San Joaquin County’s original governing body, the Court of Sessions, met for the first time on this day in 1850! The three-person Court of Sessions had executive, legislative, and judicial power. It conducted general county business, passed ordinances, managed public roads, levied taxes, and heard certain criminal cases. The California State Legislature replaced the Court of Sessions with a three-person Board of Supervisors on March 20, 1855. In 1883, all counties (except San Francisco) were changed to the five-person Board of Supervisors we know today. The Board of Supervisors retained executive and legislative power while the Court of Sessions continued as the judicial branch of government in the counties until California’s Superior Court system was established in 1880. Learn more about the Court of Sessions and its important role in our county’s development in the new exhibit “San Joaquin County: 175 Years of Growing Greatness” which opens on June 21, 2025. Photo: Handwritten minutes from the first meeting of the San Joaquin County Court of Sessions on June 3, 1850. San Joaquin County Government Collection (fb)

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum is excited to announce that our friend and collaborator, Professor Bernard Remollino of San Joaquin Delta College, has published his first book. Titled "Pancho Villa: World Champion 1923," it shares the history of Filipino boxer Francisco "Pancho Villa" Guilledo who fought his way to becoming the first Asian flyweight world champion. Guilledo's victory ushered in the Great Pinoy Boxing Era, emboldened his fans and followers, and changed boxing forever. Dr. Bernard Remollino is an Associate Professor of Asian American & Pacific American History at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. He most recently contributed to "The Forgotten History of the Filipino Farm Center" project here at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum. Copies of Dr. Remollino's new book will be available in the Museum Mercantile starting Saturday, May 31. For more information, visit the link below. (fb)