Heyday is an independent, nonprofit publisher founded in 1974 in Berkeley, California. We are a diverse community of writers and readers, activists and thinkers. Heyday promotes civic engagement and social justice, celebrates nature’s beauty, supports California Indian cultural renewal, and explores the state’s rich history, culture, and influence. Heyday works to realize the California dream of equity and enfranchisement.
Heyday was founded by Malcolm Margolin in 1974 when he wrote, typeset, designed, and distributed The East Bay Out, a quirky, personal, affectionate guide to the natural history of the hills and bayshore around Berkeley and Oakland. Out of this modest first effort a major California cultural enterprise has taken shape. Heyday publishes around twenty books a year, founded two successful magazines—News from Native California and Bay Nature—and has taken a lead role in dozens of prominent public education programs throughout the state.
From the start, Heyday has worked in partnership with many of California’s leading cultural organizations. We have produced distinguished books together with the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley; the California Historical Society; the California State Library; the Los Angeles Times; Santa Clara University; Sierra College Press; Save the Redwoods League; Yosemite Conservancy; and many others.
In 2016, Margolin retired from Heyday. The organization is now co-led by Steve Wasserman and Gayle Wattawa. In 2018, Heyday began national distribution for our books with Publishers Group West (an Ingram brand), one of the country’s leading distributors. As we approach our second half century of publishing, we invite you to learn more about Heyday and become part of our community.
