"The accolades
keep coming in; people loved your discussion. Thanks
for your passion and dedication to the native peoples and
keeping their memory alive... Schwartz' talk was
informative and thought provoking about a subject
too little discussed today in Berkeley, pre-Columbian
civilization in the East Bay. For over two hours he
captivated an audience of over 60 Berkeleyeans with
tales of discovery and study of the people who lived in
what is now Berkeley centuries ago. Excellent job
Richard!"
-Jef Findley, Berkeley History Room, Berkeley Public
Library, Main Branch.
"On
Saturday, September 24th, with a
standing-room only crowd in
attendance, the Contra Costa
County Historical Society honored
the culture and heritage of the
County's first inhabitants.
Author/historian Richard
Schwartz gave an excellent
introduction to the earliest
migrants into what is now
California. He also spoke of
the weather and geography changes
that gave rise to the landforms
that we know today. He spoke
particularly about the imminent
destruction of the remaining East
Bay Shellmounds and their
importance to understanding
inhabitants there."
-Dean
McLeod, Contra Costa Historical
Society
Richard
Schwartz held the audience in
rapt attention when he spoke to
the San Leandro Historical
Society on June 17, 2017 about
the remarkable story of M. B.
Curtis. Schwartz knows how to
tell a good story, and he is the
kind of researcher who dives in
to discover and follow the
fascinating details and side
trails of his subject.
-Cindy
Simons, President, San Leandro
Historical Society
"Richard
Schwartz kept our Commonwealth
Club audience entertained
while informing them about a
missing piece of history: the
19th century actor and
entrepreneur M.B. Curtis's
fascinating life on stage and
off. Schwartz rescues
this once-famous man from the
dustbin of history, where he
did not belong. Curtis
hobnobbed with other
celebrities of the time, but
was a man of deep substance as
well. Schwartz makes it
all clear with a storytelling
style that matches his 19th
century topic."
-George
Hammond,
Chairman of
the Humanities Forum at The Commonwealth Club of
California
FROM THE
COMMONWEALTH CLUB TALK ON NATIVE AMERICAN
CULTURE OF THE BAY AREA TALK 10/14/2019:
“I'm 11 minutes into the
talk
and the
tears are flowing.”
Upon completing listening to the talk:
“Oh my goodness. I think in the hands (or
voices) of others, this would sound simply bleak and
hopeless. Yet, at the end, I felt positive and
hopeful. And I could relate very much. Thank you so
much, probably the best gift of this season.”
Norma Wallace, Ohlone.
https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/archive/podcast/cultures-bay-areas-indigenous-peoples
Richard Schwartz's
Event Dates in 2020- Speaking Events
and Media Events
February 8,
2020. Berkeley Public Library Foundation. The Berkeley
Public Library Foundation will honor author Richard
Schwartz at their "Berkeley Public Library Foundation's
18th Annual Authors Dinner." Berkeley City Club.
2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707. 510-848-7800. "This event spotlights the Bay Area’s literary tradition and celebrates the authors who enrich our community. Proceeds from the event fund library innovations, capital improvements, and expand literacy projects that help make a strong public library possible. This year’s event will be held at the prestigious Berkeley City Club. The evening begins with a cocktail reception, an opportunity for authors and guests to mingle, followed by dinner, where each author is seated with a group of library-loving guests and introduced briefly to the attendees at large by the evening’s host emcees. Our 2020 hosts include Emmy Award winner Linda Schacht Gage, Pulitzer Prize author T.J. Stiles, and SF Chronicle columnist and author Vanessa Hua. For a peek at what to expect, you can view our gallery from the 2019 gathering here.
The Foundation raises funds to benefit all five locations of the Berkeley Public Library by supporting innovations, building improvements, and literacy projects for all ages. This summer brings exciting news, as construction has just begun on building out the new Teen Space, as well as to create other common areas for gathering, reading, and programming. This is all made possible thanks to authors, sponsors, and donors who support the beloved annual Authors Dinner." Further
details listed as they are announced.
April 30, 2020. The Silent Movie Channel has chosen to mount "Samuel of Posen," the
1910 silent movie starring M. B. Curtis. They also
utilize the book "The Man Who Lady Liberty" in an
explanation of the film and Curtis. Click on the link
underlined at "The Silent Movie Channel to the left.
Spring, 2020. The
Associated Alumni of the Central High School of
Philadelphia published a story written by
Richard Schwartz about M. B. Curtis's life and times
in Philadelphia. Central High School is the second
oldest continuously public high school in the nation,
opening its doors on Spetember 19, 1837. Click on the
link, scroll down to the bottom of the document (pages
20 and 21) to read the article.