Joseph C. Laney (1881–1948): Oakland's Laney College Named in His Honor

 

Joseph Laney & Mausoleum Vault

Main Mausoleum Section 6, 514, T1

Joseph Clarence Laney was born on June 22, 1881, near Salt Lake City, Utah, to Joseph Samuel Laney and his family. He graduated from Arizona State Normal College (now Arizona State University) in 1900, then launched his journalism career at the Phoenix Republic. In 1904, he moved to Oakland, California, with his wife, Grace Saylor, where he worked for several newspapers, including the Alameda Argus, Oakland Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, and Oakland Enquirer. In 1909, Laney co-founded the Inter-City Express, a legal publication serving law and construction professionals, and established Inter-City Printing.

Laney’s most enduring legacy was in vocational education. In 1927, he founded the Oakland Central Trade School, an innovative institution providing free vocational training at a time when such opportunities were rare. Despite initial resistance from labor unions, Laney successfully built partnerships with both labor and management, creating programs that benefited apprentices and experienced workers alike. His commitment to education led to his appointment to the Oakland School Board in 1938, where he served for a decade, including a term as president.

Beyond his professional achievements, Laney was deeply involved in civic life. He participated in organizations such as the Masons, Athenian-Nile Club, and Kiwanis Club, and served as president of the California Typothetae.

Laney College in Oakland

Following his death, the Oakland Central Trade School was renamed the Joseph C. Laney Trade and Technical Institute in his honor in 1948. The institution later became part of Oakland Junior College in 1953, serving as the vocational training campus, while the Merritt campus focused on liberal arts and business. The college was renamed Oakland City College in 1958, and with the creation of the Peralta Community College District in 1964, Laney College emerged as an independent institution. The current campus at 900 Fallon Street opened in 1970-71.

Today, Laney College is the largest of the four colleges in the Peralta Community College District, serving around 16,500 students annually. It offers a broad range of programs, including liberal arts, sciences, and career and technical education. The college is especially known for its programs in journalism, culinary arts, mathematics, machine technology, and ethnic studies, and continues to play a vital role in providing accessible education and promoting social justice in Oakland and the greater Bay Area.

Laney passed away on August 16, 1948, and was laid to rest with his wife in the Main Mausoleum at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.