"Davisville '68 - The History and Heritage of the City of Davis"

The publication Davisville '68 - The History and Heritage of the City of Davis was the result of a community research project which began in 1963 when it was discovered that no documented record existed of the early beginnings of the City of Davis. It took members of the first Davis Historical and Landmarks Commission (now called the Historical Resources Management Commission) five years to collect the pioneer era photographs and biographical data that would serve as the foundation for the book. The historical section was compiled and written by Joann Leach Larkey, a dedicated local historian, who the 1968 Historical and Landmarks Commission credited with "labor[ing] like a modern pioneer to create order out of a wilderness of source materials." Davisville '68 details the history and heritage of the City of Davis from before the first pioneers arrived in the early 19th century through the founding and early development of the town. A portion of the book is devoted to biographies of the pioneers who settled in the Putah Creek region.

Copies of Davisville '68 are available for purchase at the Hattie Weber Museum, 445 C Street, Davis. The book is also available at the Davis Branch of the Yolo County library and at UC Davis' Shields library.

"Growing Pains: Thirty Years in the History of Davis"

Completed in 1998, the City is pleased to make available an unedited draft of a book on Davis' recent history by local writer and journalist Mike Fitch.

The book concept was proposed by the Davis City Council as part of Davis' 75th anniversary of incorporation in 1992. The Council requested that the Historical Resources Management Commission oversee the selection of a writer who would prepare a book on changes in Davis since 1969 -- when Davisville '68, The History and Heritage of the City of Davis by Joann Leach Larkey was published in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Davisville.

Mike Fitch was engaged as author in 1994. He spent numerous hours researching, interviewing and writing thoughtful chapters on an array of topics that were chosen by Mike for their importance to the community's future vision of itself. The book is organized thematically around social, educational and planning issues that have engaged the community over the 30 years since the publication of Davisville '68.

Read Growing Pains: Thirty Years in the History of Davis...