Board of Directors

Kelsey graduated from San Jose State in 2013 Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in History. In her degree program she primarily focused on Public and American and women’s history. She has a passion for writing, and enjoys a little bit of everything history-wise. She is a lifetime resident of Fremont with an interest in all things local – then and now. Currently she is focusing on membership, exhibits, and press attention here at the museum. She is also works with new and existing collections as our current paid archivist / cataloger.

Patty Lacy is a native of  Mission San Jose and has long had an interest in history. Over the years she has been involved in various Irish, English, and American Civil War historical re-enactment groups. She  especially enjoys the clothing and life-styles aspects of history. Patty currently serves on the George Patterson House Advisory Board as one of the Washington Township Historical Society’s representatives. She is one of the original members of the Museum of Local History and is excited about how it is developing as an important local resource.

My history with Fremont goes back to when I was a child going on family camping trips and, when driving through Mission San Jose, admiring all the palm trees along Mission Blvd. It would be years later in 1969 that my young family and I moved to the district not two blocks from the fire station that is now The Museum of Local History. In fact, we moved into a home a few doors down from Regina Dennie, a long-time stalwart of the museum and of Mission San Jose. I started my volunteer activities with weeding and sweeping and kept this up for several years. An opportunity arose to take over as bookkeeper that I accepted, having worked several years providing that service for my church followed by work at a real estate company. Then the treasurer decided that vice president was more suited to her talents, which are many, and I suddenly found myself treasurer before I could say “finance report”! Those kind of things happen in volunteer organizations, do they not? But it has been a privilege to assist the talented volunteers who are dedicated to the preservation of local history and its dissemination in the community at large and in local schools.

Tim Swenson has been researching and writing on Union City history since 1998.  He is a past Board member and Past President of the Union City Historical Museum.  He is a past President and current Secretary for the Museum of Local History.  He is also the Secretary for the Washington Township Historical Society.  He was also the Historical Sub-Committee Chair and Board member for the Union City 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee.

Tim has had “Assassination in Decoto” published by Mines Road Books and “Images of America: Union City” published by Arcadia Press.

I was born in Oakland, CA. In 1966, my family moved to Fremont. I graduated from Mission San Jose High School, married, raised two sons and I have 4 grandchildren. I have a degree in Early Child Education. I worked twenty-years at Mission San Jose Elementary as an Administrative Assistant. I later retired and became a volunteer at the museum in 2013. I work as a docent for the museum and for rancho tours for the elementary school classes. I also enjoy being the Museum Display Coordinator and I am on the museum board. The museum is a great place to volunteer and we are always looking for more people to help out! Come and join us!

Al Nagy currently serves as the Mayor of Newark and has been on the Newark City Council since April, 1980. He and his wife Connie have resided in Newark since 1968. His interest in Newark history goes back to 1975-76 when he worked with others on the Newark Days Bi-Centennial Committee. It was through this committee that the book “Centennial History of Newark” was written by Bruce MacGregor. Al also contributed to Bruce’s second book; “Newark a City at Fifty”.

Al feels it is important to capture the unique history of Newark and recently became acquainted with the Washington Township Museum of Local History. The organization has a formal process for cataloging and storing articles, photos and artifacts which reflect the history of this area in years past. His goal is to provide a virtual history of Newark in an online website.

In addition to his Council duties, Al is a founding Board Member of the Viola Blythe Center, the Newark Library League and serves on the Newark Graffiti Abatement team. He was Newark’s Volunteer of the Year in 2009 and has been awarded a JCI Senatorship and lifetime membership in JCI International.

Mr. Guedon moved from Spokane Washington to Fremont in 1965, graduated from Irvington High School in 1969, and continues to reside in Fremont.  His interest in Washington Township history dates to the early 1970’s as a volunteer at the Shinn House Restoration Project.  He is a life time member (awarded), past board member and president of the of Mission Peak Heritage Foundation; former project leader for the 1976 reproduction of Thompson and West’s 1878 “Historical Atlas Map of Alameda County”; and, currently volunteers at both the Washington Township Museum of Local History and the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources (SPCRR) at Ardenwood.

His 1978 Master thesis in Historical Geography from California State University Hayward [East Bay] examined the break up and related boundary persistence of Rancho Potrero de los Cerritos, Ex-Mission San Jose, and Rancho Agua Caliente. Between 1978 and 1984 he was free-lance Historical Geographer/Archaeologist on numerous projects throughout California and since 1984, an employee of Basin Research Associates.

Mr. Guedon has a wide range of interests including land tenure, historical maps/cartography, historical architecture, historical preservation, industrial archaeology, the genealogy of Washington Township settlers; historical land use including the development of the transportation network and subdivisions in Washington Township.

Matthew Jorgens was elected to the Newark City Council on November 8, 2022.Matthew is a life-long Newark resident. He graduated from Bunker Elementary School, Newark Junior High School, and Newark Memorial High School. Matthew graduated from the University of California, Davis with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science.

Matthew is an active volunteer in Newark, serving as the President of the Newark Optimist Club, as a musician and board member for the Newark Symphonic Winds, and as a volunteer at the Newark Days parade.