Collections in 2009

With more than two million historic photographs, manuscripts, textiles, objects, paintings, and other materials, PMH’s Library, Archives, and Museum Collections are the largest and most comprehensive collections relating to the history and culture of Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley. These collections inform everything we do; they appear in exhibitions, are the backbone of Museum research, provide inspiration for public programming, and are essential components of many of our student programs. Scholars and the general public alike visit PMH’s Research Library and Archives free of charge.

In June, PMH was one of eighteen California institutions selected for a Connecting to Collections Bookshelf grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences. This grant provided PMH with an extensive set of reference books addressing current “best practices” for archival and museum collections. These books have proven to be invaluable resources as we continue to move forward with updating our collections care policies and storage facilities as well as plan for the future.

In 2009 PMH implemented a revised Collections Policy. This important document details the scope of the collection, as well as provides specific procedures for making collections-based decisions. Policies of this sort are essential for a well-run collection, and are periodically reviewed to ensure that they are fulfilling their role as a framework or guide. The revised policy will be an invaluable tool for planning for the future, and is an essential component of our ability to apply for much-needed conservation and preservation grants.

We know that our collection is extraordinary in terms of both its breadth and its depth; in 2009 we worked hard to share the collection and its offerings with a broader public. Photograph reproductions from our extensive historic photograph collection have appeared in a variety of books and magazine articles, including PMH’s own Pasadena: 1940-2008 (Arcadia: 2009). In October PMH once again participated in the annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar, a gathering place of local organizations, researchers, and the general public; these sorts of professional outreach activities help scholars to discover our resources, as well as raise our profile in the general community. Additional progress was made on our outreach efforts by a newly hired intern, who began the process of making some of our collection available online.

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