The Collection consists of papers, reports, newspaper clippings, and audio tapes of public meetings, mostly concerning the environmental impacts of growth in Contra Costa County and the City of Concord.

Marcus O’Connell, a Concord resident, was a civic watchdog and environmental activist. After O’Connell’s death in 2003, his papers and audio tapes were obtained by local historian Dean McLeod, who donated the Collection to the Concord Historical Society in 2005. The Concord Historical Society in turn donated it to the Contra Costa County Historical Society later that year. The Deed of Gift states that nine boxes were donated to CCCHS but there are thirteen boxes in the Collection. Born in Montana, Marcus O’Connell moved to San Francisco in the 1960s and then moved to Concord in 1994. He unsuccessfully ran for Concord City Council in 2000. O’Connell died from cancer in 2003 at the age of 55.

13 boxes

Collection is open for research.