Upcoming events

    • Tuesday, September 02, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    • Fireside Gateway Room
    Register

    HCC Speaker Series,
    Tuesday, September 2, 10am,
    Gateway Fireside Room

    Join Rossmoor’s own library luminary on Tuesday, September 2 at 10:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room as Dr. Wayne Wiegand returns to the History & Culture Club’s Speaker Series.

    Wiegand, often referred to as “the Dean of American Library Historians,” is the author of many articles and books and is VP Development of the Rossmoor Scholarship Fund. He was also historical consultant for the PBS documentary “Free for All: The Public Library,” which will be aired on April 29.

    At the September meeting, Wiegand will discuss his new book, In Silence or Indifference: Racism and Jim Crow Segregated Public School Libraries, where he takes an unflinching look at librarianship during the Jim Crow era of 1954−1974.

    The idealized notion of libraries, charges Wiegand, was actually one of racism in the practice and customs of public school libraries during these decades. In fact, this led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Paradoxically, during this same period, the library profession was honing an image as a defender of intellectual freedom, the freedom to read, and an opponent of censorship.

    In this inaugural interview format, Wiegand will be joined by panelists Mary Taylor and Wayne Emrich and moderator Susan Moxley. Taylor is a social and racial justice activist advocating diversity, equity, and inclusion. Formerly a corporate sales and leadership professional, Taylor is currently Second Vice President of the Democrats of Rossmoor, Chair of the Black Lives Matter Committee of African Americans and Friends, and Chair of the Diversity Consciousness Committee of the Interfaith Council. Following a Fortune 500 accounting career, Emrich became a library assistant in Contra Costa County. A Texas University student in the 1950s, Emrich felt he should do his part to overturn Jim Crow and participated in social, nonviolent activism.

    • Tuesday, October 07, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    • Meeting Place Announced with Reservation Acceptance
    • 48

    Tour, Tuesday, October 8.
    The Essanay Silent Film Museum, Fremont.
    Hosted lunch at Tyme for Tea

    Reservations for Day Trips are by US Mail only. Registration will be open 6 weeks prior to the event (Approx. August 29)

    Step back in time before talkies with HCC. Did you know the Essanay Silent Film Museum was an early studio for Charlie Chaplin films?  Have you ever seen the 'little tramp" walk down a dirt road?  It was right there in Fremont, just down the street from the Essanay. 

    Built originally in 1912, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum is housed in an historic motion picture theater. The museum is dedicated to the exhibition, education, study and preservation of films from the silent era. Experience a docent led tour and view lots of early film memorabilia along with the projection room. Hear a brief talk on early film making, the history of the Niles film and Historic District and the Edison Theater - home of the Essanay Film Studio from 1912-1916. We’ll even watch 2 ‘shorts’.

    A tasty tea lunch and shopping will follow in the nearby vintage shop and tea salon. 

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