Speakers Series

Each year the historical society gathers eight history speakers to share their history knowledge with the community. Their hour long presentation is given on the third Monday evening of the month at 6:30 pm, usually including a power point slide show, related items on display, and sometimes a book signing.

We are finished lining up our program for 2024 . If you or anyone else has an interest in giving a presentation in 2025 or knows someone else who might, please contact Louis Silveira (916) 682-1335 hm or lssilveira@comcast.net. Thank you!

Speakers for 2025

We are finished lining up our program for 2024 . If you or anyone else has an interest in giving a history presentation in 2025 or knows someone else who might, please contact Louis Silveira (916) 682-1335 hm or lssilveira@comcast.net. Thank you!

January 20

Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen

Bobbie Singh-Allen was elected Mayor of Elk Grove in November 2020. She is committed to bringing her strong leadership skills and professional background to help lead the City of Elk Grove. Singh-Allen is a champion for good governance which includes transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. She has helped lead the fifth largest school district. Prior to being elected Mayor, Singh-Allen served as a Trustee for the Elk Grove Unified School District. She was appointed to the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees on August 16, 2012, and later elected to serve two four-year terms in 2014 and 2018. Additionally, she served as Board President for two years. Singh-Allen received her J.D. from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento and earned her B.A. in Government from California State University, Sacramento. She is a native of India, a wife and mother of two children. She has lived in Elk Grove for over 30 years.

The Sikh Culture

The Mayor shares her family and India culture with us.

February 17

Amy Gorder

Amy Gorder is a native of the California Central Valley, where ghosts of 1849 loom large. Growing up surrounded by historical landmarks and stories of fascinating characters sparked her love of history and California Gold Rush legends. As a mother, grandmother, and former 3rd and 4th-grade teacher (Franklin Elementary), Amy learned that nothing captures a child’s attention faster than a ghost story with relatable, adventurous characters. Amy lives south of Sacramento with her husband, Chris, where she shares her fondness for spooky stories with their four adult children and ten grandchildren. Ghosts of Autumn was her 1st children’s book and will be followed by Ghosts of Winter, which is due to be released in the summer of 2024.

Ghosts of Winter

Amy spoke to us last year about her first book, Ghosts of Autumn, in her 4-book series of historical ghost stories for young children. She returns with her second book, Ghosts of Winter. The fun part for us is that she uses our Historical Society Stage Stop/House as a foundation for her story and it’s really fun to read and see the connections, let alone the ghost story. It is a very entertaining evening and she brings books to sign if you are interested. Bring your young’ens!

Amy wrote this about her first book:

“Third and fourth graders love adventures that are fun and exciting and spark the imagination. They enjoy a story that’s a little scary but not too intense that gives them a chance to read independently. The key to this age group is to keep them engaged. That’s what Ghosts of Autumn aims to do.”

Mar 17

Sr. Helena Madera-Silmi

Sr. Helena Madera-Silmi is a dedicated community leader and advocate who relocated to Elk Grove from Cleveland, OH, ten years ago. Since then, she has devoted her time to serving those in need. She is the Charitable Aid Directorfor Al-Misbaah, a local non-profit food bank based in Elk Grove. In addition to her role at Al-Misbaah, Sr. Helena serves on the State Advisory Council, Elk Grove’s Measure E Committee, and is the President of the Laguna Sunrise Rotary Club, actively working to uplift and support her community.

“Embracing Change: The Impact of Refugees in Our Community”

In a world that is constantly evolving, it is essential to recognize the adversities that exist right here in our own community. One of the most significant changes we have seen is the growing presence of refugees, families who have fled unimaginable hardships in search of safety and stability.

But who are they? Where have they come from? And how have they reshaped the dynamic of our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces? More importantly, what can we do to support them as they rebuild their lives?

April 21

Dave Lema

“Why should we record history?” Potpourri of Audio0casts

Dave has put together a variety of recordings of local individuals and pioneers sharing stories of incidents and long ago times in Elk Grove.

May 19

Harry Khangura

I have been involved in soccer my entire life, from playing the game to now coaching it. After moving to Elk Grove in 2013 with my young family, my passion for the sport led me back to the game I love, especially when my son started playing for Elk Grove Soccer. Over the years, my role in the club and my family have both grown, eventually leading me to serve as a board member for the organization.

As a retired police officer, my desire for public service continued beyond soccer, leading me to actively serve on several committees within the City of Elk Grove. My wife, Sukhi, and I, along with our three sons, Akaalbir, Jugaadbir, and Nihaalbir, and my mother, Jaswinder, are proud to call Elk Grove our forever home. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family—which, unsurprisingly, often involves soccer in some way.

“More Than a Game: The History and Community Impact of Elk Grove Soccer”

This talk will focus on the growth and evolution of soccer in Elk Grove, from its early beginnings to becoming one of the largest youth sports programs in the region. I will discuss how the Elk Grove Soccer program has shaped generations of players, fostered community connections, and provided opportunities for youth development both on and off the field. Soccer has not only grown as a sport in Elk Grove but has also played a crucial role in uniting families, cultures, and communities through a shared passion.

June 16

Hal Bartholomew

“Elk Grove Incorporation Efforts 25 Years Ago”

Hal was part of the group that incorporated and made Elk Grove a city in 2020. This year is it’s 25th anniversary and he will share it’s the failures and success of the process.

Summer Break – July and August

September 15

Andrei Pischalnikoff – AKA Doctor R. Snick

“The Origin of the American Medicine Show”

Andrei uses his interest in historical research and a knack for entertainment to share the history of medicines, elixirs, and poisons promoted by traveling medicine men. He has graced our stage twice before and now he tells the story of “The Origin of the American Medicine Show.” His presentations are always very entertaining with lots of research behind his productions.

October 2o

Bob Crowley and other members of the Expedition Team

We are endurance athletes with a passion for history, bringing history to life through expeditions that combine historical research and adventure.

Bob is an amateur ultra-distance runner and historian with an appreciation for American Western history and epic adventure tales. He is endeavoring to combine all these passions to help bring history to life through History Expeditions. Bob is an entrepreneur. He co-founded The Mustang Group , a Boston-based private equity firm. Prior, he co-founded, was CEO and/or management member of numerous media, telecommunications and software companies. He now splits his time with non-profits and as a mentor to young entrepreneurs. Bob’s passion extends to his athletic hobbies, most notably ultra-running and has completed more than 200 endurance events. Bob and his wife of 40 years, Marcy, live along the American River in Fair Oaks, California. When not with their children (two sons) and grandchildren, they travel the world and explore the U.S.

“Survivors & Hero’s: The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party”

We will have just completed our 2025 Expedition, Survivors and Heroes: Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party, which will make for a great topic to present. I have written much on the topic and the wagon train members and story will compliment the Murphy Corral Incident Land-marker erected in Elk Grove.

Bob writes …

The connection to Martin Murphy, Jr. will be ideal. As you recall, his wife, gave birth to their daughter during the winter stop near Big Bend in 1844. They named her Elizabeth Yuba Murphy, after the Yuba River which flows nearby. She was the second child born to the STM Party bringing their total to 52 members. A very difficult decision was made to leave all the women and children in the camp at Big Bend with two men to watch over them. Seventeen men, including Martin Murphy, Jr., took as few supplies as possible and started out down the mountain. Their plan was to go down to Sutter’s Fort and bring enough supplies back for their families to survive. The rescue party left the survival camp on December 6, 1844. They followed the Yuba River out of the snow into present Bear Valley. They then followed the Bear River to the foothills and found their way to Sutter’s Fort. Much more of the story ensued but I will wait for the presentation.

Holiday Break – November and December

Basic Information to Know

Please understand these history presentations are for you to learn about the rich history of our community. It’s an hour of amazing people sharing what they know, usually with a power point presentation, often several artifacts on display, and sometimes a book signing. Please considering coming and seeing for yourself.

There are no presentations in the following months; July & August for summer break and November & December for holiday break. Sorry!

They are always on the third Monday evenings of the month, at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm) at our usual place, the Presbyterian Church at 8153 Elk Grove Boulevard. Turn north on to Big Horn and it’s behind the Chevron Station, Suite 50.

Always FREE and always open to the public.

We are actively seeking speakers for 2026. If you know anyone who is interesting on speaking on a history subject for about an hour, please contact Louis at (916) 682-1335 or lssilveira@comcast.net. Dates available are…

Speakers for 2026

January 19

Elaine Faber

Elaine lives and volunteers in Elk Grove and is an acomplished author. She graciously consented to share her story with us. Here is her bio:

Elaine Faber is the author of 13 cozy mystery novels, including four cozy cat mysteries, five WWII humorous historical fiction mysteries, two paranormal mysteries and an anthology of short stories, All Things Cat. She belongs to Sisters in Crime, Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA) and Elk Grove Writer’s Guild. Her short stories are published in over 20 anthologies and several magazines. Elaine’s humorous novels and short stories have won multiple awards. Elaine has led several writing critique groups, and is always willing to mentor other writers. She is available for speaking engagements and enjoys talking about her books and sharing writing tips and instruction to interested writers.