The Historical Society of Southern California paid tribute to Kevin Starr, Nadine lshitani Hata, Iris H. W. Engstrand and Thomas S. Hines for life-time achievements in the service of history at a gala reception and dinner at The Huntington Library in San Marino. Photo: Suzanne Huddleson FELLOWS Honored at Gala he FELLOWS Award is of research and writing on She has also actively served her Tdesigned to recognize Spanish North America have university, the community of San notable lifetime achievements in helped us to be more inclusive in Diego, and the larger Southern the pursuit of history. The four our understanding of what California historical community people honored on September 28 constitutes our common past as a with a variety of impressive at The Huntington Library have nation. contributions. certainly distinguished themselves In particular, she has focused Nadine lshitani Hata as authors. Together, they have her attention on the major Nadine Ishitani Rata has worn published over 30 books and scientific expeditions of Spain in many hats as historian, always more than 90 articles and essays. the 18th Century. Their work was being careful to connect her And just as certainly they have never published and they were academic experiences to the distinguished themselves as consigned to the shadowlands of larger community with numerous educators and as public servants history until Iris Engstrand started professional appointments at the in the cause of history. combing the archives from local, state, and national level. Mexico City to Madrid and Iris H.W. Engstrand She is vice president of academic Iris Engstrand, professor of beyond. affairs at El Camino College, an history, University of San Diego, Iris has continued the investiga­ institution she has served with has had an abiding interest in tion until the complete story of distinction for 30 years. Spanish North America.n history Spanish scientific activity during Nadine Rata served eight years for more than 40 year/. Her the Enlightenment, as well as on the California State Advisory determination to search out Spain's contribution to the Committee to the United States primary sources to uncover the advancement of scientific Commission on Civil Rights, details of a complex Spanish thought, is now more fully including four years as vice chair colonial enterprise and her years known. for Southern California. In 1976 Continued on back page HSSC says thanks to Vroman's and welcomes new members VROMAN'S GIVES BACK IN reproductions, books on architec­ meetings will include other style. On November 14 at ture and unique items, we also speakers who are collectors and Vroman's new store-the Museum welcomed patrons who were not will meet the second Tuesday of Collection-on Lake Street in members and introduced them to each month at 7 pm at 340 South Pasadena, the oldest continuously the historical society. Lake in Pasadena. operating historical society in On this special shopping day, New members' reception California joined forces with the five percent of ALL sales were New Society members were oldest independent book shop in donated to HSSC. Normally the treated to a reception at the Lloyd Southern California. While HSSC VROMAN's GrVEs BACK program Wright-designed Derby House in invited members to shop at the donates one percent of purchases Glendale on October 14. store which features museum to the organization chosen by Hollyhock House curator, patrons. HSSC thanks Vroman's Virginia Kazor, jokingly protested for its generosity. having only ten minutes to tell the Book Collector's Club story of Frank Lloyd Wright who The day-more precisely, the died at age 89, working right up evening-also saw the first to the end. By covering the meeting ofVroman's Collector's highlights of his life in decades, Club led by Tom Andrews. she did an admirable job. The Club is intended for Dana Hutt, coauthor of a recent beginning collectors as well as book on Lloyd, presented a those with extensive collections. succinct history of the son who Tom says, "I want it to be an although overshadowed by his Margaret Dickerson and Richard Gilman welcome Vroman's open, informal, attractive, father nevertheless influenced the Museum Collection patrons during HSSC's day at the store. engaging, informative time." The legendary architect. SigDemke, HSSC president, welcomes new members to the Derby House. "··f..:~ ... •. ._.. I •r"',{ Photos this page: Michele Clark Owners of the Derby House, Michael and Carole Dougherty, /eft and far right, pose with speakers Virginia Kazor, historic site curator, lA Cultural Affairs Dept., and Dana Hutt, coauthor of the latest book on Lloyd Wright. All four admire the Derby House drawing by Hortensia Chu which HSSC gave the Doughertys in appreciation. Dunning Lecture on Los Angeles by Engh draws huge crowd The second George A. V. Dunning Leaure was delivered by Michael E Engh, SJ. to more than 200 people at The Regal Biltmore Regency Hotel in Los Angeles on November I 2. Michael Engh welcomes Don Parson to the Dunning Lecture. IN HIS LECTURE, "Meeting Father Engh quoted legendary Angeles constitute examples we the Needs of Our Time: Builders Yankee baseball player, Yogi need to appreciate. Their stories of the Humane City in Los Berra: "If you don't go to flesh out our city's history. More Angeles, 1900-1950," Michael somebody's funeral, they won't than ever, he said, our city needs Engh portrayed Los Angeles come to yours." the passion of cross-cultural citizens who enhanced the city's Among the bridge builders bridge builders of the past if we social capital. Father Engh Father Engh chose were: Mary are to confront current Photos: Jon Wilkman defined "social capital" as the Julia Workman, Kate Page difficulties and work connections among individuals Crutcher, Reverend Dana W. out solutions. which they fashion into larger Bartlett, G. Bromley Oxnam, Armed with this part social networks. For the networks Thomas J. O'Dwyer, Aimee of our history, we can to endure, he went on, the city's Semple McPherson, Frank begin to make sense of residents must trust in one Wilkinson, Reverend Clayton D. present painful another. And that trust is exhib­ Russell and Saul Alinsky. realities and to fashion Henry Zinman at work. The ited in respect and support of one He said their often-heroic a more liveable and Dunning Lecture is available on videotape and may be another. To illustrate this concept attempts to improve life in Los just metropolis. borrowed from HSSC. Catherine Mulholland signs her book ON SEPTEMBER 10-a clear William Mulholland and the Rise and sunny Sunday afternoon- ofLos Angeles, others waited for more than 100 members and their tum enjoying cookies and a friends descended on the Lummis cup of refreshing punch in the Home to hear Catherine dining room of El Alisal. Mulholland, the granddaughter of The book challenges many of William Mulholland, tell about the prevailing versions of the legendary water engineer's Mulholland's life story and sheds impact on Los Angeles and her new light on the history of Los memories of him. Angeles. A few signed copies are Afterward while some stood in available at the El Alisal Book a long line to have Catherine sign Shop and may be ordered by copies of her just-published book, calling (323) 222-0546. Catherine Mulholland cheerfully signs more than I 00 books at the Lummis Home event. Photo: Margaret Dickerson she was appointed by the Modem Art of which he was a co­ identity while probing the governor to the California State curator-and Irving Gill and the meaning of the process whereby Historical Resources Commis­ Architecture ofReform. the California of fact and the sion. During her eight year tenure In William Faulkner and the California of imagination shape she twice served as chair. Tangible Past Hines demon­ and reshape each other. At the national level, Nadine strated that nature and architec­ In each volume there is a chain Hata was the first community ture are of equal importance in of biographical sketches wrapped college member to be elected to understanding Faulkner's world. around the quest for regional the teaching division of the Thomas Hines is now concen­ identity that makes up what we American Historical Association, trating on a major study of might call the DNA of California where currently she is a member "Modernist Los Angeles Archi­ cultural history. In these five of the AHA's highest governing tectural Culture in the 20th volumes, then, with two more to council. As a result of her efforts, Century," a work we eagerly come, he has given us a sweeping the community college experience await. and engaging narrative that is at is now more fully recognized His richly textured explorations once ambitious, complex and nationally within the history of the cultural history have absorbing. profession. sharpened our sense of place and Kevin Starr has connected Nadine has shown that a personal identity as Southern California history with the larger meaningful connection to the past Californians. conversations in American history. And in so doing he has demands, above all, active Kevin Starr engagement. Our fourth awardee-Kevin Starr, reached a new and growing audience. Thom as S. Hines state librarian and professor at Thomas Hines has been a major USC-commands the field of Four models Save This Date contributor to the growing body California history. These four individuals have made of scholarly literature on Ameri­ Kevin Starr has woven a rich us more cognizant of human Saturday March 3 can architecture and society. tapestry