Join us at the park for a special conversation exploring the life and legacy of Jack London through the perspective of his great-granddaughter, Tarnel Abbott. In this program, Gail Yamamoto Seymour will interview Abbott in a discussion that offers personal insight and new reflections on London’s enduring impact.
The conversation will touch on themes including London’s family of origin and descendants, the influence of figures such as William Henry Chaney and Virginia Prentiss, and the lasting relevance of his writing today. They will also explore personal favorites, common myths about London, and key themes in his work such as race, class, justice, humanitarianism, agrarian life, and his well-known connection to dogs.
The program will also consider London’s curiosity, his thirst for knowledge, and his vision for a more utopian society, offering a thoughtful look at how his ideas continue to resonate today.
Image of Jack London with his daughters, Joan and Becky, courtesy of the Huntington Digital Library.
About Tarnel Abbott:
Tarnel Abbott is one of Jack London’s great-granddaughters. Born and raised in Oakland and Berkeley, she has also lived in Mexico, Montana, and Hawaii. After graduating from Berkeley High School, she worked in a wide variety of jobs before earning her BA in Liberal Arts from Antioch University West and a Master’s degree from UC Berkeley’s School of Library and Information Studies.
She has worked at the Benicia, Contra Costa County, and Richmond public libraries, and is a recipient of the California Library Association’s Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award. Tarnel is widely known for her social, political, and ecological activism in the Bay Area.
She has lectured, written, and been interviewed about her great-grandfather’s legacy, and she wrote and produced a live performance based on Jack London’s dystopian novel The Iron Heel, which explores the rise of fascism and its eventual collapse.
Tarnel enjoys creating art, gardening, travel, and spending time in natural environments. She has two sons and two grandchildren.
About Gail Yamamoto Seymour:
Gail Yamamoto Seymour is an environmental scientist and advocate for endangered species, climate change adaptation, and environmental justice. She is a 3rd generation Californian Japanese American.
Over the past 50 yrs, she has been a self-educated follower of Jack London’s history, drawn to his adventurous lifestyle and humanitarian ideologies. Gail treasures her friendship with Tarnel Abbott, Jack London’s great granddaughter, because like her great grandfather and grandmother, she is genuinely compassionate and is a vocal activist promoting justice for all.
This event is part of a speaker series co-hosted by Jack London Park Partners and the Jack London Society, honoring the 150th anniversary of Jack London’s birth. JLPP is grateful for the support of the Jack London Society and its scholars in bringing this speaker series to life. Join us at Jack London State Historic Park throughout 2026 for a compelling lineup of speakers celebrating Jack London’s legacy.
Click here to learn more about the Jack London Society and the work they do to carry Jack’s legacy forward.
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Place: Jack London’s Cottage
Please park in the Ranch lot on the right as you enter the park. A golf cart will be available to shuttle participants to and from the cottage.
Admission: $15 *Park entrance fee not included in ticket price
Price: $15.00