Imelda Russell – 2024 Heritage Hero

Bringing local history to life is one of the goals of the Stroll Through History. Part of that mission is honoring “Heritage Heroes” who have worked to preserve local history. This year’s Hero, Imelda (Mel) Russell has done amazing work bringing to life the history of Yolo County. In her own words, here is a description of some of her many projects.

During the time I worked in the Archives the “Stroll Through History” was an important outreach opportunity for us. Besides helping individual homeowners research homes that were up for “Heritage Home Awards” and providing the Stroll’s PR person with pictures and background material for the newspaper articles we always researched that year’s “poster” house aiming to trace the ownership as far back as possible.

In some cases that took us into the early 1850’s! On the day of the Stroll the Friends of the Yolo County Archives set up a booth where we displayed all our research along with pictures and maps of the town and provided guidance for individuals to research their own home as well as general Woodland History.

In the 10 years I worked on the project we were lucky enough to research both the Beamer House and the Gable Mansion as well as many of the Arts and Craft homes up in Beamer Park along with some of the beautiful Victorians of the town.

ONE OF THE LAST RESEARCH PROJECTS WE DID FOR THE “STROLL THROUGH HISTORY” WAS COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOODLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY.

 

In 2014 while in London I noticed that plaques had been placed on streets commemorating all those that had served during WWI. Knowing the WWI resources available at the Yolo Archives, I thought to myself… “I can do that!” and came home and created the “Lest We Forget” project. Dedicated to commemorating the people of Yolo County’s participation in the First World War, little did I know that ten years later I would still be immersed in the subject!

The anchor of the project is over seventy-five PowerPoint programs that were presented throughout the county. Many of those concentrated on Woodland and its efforts in the war both on the home front as well as on the military front.

Woodland, as the county seat, was the headquarters for most of the major organizations, such as the Red Cross, the Yolo County Draft Board, the Food Administration etc. involved in the war effort. It also sent the most men to war and lost the most. The World War touched every part of the Woodland community and as such in telling that story we are really sharing the history of the town during that period.

IN 2018 TO COMMEMORATE THE END OF THE WAR WE CREATED THE “PORTRAITS OF SACRIFICE” EXHIBIT WHERE WE TOLD THE STORY OF THE OVER THIRTY MEN FROM YOLO COUNTY THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR. PERMISSION WAS RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY TO HAVE GALLERY 625, WHERE THE EXHIBIT WAS HUNG, OPEN FOR THE 2018 “STROLL THROUGH HISTORY”

 

The project has provided displays and, or speeches at a number of different Woodland events including Women’s History Month, The Gibson Barn Gallery, service club meetings, The Yolo County Historical Society’s WWI parade, and of course the “Stroll Through History.”

In 2022 the project created an exhibit to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The exhibit was held at Gallery 625 in the county administration building. Opening night honored relatives of five Yolo County men who lost their lives in the war.

The exhibit was opened over the “Stroll Through History” weekend and we created a free brochure called “Stroll Through WWI Woodland.” to hand out. It described the buildings and houses used by residents of Woodland who were active in one way or another in the war effort. This was a fun endeavor!

THE PROJECT CONTINUES TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS AROUND THE COUNTY THE MOST RECENT BEING ONE OUT AT MARY’S CHAPEL TITLED: “WOMEN OF NORTHERN YOLO 1900-1920”

 

Over the next few years, we will be visiting each part of the county to finalize the research which will then be stored at the Yolo County Archives so it can be accessible to researchers and relatives.

I would like to say that it has been a privilege to travel around the county getting to know people, sharing stories, and photographs from this important, pivotal time in Yolo County’s history. I also appreciate the support of the Yolo County Archives and the Friends of the Yolo County Archives as well as all the branch librarians, and numerous county employees who have made this project possible


To see past Heritage Hero awards, please visit this page.