City Historian

Toby A. Echelberry (January 7, 2019 - Present)

Term Expires January 7, 2027.

Historical Articles, Biographical Reports, and Essays, Written by Toby

California’s state-holiday provisions in Government Code Chapter 7, Article 4 exist to formally identify which days the State of California recognizes as official public holidays and to ensure uniformity in how state agencies, courts, and public institutions observe them. This section of the code establishes a legally defined calendar of civic, historical, and cultural observances so that public offices know when to close, employees know when they are entitled to holiday benefits, and government operations can maintain consistency across the state. By embedding these holidays in statute, California creates a standardized framework that reflects important national commemorations, state-specific historical milestones, and culturally significant observances unique to California’s heritage. The code therefore serves both a practical administrative function, coordinating schedules and employment rules and a symbolic role in defining the events and figures the state chooses to officially honor.

In addition to the fixed statutory holidays, the code also authorizes the Governor to proclaim special holidays, days of remembrance, or days of observance. These proclamation days allow the state to recognize events, historical anniversaries, or public causes that may not be part of the permanent statutory list. While not automatically creating office closures, gubernatorial proclamations give flexibility for the state to honor emerging issues, commemorate significant incidents, or highlight contributions of specific communities, ensuring California’s public calendar can evolve with changing social and historical priorities.

For 2025 here is a list of those days and hyperlinks to articles providing the history and significance of those days in general to even local ties if applicable.

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.