Center for Sacramento History

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Center for Sacramento History

CSH is a research and collections center that preserves local archives and artifacts and makes them accessible to the public.

We are open by appointment only for research needs. Sorry, we cannot accommodate walk-in visitors. Disclaimer: This account is intended to be a limited forum for communication and discussion between the City of Sacramento and members of the public about specific topics. The City of Sacramento reserves the right to remove inappropriate comments including those comments that are not topically relate

d, comments that include profane or obscene language, sexual content, threats, defamatory statements, the encouragement of illegal activity, violations of the legal ownership interests of another party, solicitations of commerce, statements in support or opposition to political candidates or ballot propositions, content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination, or information that may compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems. Any content posted may be subject to public disclosure upon request. Activity on this account is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws regulations and policies.

06/08/2026

Espresso Metropolitan Cafe was located near Sacramento City College on the corner of Freeport Boulevard and 11th Avenue. In addition to coffee and food, the cafe hosted poetry readings and art shows. A group of customers is seen at the cafe in this photograph from the December 14-21, 1989, issue of Suttertown News. From left to right is Kristen Cummins, local folk guitarist Ray Rill, and Robert Douglas. The cafe was opened in 1988 by Joan Riordan, a UC Davis graduate with a degree in art, and another partner whom Riordan bought out about six months after opening. After 32 years in business, the Espresso Metropolitan Cafe closed in 2020 when Riordan decided to retire, and the space was replaced with another cafe called 5 Sips.

(Photo by Ric Vallejo, Suttertown News newspapers and photo morgue, 1995/026/1426)

06/04/2026

Leland "Lee" Nichols, seen here in 1976, lived a life defined by curiosity, courage, and advocacy. A former Sacramento State communications professor, he was also a journalist, political aide, KVIE executive, and champion for civil rights and social justice. Born in 1929, Nichols earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from UCLA. He also served as an instructor with the Sixth Army's 53rd Field Artillery Battalion. Throughout his career, he inspired generations of students to pursue their dreams and remain true to themselves. In 1984, Lee followed that advice himself when he came out as a gay man to his family. He went on to become a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and, in San Francisco, helped raise funds for the city library's gay and le***an collection. Nichols passed away in 2014.

(Photograph by Leo Neibaur, Sacramento Bee Collection, 1983/001/SBPMP06630)

06/03/2026

Born in Sacramento in 1912, Romilda Noceti was one of three children of Isabelle and Antone Noceti. Isabelle and Antone owned a French bakery at 17th and J. In 1927, Antone gave Romilda this beautiful Underwood Standard No. 5 typewriter. She excelled in typing and competed in several regional speed contests. She won this tiny gold pin at the 1929 California State Fair after typing 125 words per minute, a speed exceptionally fast even by today’s standards. After graduating from Sacramento High School in 1930, Romilda secured a job at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. It was here that she met her future husband, Orlo Wirts. The couple were married December 7, 1941 – Pearl Harbor Day – and remained together until Orlo’s death in 1990. Romilda passed away in Sacramento in 2001.

(Typewriter and pins, 1990/031/001-003; Romilda Noceti photo from the Sacramento Bee, May 18, 1933)

06/02/2026

🌸“Sacramento, the City of Camellias” was written and performed by Mariluz Buchanan and released as a 45 rpm record in 1983. Buchanan, a Spanish immigrant to Sacramento, wrote the song with both English and Spanish lyrics. She performed it at the Camellia parade, and lobbied unsuccessfully to have it deemed Sacramento’s official city song. This recording has Buchanan on vocals and Faye Koepke on piano. The flipside to the 45 is an instrumental version of the song performed by the Mother-Lode Band of Preston School of Industry.

Buchanan recently donated this record along with the sheet music to us.

Hear the entire recording here:
https://archive.org/details/sacramento-the-city-of-camellias-buchanan-side-b

(Mariluz Buchanan collection, Small Collections from the Sacramento Region, MS0078)

06/01/2026

Mike Lowman is seen roller skating through Capitol Park in 1989 in protest of a ban on skating in the park. This photo accompanied a Suttertown News article where Lowman expressed his frustration over the ban at the park, which was close to where he lived at the time.

At the time of this photo, Lowman was a psychology instructor at Sacramento City College. He also taught at Sierra College during his career, and was a published author and had a private therapy practice in Sacramento’s Midtown for a few years before his death in 2003. Born July 27, 1944, in Illinois, Lowman got his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a doctorate in psychology from the Humanistic Psychiatric Institute. He also studied at the Theological Seminary at Northwestern University.

(Photo by Ric Vallejo, Suttertown News newspapers and photo morgue, 1995/026/0381)

05/28/2026

Jan Reynolds trains for the inaugural Queen of the River City Roundup and Gold Rush Jubilee competition. Say that three times fast! The contest, held on November 3, 1978, crowned a queen to preside over a week of festivities, including another first-time event: the Gold Rush Jubilee Fun Run. Whether Reynolds ultimately took home the tiara, or maybe a golden Stetson, remains a mystery.

(Sacramento Bee Collection, 1983/001/SBPMP7973)

05/27/2026

Is it a radio? Is it a phonograph? It’s both! Our Philco combination radio-phonograph was purchased by Sacramentan Dolores Greenslate from Weinstock Lubin & Co. in June of 1948. At $56, this was an expensive item for Dolores. She purchased it on credit with $20 down and made small payments for the next five months.

Designed to sit on a table, a music lover could toggle between listening to the radio or a record via a k**b at the top of the unit. A record could be slipped into the slot at the bottom and would play automatically.

(Philco Radio-Phonograph, Model 1201, gift of Dolores Greenslate, 1995/067/028)

05/26/2026

A new chapter is beginning at the Center for Sacramento History. Ty Smith will begin serving as Sacramento’s new City Historian on June 1, bringing more than two decades of experience in public history, museum leadership, interpretation and education through his work with California State Parks. S...

Address

551 Sequoia Pacific Boulevard
Sacramento, CA
95811

Website

http://www.centerforsacramentohistory.org/

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