Mad for Hats! - NEW!

Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Gallery
Wed - Sun, Noon to 5:00 pm; Closes June 12

The popularity, size, and shape of hats has changed measurably over time.  In past decades, a respectable lady or gentleman would not have ventured outdoors without one.  The design of women's hats has been influenced by hairstyles, haute couture, new materials, even the popular use of the parasol.  The impact of men's hat designs - such as the top hat and the fedora - has also been remarkable.

The exhibition Mad for Hats! explores women's hats as social and fashion phenomena.  More than seventy hats and related photographs, selected from the Museum's collection, showcase the various materials, styles, and shapes of ladies hats from the 1880s to 1960s.

Image: Detail of Mrs. E.L. Cord, June 26, 1931 (call # People- Cord, E.L.)

Pasadena Patron:  The Life & Legacy of Eva Scott Fenyes
Willis B. Stork Gallery
Wed - Sun, Noon to 5:00 pm

In an era when well-to-do families took a special interest in creating significant and valuable collections, Pasadena's Eva Scott Fenyes devoted her discriminating tastes, vast knowledge, and ample funds to surround herself with furniture, textiles, china, silver, and art.  Eva and her second husband, Dr. Adalbert Fenyes, filled their home with art and antiques they assembled from their travels worldwide. 
 
Pasadena Patron offers an in-depth examination of the life and legacy of one of early Pasadena's most prominent and influential women.  Themes covered in this special exhibition include Fenyes family history, Eva as an art patron and watercolorist, the influence of Europe and the East Coast on her collection, and the social milieu she created here in Pasadena. Exhibition highlights include items from the Fenyes collection never before on public display.

 Image:  Richard Emile Miller (1875 - 1943).  "The Coral Necklace," 1917.  Oil on canvas, 119 x 125 cm.  (acc. # 2000.019.0028) 

Volunteers Needed for Education Programs      

Help us reach and teach Pasadena's schoolchildren!  PMH runs three beloved, volunteer-based education programs focused on the history and art of the western San Gabriel Valley.  Each year, these fun and engaging field trips give hundreds of third- and fourth-grade students the opportunity to immerse themselves in local culture for a day.  

Additional volunteer support is needed to reach all the elementary schools wishing to participate this school year.  This is a rewarding opportunity for anyone who enjoys working with children -- and we provide the training.  The only prerequisites are that you feel comfortable on your feet for periods of up to an hour and are able to work on specific weekday mornings between 9:30 am and 12:00 noon.

For more information about these programs and volunteering, please visit our website, call 626.577.1660, ext. 16 or send an email to

bmacneil@pasadenahistory.org.