PCC Archives at the Shatford Library

Jay Hern

2012-01-30T11:17:00.000-08:00

Our colleague Jay Hern , passed away at his home on December 24, 2011. Jay began his teaching career at PCC in 1961 and taught courses in theater, television, and communication, in the Performing and Communication Arts Division. He officially retired 49 years later in 2010. Jay was a big supporter of student activities and could be found attending many campus wide events. He will be remembered not only for his intellect, and talent in the areas of theater and communication, but also for his unassuming and kind personality. We will miss him.

A time for remembrance will be held in the Circadian on Thursday, February 2^nd from 3:00-5:00pm. There will be an opportunity to share memories, or a story with those present at 4:00pm. There will also be a designated area in the Circadian to post a tribute.

Chronological History of PHS--PJC--PCC

2012-01-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

1874 -- Pasadena settlers originally called the area they inhabited the Indiana Colony, reflecting a large settlement of Hoosiers in the area. The people who settled in Pasadena in the early days were those who regarded education as an absolute necessity to a civilized community. These settlers together with San Gabriel, formed one of the few early school districts which was called by the County Board of Supervisors the San Pasqual District, and it covered an area of ten square miles.

1874 (September 10) -- Colonel Banbury's twin daughters, Jessie and Jennie, known as the "Banbury twins," began attending school at the home of William T. Clapp on S. Orange Grove Avenue near California Street. School was taught by William Clapp's daughter, Miss Jennie H. Clapp. Colonel Jabez Banbury was a veteran of the Union Army.
  (September 12)  -- The First School Board of Trustees for the San Pasqual District was elected. Board members were W.W. Edwards (President), H.G. Bennett (Clerk), and Jabez Banbury. Within a week the school was in progress with 16 pupils enrolled. Due to the large number of students, school closed within a month until a new school house could be built.

1875 -- San Gabriel Orange Grove Association adopted the name Pasadena for the Indiana Colony. It came from the Indian word Pe-qua-de-na, which translates to "Crown of the Valley."
  (January 28) A new building was built and school reopened near the home of William Clapp at a cost of $300. Miss Clapp continued as the teacher of the school.

1876 -- (August) The Board of Trustees for the San Pasqual School District accepted from Mr. Benjamin D. "Don Benito" Wilson a donation of five acres of land at the southeast corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado Street (renamed Colorado Blvd in 1958). Wilson originally owned 2,500 acres in 1852, and bought and sold acreage in the area during subsequent years. He is known as one of the "Fathers of Pasadena."

1877 -- A literary society was formed by the older school children and the young people of the community. As no other meeting place was available, an addition to the school house was constructed and the meetings of the literary society were held there. There appeared the first newspaper published in Pasadena. It was called "The Reservoir."

1878 -- The district continued to grow very rapidly and a building was constructed on the corner of Colorado and Fair Oaks, the money being raised by assessment of the district. There subjects resembling High School studies were first taught. The teachers were Newell Mathews, who still resides there and a Miss F. Covence Royce. The building was considered at that time an extraordinary good one. At the same time, the people in the district west of Fair Oaks and south of Columbia Street built a school on the hill on Columbia just off of Orange Grove. That school was called the Pasadena District School.

1883 -- Three new schools were built. One of these occupied the site of the present Washington School, another was located on the corner of Colorado and Hill Streets. At that time there were many students desiring to take advantage of regular High School work. The need of more advanced education became so great that steps were taken looking towards the establishment of a High School. The five acres which belonged to the Colorado and Fair Oaks school became too valuable to be longer used for school purposes.

1886 -- Property on north Marengo Avenue was given to the School Board. The down-town property was auctioned for about $45,000. Some idea of the present value of the property may be had from the fact that it included the south side of Colorado Street from Fair Oaks to the Santa Fe tracks.

1887 -- Building plans were drawn and work was started on the new school, the present Wilson School. From 1887, the year of its completion, to 1891, it was a sort of district school.

1891 -- The people passed the High School Provision Bill. That was the beginning of the real Pasadena High School. It was then called the Wilson High School in honor of the man who donated the ground for the building. Mr. Will S. Monroe was the superintendent, and he also taught the science classes. There were seven other teachers. In the first year of its existence, the school was given the rank of an accredited school by both Stanford and California. The graduating class of the first year numbered twelve. The names of some of the graduates are quite interesting, among them being Annie L. Brush, Carleton E. Durrell, William H. Linny, LeRoy D. Ely, Alva D. McCoy, Leonora Schopbach and Carl C. Thomas.

1893 -- The Wilson School continued to grow very rapidly. The number of pupils had increased to one hundred and twenty-three, with a graduating class of sixteen. Also the first year of Throop Polytechnic Institute and many students entered that school, the graduating class of the first year numbering sixteen.

1895 -- There were two hundred enrolled in Throop and thirty-six in the graduating class. During the early history of both Throop and Pasadena High School, very few students dropped out during the High School course.

1895 -- The first school paper published in Pasadena made its appearance. It was called the "Bee" and was written by hand.

1896-1898 -- Mr. Ashley, Mr. Owen and Mr. Fall all came to Pasadena High. Mr. Ely, Mr. Hamilton and Miss Knoch came soon after. The school was composed of three hundred students. The routine was the same as that of a grammar school today.There were two daily recesses besides the hour for lunch. The students marched in and out in lines, the boys and the girls marching separately. There were three courses with very arbitrary divisions. The literary course was composed of those who took Latin but no Greek. The scientific course comprised those who took neither Latin nor Greek. In the classical course were those who took both Latin and Greek. Students graduated on sixteen credits with no requirements except as above. One teacher usually taught two or more subjects.
       The student activities at that time are worthy of notice. "The Item" as the school paper had come to be called, was seven by four inches in dimensions and a few pages thick. The whole paper bristled with advertisements which entirely filled the covers, inside and out, as well as the joke sections. "The Annual" was of the same dimensions and about one-fourth of an inch thick.
      When the Wilson building was erected, a great number of protests were made because the people thought it would be years before a building of its size would be necessary. The school grew very rapidly and was soon crowded.

1901 -- Mr. Ely became principal.

1903 -- The Trustees began looking for a new site for the High School. After considerable delay, the land on Walnut between Euclid and Los Robles was bought. After much careful planning, a building was erected which would be ample "for years to come", as one of the men who dedicated it said.

1904 (Fall) -- The building contained about thirty recitation and office rooms. It was ready for the opening of school.

1910 -- Meanwhile the school continued to expand and one by one, the bungalows began to appear on the campus. It seemed as if the buildings could no longer house the school.

1911 (Summer) -- The School Board leased the property of Throop Institute on the corner of Raymond and Chestnut, and merging the two schools, made Pasadena High a polytechnic school. This relieved the crowded condition, as Throop had never been crowded. That summer also saw the beginning of the campaign for voting bonds for $450,000 for new buildings. The voters chose the Rose Villa Site as the location for the buildings and upon these the work started at once. The opposition, however, was very strong. Many people objected to paying taxes on so large an expenditure of money, because it had been understood when the Walnut Street building was built, that it was large enough for many years to come.

1911-1912 -- The school activities showed the real strength of a united Pasadena High School. The football team was a team of stars with such men as "Tiny" Jones, Herman Siefert, "Chuck" Biedebach, "Bill' Tavenor, "Hod" Chambers, and "Puss" McDowell. Cartzdafner, Hobson, Odell and others gave L.A. High a close race for the debating championship, losing by one-third of a point.

1912 (May) -- The dedication and cornerstone ceremonies of the new buildings took place. The cornerstone was laid in the southwest corner of the Horace Mann Building. The stone was laid by the Masonic Lodge. The Agassiz and Addams buildings were then beginning to take form and the shop building was just started.

1912 (Fall) -- When school opened Mr. Jerome O. Cross, the new Principal, took up his work
as Mr. LeRoy D. Ely's successor. With him came a number of new teachers. At the beginning of the year
plans were formulated for a Student Body Organization. The students voted upon various forms of government, choosing the commission form. A constitution was drawn up and adopted. After a hot campaign, the following five commissioners were elected: Catherine Wright, Welfare; Albert McEuen, Athletics; Fred Gartz, Finance; Paul Fussell, Publications; George Stewart, Debating. Later in the year Harrison Baker succeeded Gartz, who was unable to continue in school. Meanwhile, under Coach Diggins, a fine football team was developed. Although only one game was lost, the team was unable, technically, to claim the championship. The baseball team, after tying with Glendale, finally won the championship. The track team also won the County Meet. The tennis and debating teams had very successful seasons. At the end of the year the Student Body elected the officers for the year 1913-1914. These officers are given elsewhere.

1913 -- The Administration Building was finished in time for the Senior Class Play and Commencement exercises.

To be continued...

Sources: Nutt, Donovan. "History of the Pasadena High School." The Item Annual. 1914.
Also: Jamgochian, George. "Chronology of Early Education in Pasadena: 1874-1930s." Librarian, Pasadena City College in Honor of Pasadena's 125th Birthday Celebration.
Location: Locked case. Yearbooks. Archives Room. History of PCC-PJC-PHS.

Principals of Pasadena High School

2011-12-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

James D. Graham                   1889 to 1903
LeRoy D. Ely                         1903 to 1912
Jerome Cross                        1912 to 1917
Walter C. Wilson                    1917 to 1920
William F. Ewing                     1920 to 1927--Junior College 1924
John W. Harbeson                  1927 to 1950

Source: Ashley, R.L. "Historical data Pasadena High School & Junior College." June 1955.
Location: Archives Room. History of PCC--PJC--PHS

"Lancers host LA Valley in Homecoming"

2011-11-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

Question: Any information on PCC's 1968 Football Homecoming Game?
Answer: Pasadena City College Lancers have met LA Valley Monarchs in October 12, 1968. PCC recorded its victory by a final count of 17-6. Coach Myron Tarkanian said: "It was a great all-around team effort. The defense was tremendous and the offense really put things together by controlling the ball and sustaining the long drives."

Sources: PCC Courier 9 Oct. 1968: 4. 16 Oct. 1968: 4. The Huddle 21 Sept. 1968: 9. Lancer Football 1999: 62.

Location: Archives Room

WPA Mural Olinka Hrdy

2011-10-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

"I am the library director at PCC and although I am not aware of everything (by all means!), in 27 years, I had never heard of a WPA mural done here at PCC or Pasadena Junior College as it was called prior to 1948. There is a mural at one of the local high schools, McKinley School. Here is the website:

http://www.mckinleyarts.com/about_us/library_mural.jsp

“Education (also called 'The Library Mural)”

1942
Frank Tolles Chamberlin
625 S. Oak Knoll Ave.
McKinley Elementary School
WPA mural in library
(View by appointment only by calling 626-844-7880.)

I also saw an oral history with Olinka Hrdy and she said in the oral history that she never painted one for Pasadena City College."

See: http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/hrdy65.ht

"BH: Well someplace along the line had you done something for Pasadena Junior College, a mural?

OH: No. "

Source: Email from Mary Ann Laun, Dean Shatford Library, dated October 18, 2007.

Location: Archives Room--Instructional--Library.

Horace Mann Building (now C) Irrigation Well

2011-10-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

"Letter from Mrs. Harry G. Pollay:

Board of Education

Dear Sirs:

In looking over my husband’s papers I found this description of the well at CityCollege about 1902. I think Mr. Pollay told me it was situated under the Horace Mann building. It was never used but was intended for irrigation purposes.

Thought it might be of interest.

Sincerely yours,

Genevieve T. Pollay

Harkness Ranch Notes

Strata in well:

1 ft to 100 ft – Cement

100 – 118 ft – Clay in water

118 – 128 ft – Sand in water

128 – 136 ft – Clay in water

136 – 138 ft – Sand in water

138 – 150 ft – Clay in water

150 – 158 ft – Sand/gravel in water

158 – 178 ft – Clay in water

178 – 184 ft – Sand/gravel in water

184 – 190 ft – Clay in water

190 – 262 ft – Sand/gravel in water

118 ft to water – lowered 20 ft in testing

268 ft of 12 m pipe

272 ½ ft drip after sand cleaning

Ranch well to water 118 ft

Moors (sp? See original document) well to water 136 ft

Ricro well to water 140 ft

Location of well 478 ft from Colorado and 265 from Sierra Bonita".

Source: PUSD Archives, Letter from Mrs. Harry G. Pollay; email from Mary Ann Laun, Dean Shatford Library, dated October 20, 2011.

Location: Archives Room--History of PCC/PJC--Buildings.

Response from Richard P. van Pelt, Vice President Administrative Services:

"I tried to measure where this could be, but it’s a bit tough because the distance from the two streets can mean a series of different things. It could mean from the center, or the edge. The edge might have changed over the years. From what I measured, it looks like it’s close to the server room on the first floor of the C Building—basically in the alleyway. What’s also interesting though is that they think that it was about 1902. However, we did not purchase the first part of the campus until 1911. Therefore the building was built after the well, and the well was probably destroyed either in the initial building or the subsequent one after the Long Beach Earthquake."

Source: Email from Richard P. van Pelt, Vice President, Administrative Services PCC, dated October 27, 2011.

Location: Archives Room--History of PCC/PJC--Buildings.

Tim Wise

2011-09-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

Q: Information/video about Tim Wise's visit to PCC.
A: Tim Wise, "diversity trainer", was invited to PCC by Cross Cultural Center on November 30, 2004.
Wise interpreted racial inequity as a problem of institutional structure. He, while speaking quite rapidly, lectured on matters such as the need to hire faculty of diverse races, particularly because students tend to be more diverse than faculty members these days.
The video (now it's in DVD) about Tim Wise's visit has been viewed by PCC Board of Trustees and members of the public on April and May meetings, 2005. The film concluded with Wise stressing the need for change. Simply hiring minorities isn't enough, he said; the dominant group must also change the way of looking at the situation in order for the hiring of minorities to actually work.

Source: Avery, John. "Public invited to Board's discussions on diversity." Courier 1 Apr. 2005: 6; Mullins, Chantal. "Board focused on diversity and racism." Courier 26 May 2005: 1.
Location: Archives' Room.

Cornel West

2011-09-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Q: Any information about the speaker, Cornel West, who spoke on Campus within the past 8 years.
A: Philosopher, America's "public intellectual", author, lecturer, distinguished Princeton Professor Cornel West began his speech, titled "Restoring Hope" at Sexson Auditorium of Pasadena City College on December 5th, 2003. The Cross Cultural Center and Black Student Alliance were hosting the event.
West emphasized the distinction between hope and optimism: "Hope enacts the stance of the participant who actively struggles against the evidence in order to change the deadly tides of wealth inequality, group xenophobia, and personal despair" and "Optimism adopts the role of the spectator who surveys the evidence in order to infer that things are going to get better". Speaking about race in America he said "you're actually talking about what does it mean to be human..."

Source: Barral, Nick. "West cancels." Courier 17 Apr. 2003: 1; Pigman, George. "Controversial Cornel West visits." Courier 11 Dec. 2003: 1.
Location: Archives' Room.

Lula C. Parmley (1885-1959)

2011-06-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

"Miss Parmley (1885-1959) is Pasadena High School graduate. In the Fall of 1924, the college music program began under the energetic and creative leadership of the choral director, Miss Lula Claire Parmley. As Chairman of the Music Department (retired , 1950) she has not only added many new courses to the curricular offerings but also had made it one of the most outstanding music departments in the entire state. As the director of many musical comedies and light operas, and as co-director with Katharine Kester in "Gloria" traditional Christmas Choral Play, she has contributed greatly to the cultural assets of the city. Miss Parmley's last production at PCC was a Spring music festival held on the evening of April 21, featuring opera highlights."

Sources: Individual folder for "Parmley, Lula Claire".
Location: Archival Room, Biography--Individual folders.

Chihuahuita School

2011-04-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

One of the Mexican schools established in 1915 was Titleyville School, near Titley Ave. The locals of that colonia renamed the site Chihuahuita School, perhaps because they were of Chihuahua. In 1923, the school name changed to Fremont School and served the community into the 1950s. At some point, it became Foothill Continuation School. In the 1980s, PCC transformed the same site to its Community Education Center.

Source: "Historic CEC" by Susie Ling. bulletin@pasadena.edu dated July 20, 2010; "Latinos in Pasadena". TR979.4931 M 2, p. 45, 47.
Location: Locked case.

The beginning of PCC--PJC--PHS

2011-03-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

"The history of this [PCC] college is deeply intertwined with the history of the Pasadena school system in general and with Pasadena High School in particular, since the junior college was originally an extension of the high school.
In the fall of 1887, the very first Pasadena High School was established offering a three year academic program taught by nine teachers. It was housed in the Woodrow Wilson Building at the corner of Walnut Street and Marengo Avenue. Three hundred students, including the grammar school , received instruction there. From 1891, when a fourth year was added to the high school, until 1911 attendance continued to grow. The school had moved to the corner of Los Robles Avenue and Walnut Street and had also taken over the abandoned buildings of the Throop Military Academy at the corner of Chestnut Street and Walnut Street.
In 1911, the citizens of Pasadena passed a bond issue to raise funds for a new high school. Eighteen acres of land were purchased on East Colorado Street, the present location of PCC. June 8, 1912 the cornerstone of Pasadena Polytechnic High School, as it was then called, was laid. Seventy-nine teachers and 1529 students started the school year in the fall of 1913.
In order to meet the growing needs of the community, adult education was established in 1915 at the high school.
It was from a reorganization of the Pasadena City Schools in 1924 that PCC evolved. This plan designated a system of junior high schools which were to eventually include the ninth and tenth grades. It also added one year of college to be conducted on the same campus as the high school."

Source: "PCC history dates back to 1887" by Pam Beerer in the folder "Historical data: Pasadena High School & Junior College" [by] R.L. Ashley, June 1955.
Location: Archives Room, History of PCC--PJC--PHS

East and West Campus

2011-02-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

"Lying four miles apart and separated by more than 90,000 people, these two campuses of Pasadena Junior College have been welded together in the last two years into an inseparatable unit. The West Campus is famous for its business and technology schools, while the East Campus specializes in academic education and the arts."

Source: Campus 1940.
Location: Locked case.

West Campus

2011-02-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

"Famed for her lofty traditions, admired for her loyalty and school spirit, Muir Tech, in her effort to make for perfect unity, brought to the merger, her student body, her student administrators, her heritage and practices, gave them freely to a new and greater Junior College, forever to be designated not as East or West but as One. The Lincoln Avenue campus proffered courses never before included in the curricula, tendered her School of Business, and at mid-year presented to the wide world a gracious and beauteous Queen for the Golden Jubilee of the Tournament of Roses, along with three of the six Princesses. Enriching what is now her alma mater is only one of the many things that West has done to merge with East."

Source: Campus 1939.
Location: Locked case.

East Campus

2011-02-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

"Possessor of five modern and architecturally perfect buildings, spacious ground and an enrollment that was staggering, it was at first difficult for those on the Hill and Colorado campus of the Pasadena Junior College to grasp the idea that they had acquired six more buildings, more grounds and a more staggering list of enrollees, when the unprecedented merger of John Muir Technical High School and Pasadena Junior College went into effect with the beginning of the school year. However, with a more complete understanding of the merger, one campus took the other to heart, shared publications, social life, clubs, activities, student administration and all with their brothers who comprise the West Campus, high up on Lincoln Avenue."

Source: Campus 1939.
Location: Locked case.

Isabella Coleman

2010-11-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

Question: About Isabella Coleman and her being involved with, or involving the students of PJC, PHS as she constructed her floats?
Answer: Isabella Coleman was born in 1892. She grew up in Pasadena. She started working on floats at Pasadena High School in 1904, when she was 12. Isabella Coleman helped to decorate flower-covered wagons for the Tournament of Roses. Teenaged Coleman entered her own float in the parade and won second prize in the carriage division. She was the first to weave flowers in and out of a chicken wire frame rather than tie them onto the float's structure. She was the first to glue flower petals onto her floats. She created the design and decorating techniques that float builders use today. Mrs. Coleman is considered the original leader in float experimentation with many special engines and contraptions. Over the next 50 years, she designed more than 250 award-winning Tournament of Roses floats. She transformed the art of float design. Mrs. Isabella Coleman became the Queen of Float Construction. After she retired (1969) the Tournament of Roses honored her by adding a new parade award: the Isabella Coleman Trophy for the best presentation of color and color harmony in flowers.

More about Isabella Coleman click: http://www.scpr.org/news/2009/12/23/isabella-coleman-rose-parade-pioneer/
Sources: TR791.62 H 3 (p. 66, 69, 76, 78); TR791.62 H 1(p. 30, 33-35, 274)
Location: Locked case.

History of Clubs at PCC

2010-11-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

About History of Clubs at PCC (PJC, PHS) click here:
http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/f/Clubhistory.doc

David Schnabel

2010-11-18T15:04:00.000-08:00

"The president’s office has just learned that David Schnabel, art faculty and art department chair, passed away over the weekend of October 16, 2010 at his home in South Laguna. David began his career at PCC in September, 1950 as an art instructor, eventually becoming the chairperson of the department in 1978 until he retired in 1986. David held a Bachelor’s degree in Painting and Design and a Master’s degree in Printmaking and Art History. He was an accomplished calligrapher and even filled out his original PCC job application in calligraphy.

David donated generously to the fundraising efforts for the Center for the Arts and in 2008 was recognized by the students, faculty, and staff of the division for his unselfish contributions. The life drawing lab in the new facility will be named after him, insuring that his legacy lives on into the future. He was an acclaimed painter and his work was collected throughout the United States. David is survived by his four daughters. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues."

Sources: Linda Magee's, Campus Administration, email dated October 25, 2010; Photo Directories 1973/74, 1976/77, 1985; Yearbooks 1961, 1968; Schedule of classes 1961/62; Catalogs 1961/62, 1966/67, 1986.
Location: Archives Room (Biography file); Locked cases.

Del Hungerford

2010-11-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

Question: Any information about Del Hungerford?
Answer: He was a PJC Senior in 1942, member of CAA football champ team, commissioner of PEP Commission (promotes school spirit and inspires organized songs and cheers for sports events), member of Lancers (Men’s Honorary Service Club on campus organized in 1932 for the purpose of enforcing law and maintaining good school spirit and conduct), Honorary Club OMD (Order of the Mast and Dagger, membership in which is the highest award any student can attain for his/her definite contribution to PJC), and Senior Council.

Source: Patron's email dated November 10, 2010; Campus 1942
Location: Locked case

For additional information:
Source: Pasadena Chronicle 8 February 1942, p. 5. "OMD 25 Years", p. 25
Location: Archives Room, Newspapers. Student Services section, OMD collection (black binder)

Digital History Project

2010-11-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

Questions on Pasadena Digital History Collaboration

Answered by Mary Ann Laun, Dean, Library Services

1. When did PCC begin their portion of the digital history collaboration (date work/production on project actually started)?

We have been working on the “get ready” and education component for several years. In 2006-7, I was on sabbatical leave and studied the digitization efforts of community colleges. In Spring of 2009, we developed a project plan and started moving forward but were limited by staffing. In Spring of 2010, Martha Camacho told me about her “project” for the Eureka Scholars program. I told her I had the database (and would pay for it) if she would take on the leadership. We were off and running!

http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/FrontPage

also: http://pasadenadigital.pbworks.com/
also: http://www.pasadenadigitalhistory.com/

2. When was public access to collection(s) made available? Is there a projected completion date for the project, or is it indefinitely ongoing (I understand the project was funded by a one-time grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, will other grants be sought)?

At ArtNight we launched the public site. IMLS was a minimal grant to get going and I have written a $368,000 NEH grant that will move it forward. We should hear in March 2011.

3. What was/were the primary motivation(s) for offering this service besides preservation? (e.g. Was there public demand? Was promoting PCC a consideration? Is the project expected to generate revenue in some way for PCC? photo sales? etc.). Will digitization of the PCC materials involved free-up physical space at Shatford?

All of the above except the revenue generation. That was never a motivation. My major motivation is that the resources are deteriorating AND that the people who can help us identify individuals in the photos are aging (or in some cases, dying.) When they are gone, the institutional memory suffers! We will still have our physical pieces, so I do not except to have any shelf space freed.

4. What, if any, obstacles were encountered while initiating the new service? If applicable, briefly describe one or two difficulties PCC experienced in the process of initiating this new service (e.g. during the planning process; funding; acquiring necessary equipment or staff to implement project, etc.).

The biggest obstacle was finding time and staffing to get it rolling. We serve 30,000 students with 7 librarians and 9 paraprofessional staff. Everyone is overloaded with responsibility. Equipment funding is the easy part. Hopefully the NEH grant will be funding which will provide a half time coordinator, a half time librarian at each of the three sites, and three half time library technicians.

5. What specific resources were needed to implement this service (technology, staff, etc.)?

Costs for the Contentdm license and hosting; scanners, virtual storage, staffing to do the work, organizational work.

6. Many other libraries are also involved in digitization projects. During the planning process, were other libraries with similar projects consulted? If so, did this abbreviate/expedite the planning process? Or, was there extensive discussion and research involved in deciding to offer this service and how it would significantly benefit PCC before getting involved?

Yes, my sabbatical research looked at digitization activities at all 96 of the 110 community colleges. Survey is available at:

http://tinyurl.com/2wc7l7 and also surveyed PCC managers to determine priorities: http://tinyurl.com/yqsdsh

7. When was this project first considered (i.e. from planning to initiation timeframe)?

This has been a long time interest of mine…probably from 2000.

8. What were one or two major staff concerns/reactions to offering this service (positive or negative)? Was training/certification required for operation of special equipment? Time and staff drain. Still concerns however we have shifted to using Library of Congress AND Yankee Book BPeddler for preprocessed books. We will eventually be able to shift to exposing our local resources rather than recreating MARC records for the book collection.

9. Has patron/public response been active/positive (e.g. mystery photos have been identified; appreciation noted by local residents or researchers)?

YES! Already the response has been very positive and we are barely off and running.

10. Has the service been successful? How will success be measured (e.g. number of hits to website; revenue generated; PCC image promoted etc.)?

We have many evaluations we will do as part of the NEH grant. I would have to review it to give you more details but we will be certainly looking at website and photo hits, comments included, etc.

11. On average, how many people use this service now (day/week/month)? What is/was the projected use for this service?

Too early to tell. Too new!

Thank you for taking time to answer these questions on PCC’s involvement in the Pasadena Digital History project.

John W. Hugus

2010-10-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

Question: About "old Hugus mansion" purchased by the Nazarenes later became into the Pasadena City College?
Answer: The home built and owned by a John W. Hugus in XIX century. The original ranch was 215 acres bounded by Hill Ave. on the West, Oxford Ave. on the East, by Mountain St. on the South and on the North by Lafayette St. It was purchased by the Nazarene College and later became Pasadena College which is NOT the same as Pasadena City College today.

Sources: Patron's email dated September 23, 2010; TR 979.4931 P 1, c. 2; TR 979.4931 P 2, c. 2.
Location: Archives; Locked cases.

Plastics exhibition

2010-10-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

Question: Full exhibition date of "Plastics: 50^th Anniversary exhibition” ?
Answer: Plastics exhibit at the PCC Art Gallery through April 26 [1974].

Sources: Borgerding, Martha. "Art Gallery showcases works created by sculptors using acrylic, plastic and resin". Courier 19 April 1974.
Location: Archives Room.

War pilot training at PJC

2010-09-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

"War pilot training on Pasadena Junior College's Desert Campus at Baker, California, was a continuation of the Civil Aeronautics Administration training previously given to civilians. The Desert Campus became active shortly after Pearl Harbor and was disbanded in August, 1943. Approximately 800 U.S. Army Air Force and Navy pilots were assigned to the school on a Reserve status. They received courses there under the direction of members of the P.J.C. Faculty. P.J.C.'s School of Trades and Technology, under the direction of Ed Cornelison and his staff, has offered a technical institute type of education to students. During the war period, six types of training programs were given. Under the J.C. staff and closely supervised by experts from the California Institute of Technology, courses in Aircraft Drafting, Production Illustration, and Radio were offered. More than 1,000 students were trained under the sponsorship of the U.S. Army Forces, in short, intensive courses in the fields of aircraft mechanics, hydraulics, sheet metal, and machine shop."

Sources: Campus 1946.
Location: Locked case.

Click here to read more about War Pilot Training program: http://www.pasadena.edu/about/history/missing/harlow/harlow1.cfm

Air-Coeds

2010-09-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

1940 -- "Aviation is a ... new field of study for women on this campus, but PJC girls are forever on the alert to take up the new and novel.Many of the Air-Coeds aspire to be air-hostesses, while others are taking courses in aeronautics to become pilots.During this year the club has taken many field trips to airports and factories, where the girls have observed the many makes and mechanics of airplanes. Some members are taking a ground course in flying, and are about to obtain their pilots' licenses."

Sources: Campus 1940.
Location: Locked case.

1947 -- "Six semesters ago, cognizant of the interest in aviation fostered by the young women of Pasadena Junior College, Cheri Thorpe set down on paper a set of ideals and by-laws for an organization of air-minded women. The purpose of this organizaton is to bring girls together who have this common interest. Since the beginning, the Air Coeds have been active in pursuing the study of aviation, and many a good time has been had by all at their numerous social gatherings. Thus, what started with a few thoughts in one girl's mind was put on paper and resulted in one of the most active clubs on campus."

Sources: Campus 1947.
Location: Locked case.

1948 -- "The Air Coeds brings together girls with a common interest in aviation for social gatherings and study of their field."

Sources: Campus 1948.
Location: Locked case

Aero Club

2010-09-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

September 17, 1927 -- Aero Club (Non-restrictive) was established at PJC for the purpose of developing interest in aeronautics. Among the activities of the club are: a lecture by prof. Merrill of C.I.T., a talk on aviation by Pasadena's aerial policeman, Mr. D.E. McDaneld, an address on "Aviation of the future" by the president of the Aero Club of C.I.T. "Two excursions have also been sponsored by the Aero Club. The first was to Ross Field. Each member was taken up for a ride in an airplane. The second was to the Glendale Airfield, where the students were allowed to go through the facory in addition to enjoying a second ride in an airplane."

Sources: Annual 1928. 146.
Location: Locked case.

1934 -- "Cockpit riders, grouped in the Aero Tech Club, widen their scope of experiences at the airport, while ground-men study intricate mechanics at hangars."

Sources: Campus 1934. 129.
Location: Locked case.

1940 -- "Any student taking a course in aeronautical technology may become a member of Aero Tech Association. Men students with this common interest are brought into greater fellowship within the organization. Some members aspire to be pilots, some technicians, others mechanics or designers. Field trips are frequently promoted to flying schools, air ports and factories."

Sources: Campus 1940.
Location: Locked case.

1948 -- "The Aero Tech Club was organized by a group of aeronautical engineering majors to promote and encourage interest in aviation among themselves and among the other students in the school."

Sources: Campus 1948.
Location: Locked case.

1953 -- "Men in Aero-Tech are interested in aeronautical engineering and participate in the construction of the Pasadena City College airplane."

Sources: Campus 1953.
Location: Locked case

1961 -- "Getting back on its feet after being inactive for four semesters is the Aero-Technology Club. This organization is now open to all students majoring in aviation rather than just those study aerodynamics. Field trips to glider meets and aircraft factories were offered to all members. The organization's meetings feature guest speakers and an occasional movie. Its first project was the sponsoring of a booth at the OMD Carnival."

Sources: Pageant 1961. 163.
Location: Locked case.

1966 -- "Flying Club, one of the newest clubs on the PCC campus, was started late in the fall semester by David Barbarree. During the year the club grew from three people to a total membership of 32. The Flying Club claims the highest percentage of attendance at meetings and events of any club on campus. New traditions started by the club include parties for members that become pilots or for pilots who achieve a new rating. The club also holds fly-ins each semester to scenic spots in California. Another highlight of the year for the Club is the Western State Air meet which the Club attended at Hollister, Calif., late in the second semester.In the near future the Flying Club hopes to start a skydiving group, and do glider soaring as well. In years to come this ambitious group plans to own an airplane of its own."

Sources: Pageant 1966. 170.
Location: Locked case.

Aeronautics Program at PJC

2010-08-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

1930 -- Aircraft technology or Aeronautics program started at PJC. The courses in Aeronautics covered Preparatory, Practical, Elementary, and Intermediate Aeronautics.

Sources: Pasadena Junior College Bulletin: Announcement for the Academic Year, 1930-1931. Pasadena, California: Pasadena Junior College, 1930. 112-113.

Location: Locked case.

Also see Excel spreadsheet (incomplete) of History of Aircraft Technology Program created by librarian Dorothy Potter.

Click here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AjTs3yL_IjtNdGNVcG4yenhJYWJBSUF5djY2QlZuN1E&hl=en&output=html

1936-1959 -- More about Aeronautic and Aircraft Technology Program courses click here:

http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/f/Bulletin+1936-1937.pdf
http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/f/Bulletin+1942-43.pdf
http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/f/Bulletin+1942-1943.pdf
http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/f/Bulletin+1944-1945.pdf
http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/f/Bulletin+1949-1950.pdf
http://libraryarchives.pbworks.com/f/Bulletin+1958-1959.pdf

1942 -- "PJC's Aero-Tech courses include everything from the original drafting of the planes to the final assembly of the completed plane. The stages in between cover the entire field of aircraft production, duplicating in miniature a modern factory. Many students on completion of this course go on to highly paid jobs in nearby plants. Others take the course in connection with pilot training, such as the seventy boys now taking the Civilian Pilot Training in Baker, California to become Army and Navy pilots."

Sources: Campus 1942
Location: Locked case.