Category: Events – Monthly

Mission San Juan Capistrano
photo courtesy of Eric Plunkett

Historian Eric Plunkett will discuss “The Books that Made Mission San Juan Capistrano,” at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society: March 12, 2026, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. Please join us!

Few know that the first library in Orange County – assembled by the padres of Mission San Juan Capistrano themselves – remains among the mission’s collection. Annotations in some of the books tie them to some of the most important missionaries and events in the history of California and tell a fascinating story about how the mission was built, organized, and maintained. These very books were sources used in some of the earliest agricultural, ranching, and architectural developments in the county. Some are directly tied to the most important events in early California. Come hear the story of this library, its books, and how it helped shape our history.

Eric Plunkett is the author of St. Junípero Serra and the Founders of Mission San Juan Capistrano and Orange County and many scholarly articles and is co-author, with Phil Brigandi, of the OCHS publication, The Portola Expedition in Orange County. Plunkett teaches in the Placentia Yorba-Linda Unified School District. A native of Placentia, he graduated with a degree in history from CSU Fullerton. He has led numerous OCHS tours and History Hikes and has addressed OCHS on many occasions. He blogs about the early history of Orange County at www.visionsofcalifornia.blogspot.com.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 7:30pm for this informative presentation! The public is welcome!!!!

The history of Orange County’s Korean-American community will be the subject of guest speaker Ellen Ahn of the Korean American Center and Korean Community Services at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society on, February 12, 2026, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The public is welcome!!

Ahn will trace the Korean-American community from the early 20th-century labor migration to Hawai‘i, through the transformative impact of the 1965 Immigration Act, and into the establishment of Southern California as a primary gateway for Korean immigrants, with O.C. becoming a destination. She’ll tell how the 1992 L.A. riots accelerated suburban migration and reshaped Orange County into a center of Korean-American life with strong institutions, businesses, and more. In the following decades, O.C. developed into a mature, multi generational Korean-American hub characterized by professional leadership, political engagement, and ties to South Korea. Today, O.C. is one of the largest Korean-American population centers in the U.S., marked by high education, strong entrepreneurship, significant Limited English Proficiency needs among seniors, and growing second- and third-generation communities.

A Fullerton resident for over 20 years, Ellen Ahn is the longtime Executive Director of Korean Community Services (KCS), which provides free health, educational, immigration, legal and social service programs to some 10,000 low-income people in Orange County annually.

Ahn grew up in Echo Park’s Koreatown, the child of immigrants. Her father, an Episcopal priest, led a small Korean congregation which started KCS in 1977. Ahn attended both Yale and Georgetown University law school, and later joined the board of KCS. She went back for a master’s in social work from USC to better guide the Buena Park-based nonprofit.

The Korean American Center was founded in 2015 in Irvine, to reclaim what was lost to assimilation: Korean language, culture, and history. In 2018, the Center merged with KCS and was designated a King Sejong Institute – a global network supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promote Korean language and culture worldwide.

We look forward to learning about the history of Orange County’s Korean-American community from Ellen Ahn of the Korean American Center and Korean Community Services at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society on, February 12, 2026, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The public is welcome!!

Moulton Family Foundation president Jared Mathis and Moulton Museum Executive Director Dr. Elisabeth Lange will discuss the history of the historic Moulton Ranch at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The public is welcome!

In this illustrated lecture, the origins, growth, and eventual breakup of the Moulton Ranch operations will be brought to life, from the sheep herding beginnings to the cattle-raising end. Along the way, you’ll gain insights into the personality and character of Lewis Moulton and Nellie Gail Moulton, two pioneers of Orange County history, and their interactions with historical figures like James Irvine, Judge Richard Egan, and artist Edgar Payne. Come hear how the story of the Moulton Ranch influenced the development of Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and Mission Viejo.

Jared Mathis is the President of the Moulton Family Foundation, and a leader in the cultural and education ecosystem of South Orange County. He was recently awarded the Madame Modjeska Visionary Leadership award from ArtsOC for his many philanthropic endeavors. His efforts uphold the family legacy of Lewis and Nellie Gail Moulton; he is one of their great-grandchildren and along with the rest of his family, actively supports the preservation of history and art in South Orange County, including the ranching heritage. He grew up on a ranch outside of Sacramento and has been in the commercial real estate field for most of his professional life.

A graduate of Mission Viejo High School, Dr. Elisabeth Lange went on to earn a PhD in Scandinavian Languages and Literature from U.C. Berkeley. She has been working in the museum field for over 30 years, first as a curator of an exhibition about the Vikings, then at a Scandinavian heritage museum in the Pacific Northwest, before focusing on local history museums. She became the Executive Director of the Moulton Museum in May of 2024, and is excited to be contributing to her hometown area historical awareness and preservation efforts.

Please join the Society and welcome Moulton Family Foundation president Jared Mathis and Moulton Museum Executive Director Dr. Elisabeth Lange as they bring the rich story of the historic Moulton Ranch to life at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The public is welcome!

Come to “Show & Tell Night” at the Orange County Historical Society, Thursday, December 11, 2025, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., Orange. The public is welcome!!!

Bring a choice artifact or bit of memorabilia that connects to an interesting story about Orange County’s past. Rummage around your house or garage for an interesting artifact or bit of ephemera that tells us something about local history. Maybe you have a handbrake from a Pacific Electric car, or maybe great-grandpa’s branding iron is stored in your attic. Or maybe you have an outstanding photo of early Orange County that hasn’t seen the light of day in many years.

Now’s your chance to trot out those curiosities you’ve had stashed away. The public is welcome. This time, YOU are our program for the month, and everyone’s looking forward to seeing and hearing about the item you bring. We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the entrance and participants will be called up one at a time. Anyone bringing more than one item, may be asked to wait to share their second item until everyone else has had a chance to present.

See you at the “Show & Tell Night” at the general meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, Thursday, December 11, 2025, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., Orange. We are looking forward to seeing and learning about your Orange County historical treasures!

Vietnamese Heritage Museum Founder and President, Chau Thuy will discuss “The Vietnamese Diaspora and Little Saigon”, at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 7:30p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The public is welcomed.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and of the beginnings of the Vietnamese American community in the part of Orange County we now know as Little Saigon.

photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps in Japan

After the fall of Saigon, USMC Camp Pendleton served as America’s first Vietnamese refugee camp. Soon, church groups in the heart of nearby Orange County began sponsoring many of those refugees. Many families settled permanently in Westminster, Garden Grove and surrounding cities, building a new community which attracted still more displaced people. Today, Orange County’s Little Saigon is a thriving commercial and cultural center and home to the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam.

A survivor of a harrowing boat escape from Vietnam to Thailand, Chau Thuy’s personal journey fuels his deep passion for cultural preservation and education. He is an artist, author, and engineer dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the Vietnamese diaspora. He’s committed himself to safeguarding and sharing the stories of resilience, sacrifice, and survival that define the Vietnamese refugee experience. His books about the Vietnamese “boat people” include Vực Xoáy and Bloodstained Sea. He is also an expert in Vietnamese calligraphy and his artwork has been exhibited at numerous universities and museums and at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

His vision is to establish a permanent institution that preserves and amplifies the history of Vietnamese refugees worldwide, ensuring their struggles and triumphs remain a vital part of the global narrative. To learn more about the Vietnamese Heritage Museum, please visit their website at:  https://vietnamesemuseum.org.

Please join the Orange County Historical Society in welcoming Vietnamese Heritage Museum Founder and President, Chau Thuy as he helps us all learn and understand more about  “The Vietnamese Diaspora and Little Saigon”, at the next Society meeting, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, 7:30p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. We look forward to seeing you!

Local historian Chris Jepsen will discuss “Rudy Boysen and the Boysenberry” at the October 9, 2025 meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, held 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The event is open to the public.

The Boysenberry’s story is so improbable, it’s surprising it survived to go into commercial production. The tale winds across California like a vine – from Merced County, to Napa, to Fullerton, to Buena Park, to Tustin, and to Anaheim where Rudy Boysen (1895-1950) became the city’s beloved Parks Director. Come learn about the Boysenberry, the creative and hardworking Mr. Boysen, the critical contributions of Walter Knott, and how the berry – after nearly disappearing from the world at least twice – is making another comeback.

Chris Jepsen is the longtime president of the Orange County Historical Society and an independent historian. He’s a frequent lecturer; has created museum exhibits and historical tours; and has written for historical journals, magazines, and his own blog: The O.C. History Roundup. He wrote the first significant article about Rudy Boysen and the Boysenberry for OCHS’ journal, Orange Countiana, (Vol. XII, 2016,) and continues to research the subject today.

Author and journalist Nate Jackson will discuss the era of Orange County’s punk and third-wave ska scene (1978-2000) at the September 11, 2025 meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, 7:30p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. Jackson will focus on the historical and musical roots that led to this creative explosion of rock-and-roll amid the relative calm of surburbia. This event is open to the public.

The Orange County punk scene stands out as an undeniable trendsetter that helped define the sound and style of the rapidly evolving genre. From hard luck storytellers Social Distortion and multi-platinum sellers like The Offspring to cult heroes like The Adolescents and T.S.O.L., there’s much insight to gain from the story of this popular though often misunderstood music scene.

Nate Jackson is co-author of Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World, with fellow journalist Daniel Kohn. The book explores the trajectory of punk and ska from their humble beginnings to their peak popularity years when their cultural impact was felt around the world. Delving deep into the personal and professional lives of local bands like Social Distortion, The Adolescents, The Offspring, and their ska counterparts No Doubt, Sublime, Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, and more, this book gives readers a deeper look into the very human stories of these musicians, many of whom struggled with acceptance, addiction, and sometimes brutal teenage years.

Jackson was born in Orange County and came up in the local punk scene, playing in bands and rumbling through the mosh pit in warehouses, DIY venues, and clubs across SoCal. He is currently the Deputy Editor of entertainment at the L.A. Times. He was previously the Music Editor for OC Weekly and staff writer for the Times.

Please join us on September 11, 2025 at the meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, 7:30p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange.

Historian Chris Jepsen will present “The Killing of Frank Wilson by Alfred Wolff at San Juan-by-the-Sea” at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, May 8, 2025, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange.  The public is welcome!

This is a colorful 1880s Wild West story that took place in what’s now Dana Point. This tale of ornery varmints and frontier justice includes a look at the Railroad Boom and one of the “lost” towns it briefly spawned.

On May 23, 1888, a strange “family” drove a wagon into the Santa Fe Railroad’s tiny beach resort town of San Juan-by-the-Sea, armed and looking to settle “unfinished business” with local fisherman and boozehound Frank Wilson. Leading the group was hot-tempered former graverobber Alfred R. H. Wolff. With Wolff was his wife, his wife’s lover (a wild-looking Swede), and a baby. After searching the saloons, they found Wilson in front of the Pioneer Hotel, where Wolff gunned him down in cold blood.

Jepsen will discuss not only the details of the crime, but also what led up to event (including earlier crimes), the unusual characters on both sides of the law, the now-forgotten “ghost town” in which it all occurred, the context of the fading “Wild West,” and the fates of the involved parties afterward.

Orange County historian Chris Jepsen is the longtime president of the O.C. Historical Society and has been involved in local history work for about 35 years. He’s a frequent lecturer; has created museum exhibits and historical tours; and writes for historical journals, magazines, and his own blog: The O.C. History Roundup.

Join us on May 8th, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St. 

Historian and Huntington Beach City Archivist Kathie Schey will tell stories of the many Huntington Beach residents of who served in World War I at the next meeting of the Orange County Historical Society, Thursday, April 10, 2025, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The public is welcome!

American Legion Post 133 in Huntington Beach is among the oldest continually active posts in the nation and is only a few months younger than the Legion itself. It was built on a remarkable legacy of service: Those who left a sleepy coastal farm town to fight an international war they could never have imagined amidst the threat of an international pandemic.

The small group of veterans who founded Post 133 represented a cross-section of the community. One was an attorney, another a land developer and most of the rest had small businesses or farms. Some had seen the horrors of battle, while others hadn’t even made it off their troop transports. Each of their stories shine a light on the lived experience of that time.

More than one hundred local men joined the Service after the U.S. entered WWI in April 1917 – a staggering number for a tiny city less than a decade old. They served on land, on sea (and under it), and in the air. Most went to France while others were sent to China or were members of the occupying force in Germany.

Scouring newspapers, letters, diaries and more, their stories have unfolded. Among them, heroism in the sky, mastering new technologies, lying “doggo” in a muddy trench while artillery roared overhead, witnessing the burial at sea of a Spanish Influenza victim. Introductions to just a few examples follow:

• Three boyhood friends met serendipitously in a French battlefield, then separated, their fates unknown to each other and to their frantic families at home.
• Another soldier wrote to his father to watch for him in a newsreel.
• One infantryman disembarked at the very port his father immigrated from decades earlier.
• The first African American graduate of Huntington Beach High School was proudly assigned to one of only two Black units allowed to bear arms.

Some returned home to jubilant welcomes. Others returned in coffins. All their stories are worth knowing and sharing.

Kathie Schey is currently the Archivist of the City of Huntington Beach. She holds a master’s degree in history, receiving the Nicholas Perkins Hardeman Prize for her work. Subsequent awards include two nationally competed Visiting Research Fellowships. Kathie has served on numerous history-related boards – including OCHS – and holds certification in archives, historic preservation and urban planning.

Please join us to hear this important presentation on service given by Huntington Beach residents during the turbulent years of Word War I on  Thursday,  April 10, 2025, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange. The public is welcome!