New Acquisition
Image: Jane Apostol - Collected Works. By Jane Apostol, hardcover book (L2012.06.30). Gift of Jane and Tom Apostol
Just as important as the artifacts that make up our Museum's collections is the historical research that is produced by using our collections. Pasadena is fortunate to have many fine local historians. Their knowledge and writings, the fruit of many long hours spent in archives and libraries, is invaluable to our community's history. PMH recently received a beautifully printed compendium of the works of Jane Apostol, prepared in honor of her ninetieth birthday.
In addition to her well-known books on the history of South Pasadena, Judson Studios, and Vroman's (to name but a few), Mrs. Apostol also published thirty-three historical articles between 1974 and 2008. The topics range from studies of the lives of local luminaries such as Kate Crane Gartz and Jeanne Carr, to the history of local organizations, and the stories behind historical artifacts. A long-time volunteer at the Huntington, Mrs. Apostol is a stellar researcher and storyteller. Please stop by and enjoy the book sometime!
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You can also keep up with PMH on the following sites:
  
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About the Collections
PMH maintains the area's largest and most comprehensive collection of documents and artifacts relating to the history of Pasadena and neighboring communities.
The ever-expanding collection spans the years 1834 to the present and contains well over one million historic photographs, rare books, manuscripts, maps, architectural records, art, costumes and textiles, and objects.
The Mission of the Museum is to promote an appreciation of history, culture, arts, and sciences relevant to Pasadena and adjoining communities.
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The Collections Quarterly, sent out four times a year, features new acquisitions as well as select items from the Archives, art and artifacts collection, and the Fenyes-Curtin-Paloheimo collections.
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Archives Feature
Dobbins' Cycleway  The Archives is proud to house the Dennis Crowley Special Collection, which dates from the early twentieth century to 2005. The collection includes Horace Dobbins' biography, bikeway proposals, plans, pictures, and more. Dobbins, while mayor of Pasadena, envisioned a toll cycleway from Pasadena to Los Angeles. He incorporated California Cycleway Company in 1897. The first phase was completed and the cycleway was partially open for use in 1900. But with advances in the automobile industry, a freeway then replaced the cycleway. After discovering material related to Dobbins' Cycleway, Dennis Crowley, a huge bicycle enthusiast, revived the efforts to rebuild it. He redesigned it to be partially elevated with access ramps, amenities, and rest points for the riders. Unfortunately he died of a heart attack in 2008 before he could see his dream realized. Visit the Research Library and Archives to view this special collection. Image: Dobbins' Cycleway at Green Hotel (Main Photo Collection, D6-5B) |
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Collections Feature
King of Glass, Glass of Kings 
Glass pieces by artisan Ludvig Moser (1833-1916) are often referred to as "the Cadillac of glass," and it is not difficult to see why. The glassware pictured are fine examples of Moser's later work, which was characterized by bees, acorns, dragonflies, and other garden elements as well as intricate gold enameling. Moser was from Karlovy-Vary (Carlsbad) in Czechoslovakia, which had been a major center of high-end glass-making since the seventeenth century. However colored glass, such as that shown here, was not produced in the region until 1853. Moser's glassware was popular with royalty - the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary Franz Joseph I, the British King Edward VII, the Norwegian King Haakon VII, the Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid, the Shah of Persia, and the King of Siam all ordered sets of Moser's exquisite glass.
 PMH has forty pieces of Moser glassware in the collection, including tumblers, goblets, bowls, and saucers. This turn-of-the-century glassware will be displayed periodically in the Dining Room of the Fenyes Mansion. Images: Decanter (top right) and tumbler (bottom left). Ludvig Moser, Karlovy-Vary (Carlsbad), Czechoslovakia, circa 1900 (88.13.1b & 88.13.4e). Gift of Paula K. Stahl |
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Fenyes Feature
Postcards from a Russian ballet: La Fe� des Poup�es (The Fairy of the Dolls)
 This famous ballet, also known as The Fairy Doll, is set in a toy shop late at night when the dolls, exquisitely dressed in costumes designed by L�on Bakst (1866-1924), come to life and dance to the music of Joseph Bayer (1852-1913) in the 1903 Hermitage Theater production of La Fe� des Poup�es. Shown here are four from the series of twelve delicately rendered costume drawings published by the St. Evgenii Red Cross Society. The complete set of postcards is now on display in the Reading Room. Image: Postcards featuring characters from the ballet The Fairy Doll (Fenyes-Curtin-Paloheimo Papers, Box 150 Folder 7) |
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