Alice van Ommeren is a public historian whose work is rooted in rigorous research, sociological insight, and a deep commitment to preserving history. She has decades of experience leading research initiatives in higher education, which gives her a strong analytical foundation. Her training in sociology, both as a scholar and instructor, shapes how she interprets institutions, communities, and social change. Her path into public history began with a lifelong interest in vintage postcards.

She is the author of several books, including Yosemite’s Historic Hotels and Camps, Petaluma in Vintage Postcards, and Stockton’s Golden Era. She is known for illuminating early Northern California tourism and agriculture through clear narratives and vivid imagery. Her work explores the emergence of Yosemite as a major tourist destination, the rise of agricultural manufacturing in Stockton, and the poultry driven industry that once made Petaluma the “World’s Egg Basket.”

She is also dedicated to historic preservation. Alice has successfully nominated buildings to the National Register of Historic Places and local landmark lists. She has served on preservation commissions in both Stockton and Petaluma and has helped organize Petaluma’s National Historic Preservation Month for the past four years. Today, she continues to integrate research and writing to tell the stories that preserve California’s agricultural heritage and tourism history.