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City Historian
2023-2027 Appointment
The City of Gilroy is currently recruiting to fill the City Historian with a term beginning January 2023 and ending January 2027. Individuals interested in the position of City Historian shall submit an online application no later than January 17, 2023. The City Council will review all applications and make their appointment at the January 23, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting.
Current City Historian
Toby A. Echelberry (January 7, 2019 - Present)
Term Expires January 7, 2023.
Historical Articles, Biographical Reports, and Essays, Written by Toby
Role of the City Historian
The role of the City Historian is to increase public awareness of the history of the City and community of Gilroy. The position's job description was formalized on March 4, 2019 with Resolution No. 2019-04. The City Historian provides interpretation of Gilroy’s past by gathering and evaluating evidence, making thoughtful and appropriate generalizations, and writing well-organized narratives. Duties may include:
- Providing presentations to organizations and social groups
- Developing an education program for school tours including history walks
- Preparing and teaching adult educators in local and regional history
- Providing articles on local history topics for local print, online and social media
- Assisting in providing resource to the City’s Historic Heritage Committee
- Support for the endeavors of the Gilroy Historic Society
- Development and continuation of Heritage Tourism activities
Appointed Term of Office
Four (4) year term, with no term limits.
Responsibilities
- Acquire, prepare, record and reporting facts about historically significant Gilroy related events and people.
- Collaborate with the Gilroy Historic Society on discovery of Gilroy History
- Collaborate with inter-city agencies, groups and other persons on historical issues
- Respond to inquiries on Gilroy history
- Organize and direct commemoration of historical anniversaries and participate in other civic or patriotic observations.
- Coordinate historical research and subsequent presentation activities among City agencies
- Advocate for historic preservation and serve as a resource to the City on questions relating to history and historic preservation.
- Support the preparation of the cultural resources survey, identification of historic structures and prepare nominations to the State and National register of Historic Places.
- Report to the City Council annual and as required on history-related issues
Functions of the City Historian
Research and Writing
The first and primary responsibly of the City Historian is interpretation of the past. This involves research and writing on aspects of the City for publication in books, magazines and newspapers.
Teaching and Public Presentations
As Historian, you may serve as a resource to teachers in the fourth and seventh grade local history curriculum, as a content consultant to speak and lecture to community groups, and you may participate in radio and TV talk shows to disseminate local history.
Historic Preservation
Historians are advocates for historic preservation and a resource to the Historic Heritage Committee and City Council on questions relating to history and preservation. The Historian may be asked to support the preparation of a cultural resources survey to identify historic structures and prepare nominations to the State and National Register of Historic Places, and historic marker programs.
Organization, Advocacy and Tourism Promotion
Historians are asked to organize and direct the commemoration of historical anniversaries and to participate in other civic or patriotic observations, and may participate in local Heritage tourism activities.
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Toby Echelberry
City HistorianPhone: 408 609-7359