Meet the Society Team

Dan Ketcham

Nevada County resident since 1988 and Society member since circa 1990. Joined the Board of Directors in 2008 and served as both treasurer and current Board President. Enjoy working with the many volunteers in our Society and who share our passion for preserving our local history and providing leadership in the management of our fairly large all volunteer organization.

Stephen Fry

I live in Nevada City on property that my family has owned since the early 60’s. My volunteer work with the Historical Society has been primarily helping out at Searls Library. I also served as a commissioner for the Historical Landmarks Commission. My main local pastimes are exploring the backroads, walking both in town and on our many trails, checking in on our historical sites, and skiing whenever I have the chance.

Jeffrey Boylan

My name is Jeffrey Boylan. I am originally from Westfield, NJ. I migrated to San Francisco 2 weeks after graduating from Dartmouth College in June of 1979 and never looked back. We moved up the hill to Nevada City in 2005, embracing nature and slower pace of life. I am currently the Director of The North Star Powerhouse Mining Museum. I enjoy hiking and swimming in the Yuba and the alpine lakes up in the high country with my wife and dog. KVMR, Lyman Gilmore, and, of course, the Historical Society also rev my engine. My favorite color is Forest Green.

Pat Chesnut

Director of the Searls Library, and Searls volunteer since 1989. Born in Los Angeles, CA but escaped to Grass Valley with my husband when he retired in 1979. I worked for the L.A. City Engineering Department as a “civil engineering drafting technician”. (AKA draftsman) My hobbies have included gardening, antique cars, sewing, and historical research.

Linda Jack

Board member and Bulletin Editor.

Dom Lindars

Dom grew up in England and moved to the Bay Area in 1995, where he worked in high-tech. He has lived in Nevada City since 2013. He is a local historian and author of the book, The Ditches of Nevada City. He is the creator of the Nevada County Historical Archive and also looks after the Society website and is also the Society’s membership director.

John Christensen

Board member and the NCNG Railroad Museum Director.

Dakota Stroh

Society Secretary and project lead for digitization and the Nevada County Historical Archive.

Gary Kisor

Board member and Archivist.

Desmond Gallagher

Board member and looks after Society entertainment and events.

Cathy Wilcox-Barnes

Board member and the Firehouse No. 1 Museum Director.

Amanda Rodgers-Foley

Amanda Rodgers-Foley, a Northern California native, has built a 40-year career blending entertainment, finance, and event production across nonprofit and corporate sectors. Her work spans voice-over artistry, radio hosting, audio production, promotional campaigns, and international trade show operations, alongside financial management. In 2000, she moved onto the historic Marsh property in Nevada City, CA, where a diary from 1884 sparked her deep dive into local history and inspired her work on the film, The Diary. Today, Amanda continues to merge her creative and analytical talents as both the Executive Assistant at the Nevada County Resource Conservation District and the Treasurer of the Nevada County Historical Society—a role she enjoys immensely.