05/27/2026
04/23/2026
神马我不卡福利 celebrates the contributions of African Americans as local author and historian Sylvia Alden Roberts presents the last event of the 鈥淏eyond Gold: Stories Across Cultures鈥� speaker series on June 18.
SONORA, CA (June 15, 2026) 鈥� On Thursday, June 18 at the Sonora Museum Courtyard, the 鈥淏eyond Gold: Stories Across Cultures鈥� speaker series will offer the last of four events, with a presentation from Sylvia Alden Roberts, focusing on California鈥檚 Black Gold Rush Pioneers.
Roberts, an author and historian based in Northern California's Sierra Nevada foothills, wrote 鈥淭he Other Side of Nolan Street鈥� and 鈥淢ining for Freedom: Black History Meets the California Gold Rush,鈥� which documented the stories of African Americans in the Mother Lode. She is the region鈥檚 specialist in the history of Black Gold Rush Pioneers and has a new book coming out soon on her research.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Roberts is a graduate of Trinity University. She founded the Mother Lode Black Heritage Foundation, an initiative dedicated to the preservation of the legacy of African American pioneers of the California Gold Rush. In partnership with the National Park Service, her work contributed to placing African American Gold Rush history in two Smithsonian museums.
The 鈥淏eyond Gold: Stories Across Cultures鈥� series included the following monthly presentations from January to June 2026:
The speaker series is a partnership with the Tuolumne County Historical Society, Con Amor: Building Bridges, and the California State Parks.