Irene Simpson Neasham

Creator of Wells Fargo History Room dies at 89. Irene Simpson Neasham, a 36 year veteran of Wells Fargo Bank and the creator of the renowned Wells Fargo History room, has died at 89 of congestive heart failure at her home in Hillsborough, CA.

A lifelong resident of the Peninsula, Irene was born in Oakland in 1916 to her Irish and Danish parents and shortly after moving to Burlingame, CA. where she spent her childhood.

Irene was a proud graduate of both Burlingame High School and San Mateo Junior College during the heart of the depression and finished her education down on the Stanford farm in 1937, graduating the same year her younger brother Robert finished at Burlingame High School.

Irene started her career at Wells Fargo after Stanford and except for her service during WWII spent her entire working career developing a remarkable collection of exhibits showcasing the history of Wells Fargo and California. In 1942

Irene joined the Navy and completed officer training in Northampton, MA, before her assignment to Treasure Island. She was responsible for managing sensitive documents and communications until her discharge in 1946 where she resumed her career with the bank.

Irene's reputation within California historical circles continued to grow and in 1963 she was elected president of the Conference of California Historical Societies, the first-ever woman to hold the position.

In 1970, Irene was elected president of the California Historical Society, also the first woman to hold that position. Irene was also honored to be on the Board of Trustees for the American Association of State and Local History and was appointed by both Edmond G. Brown and Ronald Reagan to be the chairwoman of the California Heritage Preservation Commission.

Irene met her husband, Dr. V. Aubrey Neasham, who was then state historian for the California State Parks, at the various historical meetings they each attended. After retirement this famous non-flyer was convinced to board a plane to England to assist with her husband's research into Sir Francis Drake's possible landing sites in Northern California - but upon her return vowed never to leave the ground again.

She was an enthusiastic driver until 2005 but further entreaties for flying fell on deaf ears.

Irene leaves numerous friends and family, including five nephews and one niece and their children on the Simpson side and the extensive family through marriage to Aubrey including his children, grandchildren, and their families