Resources – Artifact Collection Index

The History Center of the Moraga Historical Society houses a wide range of physical objects which we have begun to photograph for our online catalog. The objects are classified as “natural” (specimens of rocks, flora and fauna), “artifacts” (anything created by humans to serve a purpose), “painting” (original paintings), “sculpture” (any 3D object created to represent rather than do something), “poster” (any large 2D object that informs about something such as an event), “framed photo” (oversized photos usually in a frame), “award” (trophies, plaques, certificates that recognize somebody or an accomplishment), “facsimile” (an exact scale reproduction of a 2D object), “replica” (an exact scale reproduction of a 3D object), “model” (a smaller scale reproduction of a 3D object), and, “diorama” (a 3D model representing a historical or natural scene). Each object has been photographed from the angles that are applicable: overhead, front, back, left, right and miscellaneous for composite objects such as a mortar and pestle which each have their own photos. The items in our Artifact Collection are presented in catalogs that represent the 10 time periods.

Resources – Artifact Collection – Geology	The “Geology” time period refers to rocks and land formations that make up Moraga and the surrounding region, what today’s geology is and how it came about, and can include current issues such as landslides and earthquakes.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Paleontology	The “Paleontology” time period refers to prehistoric non-human life in the Moraga area (ie mastodons) but also extends into the present to include information and photos about how Moraga’s flora and fauna have changed to its present form.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Native Americans	The “Native Americans” time period refers to the pre-European inhabitants from past to present, chosen as an alternative to “Indigenous” to replace the term “Indian” which past archivists used extensively.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Early European Exploration 1500-1774	The time period “Early European Exploration 1500-1774” refers to European exploration of California prior to local European settlement that began with the de Anza expeditions in 1774. Items in this catalog are unlikely to be about the Moraga area but rather the broader region.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Spanish Period 1774-1821	The “Spanish Period 1774-1821” refers to the period of Spanish influence from the de Anza expeditions until Mexico secured independence from Spain in 1821.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Mexican Period 1821-1848	The “Mexican Period 1821-1848” refers to the period of Mexican control until the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848 following the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) when Mexico ceded much of the southwest including California to the United States. The official admission was September 9, 1850. This period Includes the granting of the Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados Land Grant to Joaquin Moraga and Juan Bernal.
Resources – Artifact Collection – California Americanization 1848-1900	The “California Americanization 1848-1900” time period refers to the second half of the 19th century during which ownership of the Moraga land grant fragmented and eventually shifted into the hands of “Americans” such as Horace Carpentier and ranch owners.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Early 20th Century Moraga 1900-1945	“Early 20th Century Moraga 1900-1945” refers to the first half of the 20th century with the end of World War II in 1945 treated as a major turning point in Moraga’s shift from an agribusiness into an emerging suburban bedroom community.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Unincorporated Moraga 1945-1974	“Unincorporated Moraga 1945-1974” refers to the post-war period until the incorporation of the Town of Moraga in 1974 during which Utah Construction led the development of residential subdivisions that transformed Moraga from a farming-ranching community into a resdiential community.
Resources – Artifact Collection – Incorporated Moraga 1974 – present	“Incorporated Moraga 1974 – present” covers the history of Moraga since incorporation in 1974.