Related Records

1. Locke McCorkle on Druid Heights - Druid Heights Oral History

   In this oral history, Locke McCorkle reminisces about Druid Heights and many of the people associated with the legendary bohemian community. Locke recounts first visiting Druid Heights in the early 1950s and his subsequent involvement in building some of the structures there. He conjectures that the community received its evocative name from one of its early residents, the poet Elsa Gidlow. In addition to Elsa, Locke discusses various other peopl...

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. Oral History of Al Klyce - Oral History

   In this oral history, architect, builder, and Mill Valley native Al Klyce recounts his life. Born in 1931, Al is the grandson of one of Mill Valley's early pioneers, Harvey Klyce, who came from Tennessee and settled in the area in 1895. Al discusses his schooling in Mill Valley and recollects some of the old businesses in town when he was growing up. Al recounts how as young man he considered going into the ministry after being inspired by Gordon...

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. Oral History of Chris McNamara - Oral History

   Chris McNamara is a big wall climber, former wingsuit BASE jumper, author of 10 books, and founder of multiple outdoor recreation companies. Born in San Anselmo to Kay and Steve McNamara, Chris moved to Mill Valley in high school, and began rock climbing as a teenager under the guidance of mentor Mark Melvin, founder of Touchstone Climbing. In this oral history, Chris shares how his enthusiasm for climbing led him to illicitly scale the Golden Ga...

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. Oral History of Fabrice Florin - Druid Heights Oral History

   In this oral history, multimedia innovator and social entrepreneur Fabrice Florin discusses Druid Heights where he lived for two years in the late 1970s. Fabrice recounts how he moved to California from Switzerland in 1975, drawn by the hippie counterculture, but found that he had come too late. Working as a radio producer, Fabrice first visited the bohemian community on Mt. Tam at the suggestion of a friend and soon after moved into a small hous...

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. Oral History of Locke McCorkle - Oral History

   In this rollicking oral history, Locke McCorkle recounts a colorful life full of passion, humor, and adventure. Born in San Jose in 1930 — and at the time of this interview proudly "as old as God and as young as spring"— Locke grew up in Eureka, California. After studying English and French at Humboldt State University, he moved down to the Bay Area to attend graduate school at Berkeley, but changed his course when he heard Alan Watts’ lectures o...

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. Oral History of Mark Watts - Oral History

   In this oral history, field recording specialist, archivist and epigrapher Mark Watts recounts his life and narrates the life story of his father Alan, famous spiritual teacher and former Druid Heights denizen. Born in 1953, Mark grew up in Mill Valley; El Cerrito; and Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. After high school, he attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he studied psychology. Mark recounts how he moved back to California in the early ...

   Record Type: Archive

   
7. Oral History of Matthew Davis - Oral History

   Matthew Davis was born in Nebraska, grew up in Oregon, and finally settled in the Bay Area, California in the late 1950s. After studying at the University of Oregon, Davis travelled to Japan while in the Navy, where he was intrigued by the country’s culture and landscape. Davis then moved to Point Richmond, and later to Mill Valley, where he started a family. It was in Mill Valley that he was inspired by Mount Tamalpais and met other like-minded...

   Record Type: Archive

   
8. Oral History of Roger Packer - Oral History

   In this brief interview, Roger Packer recounts living in Mill Valley in the 1960s. Roger spent time with the legendary philosopher and poet Alan Watts, who was living aboard the docked ferry Vallejo. Roger describes his love for the eccentric and his experiences with other colorful locals such as Roger Summers, Art Grant, and Margo St. James.

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. Oral History of Terry Haggerty - Oral History

   In this oral history, musician, psychedelic explorer, and end-of-life guide Terry Haggerty shares the encounters, events, and experiences that have shaped his life. Born in Marin in 1946, Terry grew up in a family of performers: his father was a musician and his mother was a dancer who immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba. Terry recalls jam sessions and dance parties held at the family home in San Anselmo during his childhood, which had a formative e...

   Record Type: Archive

   
10. Recording of "Stories of Druid Heights" event - Archives

    Audio recording of "Stories of Druid Heights" event held at the Mill Valley Public Library on June 25th, 2018. The event was described on the Library website as follows: "Share your stories about the Muir Woods enclave where Alan Watts, Elsa Gidlow and other literary luminaries once lived. Or come and listen as others discuss this unique bohemian community. Author and former Druid Heights resident Hallie Iglehart Austen will moderate." The eve...

    Record Type: Archive