Come meet the makers of some of the amazing dioramas that are included in this year's All the News that's Fit to Build: Local News Dioramas exhibit.
Prizes for top dioramas will be awarded by judges Dorothy Lazard and Gene Anderson. Azucena Rasilla will host Oakland trivia.
This event marks the close of the exhibit.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
2:00 - 4:00 PM
125 14th Street
Oakland California 94612
Lower level, Bradley C. Walters Community Room
Exhibit and Panel: Honoring the Black Panther Party Rank & File Members: 60th Anniversary
This October marks 60 years since the formation of the Black Panther Party (BPP) in Oakland!
We're commemorating this milestone with an exhibit honoring the The Black Panther Party's rank & file members, curated by BPP Historian, Billy X Jennings and a panel discussion with former Black Panther Party members taking place on Thursday, October 15th.
The rank and file members were the backbone of the Black Panther Party. They did the daily work of running the offices and programs and served the community. They were also the frontline in the fight against racism and police abuse. The exhibit will include photos, books, newspapers and other original memorabilia.
Exhibit is on view from October 5th 2026 through January 9, 2027 at
Panel Discussion on Thursday, October 15, 2026
Join us at 5:00pm for refreshments, mingling, and viewing a pop-up art installation. A short video, "Lords of the Revolution," will begin at 5:30pm. The panel will start at 6:00pm. Hosted by BPP Historian, Billy X Jennings.
Lower level, Bradley C. Walters Community Room
Fall History Event Series hosted by the Oakland History Center
The Oakland History Center's annual Fall History Series is back, with nine programs and a new exhibit! We're welcoming authors Judy Juanita and Dr. Benjamin P. Bowser (10/8), David D. Schmidt (11/12), and photographer Ken Light (11/19). We have anniversary discussions about the Black Panther Party (10/15) and Occupy Oakland (10/29). We've got a celebration of dioramas with Oakland trivia (10/3), a haunted history bike ride (11/1), and a magical presentation about a 101-year old Oakland magic club (12/9)!
Check the Oakland History Center's website to find the full details on all the programs.
NEW: Explore Oakland Sanborn maps online!
We're excited to announce our new subscription to Fire Insurance Maps Online (FIMo). FIMo provides high-resolution, color scans of Oakland and East Bay Sanborn fire insurance maps. Search by address, from the key map, or browse any volume to find, save, notate and download maps of interest. Just login to your Oakland Public Library account and search the catalog for "FIMo," or use the link above.
What is a Sanborn map? The Sanborn Fire Insurance Company made maps for insurance agents to assess properties for fire risk. They show building details like windows, roofing materials, chimneys, as well as area infrastructure like fire hydrants, water mains, creeks, property boundaries, windmills and oil tanks. You might learn the number of stories an apartment building, vestiges of underground gas tanks, or whether a factory had an overnight guard. These maps are invaluable in helping us understand the history of Oakland's built environment.
75th Anniversary Oakland Main Library Photo Refresh
The celebration of the Main Library's 75th Anniversary continues with a refreshed display of historic images from the Oakland History Center archives. Thirty-six new reproductions have been integrated into the existing collection in the 2nd floor hallways. In May 1952, Joseph Knowland (editor of the Oakland Tribune) donated 300 framed photographs commemorating Oakland’s Centennial to the Main Library. With the addition of 20 images in 1999, the collection has informed and entertained us with images of important moments, people and places from Oakland’s history. The newly added images reflect Oakland’s more recent history. Selected from the Oakland History Center Photograph Collection, the new reproductions show the city’s people, landmarks, and milestones from the decades since the Main Library’s opening 75 years ago. The new photographs will be on display starting on September 29. Many thanks to the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and the Oakland History Center Friends for making this project possible.
The new prints are on display now, and can be seen whenever the library is open.
Let Oakland History Center help you with your research interests!
Oakland History Center librarians will always make time to help you with your research. Drop by or make an appointment to visit soon!
Catch Oakland History Center programming you missed!
Online: Watch recordings of past Oakland History Center events here.
Do you follow The Oakland History Center on Instagram?
We post small updates and interesting things from our collection on our Instagram account. Please follow us at @OaklandHistoryCenter.
Questions? Comments?
Contact oaklandhistorycenterfriends@gmail.com
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Friends of the Oakland History Center
The Oakland History Center Friends meet at 6pm in the Oakland History Center at the Oakland Main Library at 125 14th Street, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612 usually on the second Wednesday of odd-numbered months. Our next meetings are November 4 (as the second Wednesday of November falls on a holiday) and January 9. Please join us.
Donations to the Oakland History Center Friends help fund a variety of projects in the Oakland History Center. Donations are gratefully accepted securely on our website or payable by check made out to "Oakland History Center Friends" and mailed to Oakland History Center Friends, c/o Oakland History Center, 125 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612.