.

“Photographing the Second Gold Rush,” by Dorthea Lange, 1995, 86 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description in pictures and text of the area from Oakland to Richmond as it absorbed more than 100,000 people who came to the area to work in the Richmond shipyards from 1941-45. [Editor’s note: Dorothea Lange was an American documentary photographer and photojournalist best known for her Depression-era work. Lange's work influenced the development of documentary photography and put human faces to the consequences of the Great Depression].

“The Politics of a Canine Landscape - Point Isabel Regional Park,” by Suzanne Jeanne Arca, 1992, 185 pages, Richmond Public Library. A senior thesis at the College of Environmental Design, UC Berkeley.

A Proposal for the Development of the East Shore Tidelands of San Francisco Bay,” prepared for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company by Victor Gruen Associates, 1963, 42 pages, Richmond Public Library. The Santa Fe Railway purchased the San Francisco Bay tidelands between Emeryville and Richmond in the first part of the 1900s. This document reviews prior proposals to develop the East Shore tidelands and then proposes a massive plan to fill most of the East Bay tidelands in the area and develop office, residential, recreational, commercial and industrial spaces.

“Preliminary Historic Resources Inventory, Contra Costa County,” by the Contra Costa County Planning Department, 1976, 80 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This volume contains tabular information about the type and nature of historic places and sites across the county.

“Report on Proposed Park Reservations for East Bay Cities,” by Olmsted & Hall, 1930, 40 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This is the famous Olmsted-Hall report which was the basis for the creation of the East Bay Regional Park System.

“Richmond, Arsenal of Democracy,” by The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America, 1947, 103 pages, Richmond Public Library. An interesting look, from the perspective of a key labor union, at the overnight transformation of the City of Richmond into an industrial powerhouse during World War II.

Richmond Independent newspaper, Special Souvenir Edition, edited and compiled by the Women’s Improvement Club, 1910, 44 pages, Richmond Public Library. This work includes a number of interesting stories about the Richmond area in the early days.

“Richmond: the Early Years,” by Independent Printing, 1960, 20 pages, Richmond Public Library. A large-format booklet about the Richmond area’s early years and development.

“Richmond: the Pittsburgh of the West,” by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, 1907, 60 pages, Richmond Public Library. As befits the era and author, a rose-colored view of the city of Richmond, touting the city’s land, industry, people, location and future prospects.

“Richmond - Windows to the Past,” by Susan D. Cole, 1980, 96 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Pictures and vignettes about early Richmond, including perhaps the best information available on the Belgum family’s Grande Vista Sanitarium, which was located near the mouth of today’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park.

“A Selective History of the Codornices - University Village,” by Warren F. Lee and Catherine T. Lee, 2000, 412 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A good reference on the development of Albany’s University Village, originally built to house wartime workers, and on the part of the Richmond Shipyard Railway that traversed the area during World War II. It includes an extensive chronology.

“The Seismic Safety Study for the General Plan,” by the Tri-Cities Citizens Advisory Committee on Seismic Safety, 1973, 199 pages, Richmond Public Library. A report to the cities of El Cerrito, Richmond and San Pablo on earthquake hazards and recommended measures to reduce those hazards.

“Shellmounds of the San Francisco Bay Region,” by W. C. Nelson, 1909, 48 pages, Richmond Public Library. An overview of the various Indian shellmounds found in the Bay Area.

“A Short History of Contra Costa County,” by Harold E. Davis, 1965, 67 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description of Contra Costa County with a focus on early history, land grants and founding of cities. It has a chronology of Contra Costa County up to 1941 and also a list of all Spanish, Mexican and U.S. military governors of California.

“Soil Survey of Contra Costa County,” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, 1977, 170 pages, Richmond Public Library. This book has a comprehensive description of the various soils found in Contra Costa County.

“Stories of Albany,” by Catherine Janes Webb, 1983, 192 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Pictures and vignettes of life in Albany from the early days up to 1983, when the book was published.

Stege Sanitary Founding: The Minutes of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 19, 1913 when the Supervisors approved the formation of the Stege Sanitary District. Included in the minutes are the results of the election and the original boundaries of the district.

“The Story of Albany,” by the Albany Police & Fire Civil Service Club, 1947, 98 pages, Contra Costa County Library. Pictures and stories of Albany from early days up through World War II.

“The Story of Contra Costa County,” by the Richmond Schools Department, ca. 1950, 44 pages, El Cerrito Historical Society collection. A decent history of Contra Costa County from pre-Spanish times up to the Gold Rush, but the miserable living conditions the Spanish created for the Indians are papered over. The last 16 pages are stories written primarily by sixth-grade students in the district. There are some typographical errors in the document.

“The Story of Contra Costa County California,” by the Contra Costa County Development Association, 1936, 28 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This large format, color promotional booklet presents a very positive picture of the county’s development, facilities and activities.

“The Story of Contra Costa County for Boys and Girls,” by Wilma G. Cheatham, 1942, 229 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A textbook for grade-school children about Contra Costa County. It includes a good chronology of California and Contra Costa County.

“The Story of Richmond,” by Lee Fridell, 1954, 165 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A dated but very good textbook that describes Richmond and other west county towns, including El Cerrito, in the 1950s. It includes an interesting section on El Cerrito aviation pioneer Pierre Allinio.

“The Story of Richmond Schools,” by Walter T. Helms, 1958-59, 10 pages, Richmond Public Library. A compilation of several articles about the Richmond schools originally printed in the Richmond Museum Association’s publication, The Mirror.

“A Survey of Kensington,” by the Kensington Improvement Club, 1966, 24 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description of the physical and social characteristics of Kensington, includes a good chronology regarding Kensington.

“A Survey of Kensington,” by the Kensington Improvement Club, 1978, 54 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description of the physical and social characteristics of Kensington, includes a good chronology regarding Kensington.

“Tales from the Iron Triangle,” by James Polese, 1995, 88 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A description of boyhood days in the 1920s in the Richmond area.

Topographical Map of Contra Costa County (Mt. Diablo Base & Meridian), Compiled for the Board of Supervisors, 1871, 1 page. This map shows Contra Costa County with M.D.B. & M. lines. Under M.D.B. & M. mapping/surveying, the county is divided into 6-mile-square quadrants centered on Mt. Diablo . A place 8 miles south and 13 miles east of Mt. Diablo is in the T2SR3E quadrant [“township 2 south range 3 east,”, “township,” and “range,” are just part of the nomenclature and have no intrinsic meaning], meaning that it is in the “2nd,” 6 miles south of Mt. Diablo and the “3rd,” 6 miles east of Mt. Diablo. A place 2 miles north and 4 miles east of Mt. Diablo is in the T1NR1E quadrant [“township 1 north range 1 east,”], meaning it is in the “1st,” 6 miles north of Mt. Diablo and the “1st,” 6 miles east of Mt. Diablo. El Cerrito is in T1NR4W. (The “townships,” referred to in this mapping system are entirely different than the townships set up for political and administrative purposes when Contra Costa County was established.)

Tract maps, various authors, 1894+, each map 1 - 4 pages, County Recorder's Office. These maps describe subdivisions as they were originally submitted to the county for approval. The subdivisions were not always built as the maps indicated.

USGS topographical maps of the San Franciso area: These are high-definition images created from extracts of selected USGS public domain topographical maps. These maps provide an extraordinary perspective on the growth of our area over the years.

“The Vegetation Cover of the San Francisco Bay Region in the Early Spanish Period,” by William C. Clarke, an M.A. thesis at UC Berkeley, June 1959, 220 pages. This document is an amazing resource regarding how the land appeared when the first Spanish explorers arrived and how some of their comments should be interpreted. Much of it is based on the maps, records and diaries created by the first explorers of the area.

Water towers and windmills: In the early days the only way to have "running water" at your house was to have a well. In El Cerrito the water was not too far down, typically between five and 20 feet. A well often included a windmill to pump the water up and a water tower to store the water, many can be seen in early pictures of El Cerrito. El Cerrito still has one windmill and a water tower. Ally Markovich in Berkeleyside tells us more about this subject in this article.

“Where the Sewer Meets the Sea,” a detailed history of the Stege Sanitary District by Dave Weinstein. The 1913 formation of the district was an important step toward the incorporation of the city of El Cerrito. Copies are available at the El Cerrito Public Library or download the free ebook version.

Books About Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music,” by John Fogerty, 448 pages, Little, Brown and Company, 2015. Fogerty’s autobiography “takes readers from Fogerty's Northern California roots, through Creedence's success and the retreat from music and public life, to his hard-won revival as a solo artist who finally found love.”

“A Song For Everyone: The Story of Creedence Clearwater Revival,” by John Lingan, 384 pages, Hachette Books, 2022. “A Song for Everyone finally tells that story: the thirteen-year saga of an unassuming suburban quartet's journey through the wilds of 1960s pop, and their slow accrual of a sound and ethos that were almost mystically aligned with the concerns of decade's end.”

“Bad Moon Rising: The Unauthorized History of Creedence Clearwater Revival,” by Hank Bordowitz, 400 pages, Chicago Review Press, 2007. “Tracing the lives of four musicians who redefined an American roots-rock sound with unequaled passion and power, this music biography exposes the bitter end and abandoned talent of a band left crippled by debt and dissension.”

“Up Around the Bend: The Oral History of Creedence Clearwater Revival,” by Craig Werner, 256 pages, For the Record Series Number 7, Harper Perennial, 1999. “An intimate oral history of the turbulent career of one of rock music's most celebrated groups documents the story of Creedence Clearwater Revival from their early struggles, to their rise of stardom, to the battles that drove them apart.”

“John Fogerty: An American Son,” by Thomas M. Kitts, 242 pages, Routledge, 2015. “This is the first critical biography to explore John Fogerty's life and his music,” according to the publisher.

Regional Railroads and Transportation
An Approach to the Study of the Impact of BART on the El Cerrito Station Areas by Joel J. Sanberg, 1970, 16 leaves and maps, University of California Library. A graduate report on how BART has impacted the areas near the two El Cerrito BART stations.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Valuation Records and Maps [Link to list on archive page]: Public outrage over the predatory behavior of the railroads in the last part of the 1800s led to the creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission. One of the ICC's primary charges was to regulate the rates charged by railroads. As part of this regulatory effort, in the second decade of the 1900s each railroad was required to fully document the design, cost, and construction details of its lines. The result was intended to help the ICC set rates. This was an enormous effort on the part of the railroads but it produced incredibly detailed records of each line. This vast trove of information, often referred to as the Valuation Records, is now housed at the National Archives. Of particular interest to many researchers are the engineering fields notes (which include bridge and building notes, detailed descriptions of the railroad right-of-way that provide to the nearest foot the location of crossings, culverts, bridges, and much more) and detailed line maps. Below is a list of selected valuation materials for the California, Arizona, and Santa Fe Railway (later just the "Santa Fe") Oakland Branch/Oakland District San Francisco Terminal Division line that once ran through El Cerrito on the right-of-way that BART now uses.

SANTA FE RAILROAD (ATSF) VALUATION MAPS

“The California and Nevada Railroad,” by Erle C. Hanson, 1991, 65 pages, Contra Costa County Library. The definitive work on the California and Nevada Railroad, which ran north from 40th Street and San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville through Berkeley, onto the right-of-way used today by BART through Albany and El Cerrito, north to San Pablo Creek and then up the creek to a point beyond today’s city of Orinda. Here is a detailed map of the line from El Cerrito to its terminus at the Oakland-Emeryville border. Here is a very early timetable for the C&N, "McAvoys" was near today's intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Richmond Street, "Gills" was near today's intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Hill Street.

“The California and Nevada Railroad,” by Erle C. Hanson, Western Railroader magazine, July 1958 issue no. 225, 12 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. A description of the California and Nevada Railroad, which ran north from 40th Street and San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville through Berkeley, onto the right-of-way used today by BART through Albany and El Cerrito, north to San Pablo Creek and then up the creek to a point beyond today’s city of Orinda.“The California and Nevada Railroad,” by Erle C. Hanson, 1991, 65 pages, Contra Costa County Library. The definitive work on the California and Nevada Railroad, which ran north from 40th Street and San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville through Berkeley, onto the right-of-way used today by BART through Albany and El Cerrito, north to San Pablo Creek and then up the creek to a point beyond today’s city of Orinda. Here is a detailed map of the line from El Cerrito to its terminus at the Oakland-Emeryville border. Here is a very early timetable for the C&N, "McAvoys" was near today's intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Richmond Street, "Gills" was near today's intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Hill Street.

“Coast Lines Depots,” by Lee Gustafson & Phil Serpico, 1996, 240 pages, University of California Library. This book includes a good physical description of the Santa Fe Railway line that traversed El Cerrito between Richmond and Oakland.

The East Shore and Suburban Railway, by Erle C. Hanson, 1961, 30 pages, Richmond Public Library. The definitive work on the streetcar line that once ran from the Richmond - San Rafael ferry all the way to the El Cerrito/Albany border on San Pablo Avenue.

East Shore and Suburban Railway Chronology by The El Cerrito Historical Society, 2007, 8 pages. A chronological list of the significant events in the life of the East Shore & Suburban Railway and related East Bay rail history.

“The Last Whistle,” by Jack R. Wagner, 1974, 135 pages, Contra Costa County Library. A book about the Ocean Shore Railroad. This book contains the only known reference in print to the Bates & Borland Company, which ran a quarry in El Cerrito in early times.

“Of Walking Beams and Paddle Wheels,” by Harlan & Fisher, 1951, 157 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book is a chronicle of San Francisco Bay ferry boats.

“Red Trains in the East Bay,” by Robert S. Ford, 1977, 351 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book is the definitive work on the Southern Pacific’s interurban railroad network, the “Red Trains.,” It includes a short section on the Southern Pacific’s plan to build a line that extended as far north as Richmond (via Carlson Boulevard) as a branch off the line that ran down Solano Avenue.

The Richmond Shipyard Railway, from Western Railroader magazine, by Francis E. Guido, Sept. 1981 issue #491, 8 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. A short description of the Richmond Shipyard Railway, which ran from Emeryville to the Richmond shipyards in the latter years of World War II.

Richmond Streetcars, from Western Railroader magazine, by Erle C. Hanson, Nov. 1957 issue #217, 14 pages, reference pamphlets file at the El Cerrito Library. A brief description of the East Shore and Suburban Railway, which ran from the Richmond - San Rafael ferry all the way to the El Cerrito/Albany city line on San Pablo Avenue. This article has a number of errors that were corrected in Mr. Hanson's subsequent work, The East Shore and Suburban Railway.

“Santa Fe - Steel Rails Through California,” by Donald Duke & Stan Kistler, 1963, 184 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book includes a few pictures of the Santa Fe Railway line that traversed El Cerrito in its short journey between Richmond and Oakland.

“Valley Division Vignettes,” by J.L. Krieger, 1983, 254 pages, University of California Library. This book includes a few pictures and the derivation of the station names on the Santa Fe Railway line that traversed El Cerrito between Richmond and Oakland.“Valley Division Vignettes,” by J.L. Krieger, 1983, 254 pages, University of California Library. This book includes a few pictures and the derivation of the station names on the Santa Fe Railway line that traversed El Cerrito between Richmond and Oakland.

California State History
“California - A Guide to the Golden State,” by The Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration, 1939, 713 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This volume was produced as one of thousands of government-sponsored projects during the Great Depression. It includes a short but interesting description of El Cerrito, as well as San Pablo and Richmond.

“California County Boundaries,” by Owen C. Coy, 1973, 345 pages, Contra Costa County Library. The definitive work on the origin & changes in California county boundaries from the original 27 counties to today’s 58 counties.

“California Family History Material,” by Irene Soberanes, 1956, ~130 pages, University of California Library. This manuscript contains genealogical information on several of the families who came to California as part of the Anza expedition. It includes material on the Bernal, Berreyesa, Castro, Galindo, Higuera, Pacheco and Soberanes families.

“California Milks,” by Donald E. Lord, 1984, 302 pages, El Cerrito Historical Society. This book is the definitive work for collectors of California milk bottles. It includes listings for several dairies in the El Cerrito area.

“Casas and Courtyards,” by Helen S. Giffen, 1955, 153 pages, Alameda County Library. This book has descriptions of a number of the Spanish Adobes in California, including Victor Castro’s Adobe in El Cerrito.

“History of California Post Offices, 2nd Edition,” by Harold E. Salley & Edward L. Patera, 1991, 344 pages, Oakland Public Library. This volume includes information on the four post offices that have served the El Cerrito area since 1889.

“Old California Houses: Portraits and Stories,” by Marian Randall Parsons, 1952, 145 pages, Contra Costa County Library. This book contains descriptions of many of the original Spanish adobes in California (and their occupants), including Victor Castro’s Adobe in El Cerrito.