Madi Arnault and Audrey Strople are currently pursuing their Master’s degrees in Library and Information Science from Simmons University in Boston. As part of their online academic program, both are completing 60 hours of archival work with us. Madi has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Hampshire College and a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University. Madi plans to pursue a career in art librarianship. Audrey has a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Art History from the University of La Verne and plans to pursue a career in cultural heritage conservation and preservation. She was a former Getty Marrow Intern at the Gilb Museum in Arcadia. Both Madi and Audrey’s enthusiasm for archival theory and hands-on experience is already making a meaningful impact.

Tanya Valladares recently completed her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Cal State Long Beach and is currently pursuing a certificate in Archives and Digital Collections from Pasadena City College, along with two certificate programs from Santa Monica College in Cultural Resource Management and the other in Graphic Information Systems. Her wish is to pursue a career in archival work. Her interdisciplinary background gives her a unique lens on cultural preservation and historical context.

Joovy Chen is a junior at a local high school where she is actively involved in their Theater Department with costume design and construction. Her role in researching and designing costumes has sparked a love for historical fashion and material culture, making her a natural fit for our museum archival work. Joovy is working with the many textiles in our collection by researching their history, updating the information in our PastPerfect database, and storing them with appropriate archive methods and materials. Joovy brings fresh energy and curiosity to the team, and she has already contributed greatly to the organization of our textile collection.

All four have jumped into processing collections with a sharp eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the stories behind each artifact.

We are excited to support these interns as they grow their skills and explore the many facets of archival work. Their diverse experience helps us to continue preserving history with care and creativity. Welcome aboard, Madi, Audrey, Tanya, and Joovy!

As summer winds down, we bid a heartfelt farewell to two exceptional members of our museum family. Katie Dinh and Clara Fouser, two of our archive assistants, are embarking on an exciting new chapter at UCLA, where they will pursue their Master’s degrees in Library Science with a focus on archiving.

Over the past year, Katie and Clara have worked side by side with our museum’s archivist, Ili Lobaco, bringing dedication, curiosity, and a meticulous eye to the preservation of our historical collections. Whether they were cataloging rare documents, digitizing fragile photographs, working with vintage textiles, or uncovering hidden gems in the stacks, their contributions have left an indelible mark on our archives and the stories we tell.

As they head to UCLA, we know they will continue to shine by bringing their talents to a broader academic community and shaping the future of archival science. We will miss their dedication and unwavering commitment, but we’re thrilled to see them take this next step. Congratulations, Katie and Clara! Your legacy here is lasting, and your future is bright!

By Maggie Fellows
MHM Volunteer

From the beginning of my time with the Monrovia Historical Museum, I have found myself continuously pulled back to the dusty rolling racks of the museum’s clothing closet. There is a certain wonder, a bit of nostalgia for unknown memories, as you brush your fingers against the fabric of a jacket, its owner now long gone. There are stories that were lived between those panels of fabric, hand-stitched hemlines, pen-inked name tags.

Some stories are joyful, like a little girl’s silk dress owned by Polly Packard, whose father was a prominent civil rights lawyer in Chicago, and whose mother was an active organizer in the Suffragette movement in the early 1900s. The dress is sky blue with green and pink ribbons down the side. Surely they twilled when she spun, and surely the silk shone when she walked in the spring sun.

There are also many military uniforms donated by the people of Monrovia. One wool green uniform is tagged manufactured by M Fine & Sons in 1944 and worn by Tim Lueders. This would be during a time when drafted soldiers of America would have come from every walk of life, and every town to contribute to the war effort. The shirt features the three grey stripes of a sergeant, and a golden patch stitched to the breast. This Ruptured Duck as it was called, appears as a small diamond with a golden eagle breaking free from a golden circlet. The patch was awarded by the War Department between the years 1925-1946 for all honorable discharge - a symbol of a job well done.

And finally, there is the black lace, so much black lace. I lay out the fragile cloth on acid-free tissue paper, which is then carefully formed to hold its shape in place of the owner now long gone. A funeral dress, a party dress? Black can mean so many things. Clothes can hold so many meanings. I do my best to honor and tell their stories. Right now, there are over 700 artifacts of clothing, hats, shoes, and accessories stored at the Monrovia Historical Museum. Many need updates and corrections made to their database, as well as their physical preservation stabilized and re-photographed. The volunteers of Monrovia Museum are hard at work completing this and many other important tasks. The shared love of history and community drives us forward to preserve and tell the stories of the past.

​“Welcome to the Museum! Is this your first time here?”  When you visit the Monrovia Historical Museum these are the words you will first hear from one of our volunteer docents. Our guides are warm and inviting and want to make your visit fun, informative and special.

Andrew Miller is one of those wonderful volunteers; a Monrovia local who came to the museum looking to expand his resume and knowledge. He has learned a lot about our local history and does a great job passing that information on to our visitors.

A little bit about Andrew. After graduating from Monrovia High School in 2016, Andrew went to Pasadena City College where he received his degree in humanities. He then went to Cal State Los Angeles and received his B.A. in Studio Arts.

Andrew is a creative artist who has dabbled in various media including painting, ceramics and drawing. He has quite the talent for painting miniature figures. If you take a look at the model of the Four Footed Shuttle in the museum’s east wing, you will see his detailed work on the people seated in the tram car.

Andrew is also a passionate gamer. He loves to paint miniatures and other characters inspired by his favorite video games. His home showcases a collection of these figurines, each carefully painted and then lovingly displayed.

In addition to his artistic work, Andrew is also an active volunteer. He enjoys the friendly atmosphere at the museum and values all that he has learned about his home town’s history. From 2018 to 2020, Andrew volunteered at Ability First, a non-profit that provides programs and services to help children and adults with disabilities reach their full potential.

Andrew, the younger of two brothers, continues to live in Monrovia, balancing his passion for gaming, art, and community service with his personal growth. His positivity and creativity make him a valued member of any team.

A Step in the Right Direction

Carina Arias and Clara Fouser are two peas in a pod. The only difference between them is – one was raised in Monrovia, while the other was raised by Monrovians. When they met at the Monrovia Historical Museum (MHM), it was like two old souls meeting again after many lifetimes. It was an instant connection. But more important was the common interest in everything historical. They enjoy serving as docents and meeting people from all walks of life, but they’re especially thrilled to help with archiving in the back office. Collectively, they have clocked in over 160 volunteer hours since Spring! It’s no wonder we call them our ‘volunteers extraordinaire!’  

We take pride in fostering our young volunteers because in some way, we hope their exposure here helps them to learn, discover and find their niche in society, as well as develop a genuine appreciation for history!
​
We are always looking for new volunteers, not just the young ones, but the mature adults too! Come visit us at MHM and meet our friendly docents. Maybe you’d want to volunteer too! 

Click the 'read more' link below to see what Carina and Clara have to say about their volunteer experience at MHM.

More Than a Docent
Carina Arias, September 20, 2024

As a first-generation Chicana, my parents knew it was important to be proud of our Mexican roots, but I believe they were also proud of the town they chose to settle in– Monrovia. Monrovia has always been my home. A few days after my birth at St Luke’s Hospital in Pasadena, my parents brought me to our cozy home in Monrovia. My earliest childhood memories have always been centered around this incredible city. Although I have many, some of the most memorable include attending story time readings as a toddler at the library, waiting for Santa as he toured the neighborhood, baton twirling in the Monrovia Days parade, and landing my first job at a toy store in Old Town Monrovia. I attended Bradoaks Elementary School, Clifton Middle School, and during my time at Monrovia High School, I quickly understood responsibility when I became editor-in-chief of the Wildcat Newspaper. As a teen, I explored my artistic abilities through our high school’s drawing courses, eventually being voted “Most Artistic” by my senior class. My artistic exploration eventually led to my interest in architecture and the world of design.

After graduating high school, I began the architecture program at Pasadena City College, and transferred to Cal Poly Pomona where I received my Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 2023. Studying architecture for eight years was anything but easy– the insane deadlines and daunting critiques from professors can be brutal. Nonetheless, I remained passionate about my projects which were typically centered around history, culture, and preservation. Preserving architecture has always been important to me because I believe architecture has the power to strengthen community and tell stories. After graduation, I knew I wanted to utilize my degree for something that uplifts this belief. As I began researching career opportunities, I thought, “Why not also use this time to volunteer at the local historical museum?” Thus began my journey at the Monrovia Historical Museum (MHM). 

Being at MHM has been a remarkable experience that has taught me so much. I understand the city I grew up in so much more as a result of being a docent and talking with local Monrovians. After Nennette Ferris and Ili Lobaco noticed my interest in the museum’s archives, they trained me, along with another volunteer, Clara Fouser, to document and catalog historical items in the museum database. Can you believe I saw a handwritten note from Upton Sinclair in our library archive? Wow! Conversely, another board member, Mike Andrews, discovered my skills in 3D-modeling, and that led me to assisting him with elevation drawings of historical buildings in Monrovia, such as the Granite Bank Building and the Mills View House. These projects are so rewarding and help me maintain my passion for preservation. Mark Harvis, Oliver Beckwith, Vicky Hansen, Sharon Motheral, and Franci Bolen have also been amazing at teaching me so much about Monrovia history.

Because of all the board members, locals, and visitors, I feel more connected to this beautiful city than ever before. I started as a docent, but now I feel like I am more than just that. Now I’m also a research and archive assistant, but most importantly, I’ve had the opportunity to become a friend to everyone at the museum. I’m so grateful for that.

​Empowerment Through Mentorship
Clara Fouser, September 20, 2024

I am a third-generation Monrovian reconnecting with our community by volunteering at the Monrovia Historical Museum (MHM). A history-lover since childhood, I grew up in Monrovia and other parts of Los Angeles and was heavily influenced by my family’s reverence for all things old. My father is an environmental historian from Monrovia, while my mother is an interior stylist from Cork, Ireland, with a passion for historic architecture. I grew up touring Victorian homes on Monrovia’s Mother’s Day Tour, roaming around the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens, and antiquing on Long Beach’s Retro Row. I was fascinated by the lives of people who came before me, and the marks they left on our built and natural environments. Southern California has always felt a particularly rich place to be a student of history, where there’s such an exquisite blend of architectural styles and communities. With this rich upbringing, it felt inevitable that I graduated UC Santa Cruz last year with degrees in history and environmental studies. 

Moving back as a college graduate, MHM has offered me a uniquely community-oriented kind of historical training that feels as essential to me as all the classes I’ve taken over the years. Attending a big school during the pandemic, my historical education wasn’t as personalized or hands-on as I would’ve liked. Here at MHM, I’m able to apply all of the skills and interests I honed in school to history that is deeply personal. I add historical fun facts to tours I give to my neighbors, and I accession yearbooks from my dad’s middle school. Museums and archives can be intimidating; sometimes they leave us with the feeling that history is something to be kept pristine, that we aren’t worthy of touching. It’s been so deeply rewarding, then, to be encouraged to participate in history and to feel like artifacts and stories are kept better when we interact with them directly. I see for myself the way that guests light up when they see themselves represented in our museum and are able to share their memories with us. 

I’ve become a much better historian because MHM places community at the center of its practices. Beyond even the content of our archives, the mentorship of the board members has been so instrumental in my development and so indicative of that community mindset. I’ve learned how to use collection management software because of Nennette Ferris’ patient instructions, and I’ve learned how to identify and tag artifacts because Ili Lobaco answers all my questions. All the board members make me feel welcome. The empowerment I’ve felt at MHM has strengthened my resolve to work at the intersection of community and historical research. I’m excited to explore graduate programs in history, museum studies, and library science, and to take my MHM experiences with me to other cultural institutions.

​Lea Robinson was all smiles when she came to us to offer her services to volunteer as a docent a year ago! Today, she is still all smiles because, not only did she just graduate from Covina’s South Hills High as a Valedictorian, but she was also accepted to all colleges and universities she applied to. But her heart was set on UCLA, and so this Fall, she will begin her collegiate journey there, to pursue studies in human biology, with the end goal of becoming a physician someday!

“Volunteering at the Monrovia Historical Museum (MHM) has allowed me to connect with countless new people,” says Lea. “As a docent, I learn just as much from our guests as they, hopefully, learn from me. 

​Helping out in the office, assisting in archival tasks, was surprisingly fun, too. I already had a passion for history, but I had no idea how much I would learn and grow, professionally and personally, over the year I spent there. I have forged friendships with so many people who love history just as much as I do. I will always love MHM and encourage absolutely everyone to visit and volunteer, if you can!”

​Several museum board members were on hand, June 13th, to congratulate Lea and thank her for her services. Mark Harvis and Sharon Motheral were there to lead the cheer, while Board President, Franci Bolen, took time out of her busy day to bid Lea farewell personally. 

​Meanwhile, Mike Andrews created a special 3D-printed plaque in her honor. Retired history teacher, Oliver Beckwith, wrote in his recommendation letter, “based on my interactions with Lea, she would have easily been among my best students who demonstrates academic excellence and leadership. But Lea’s dependability, profound interest in history and caring heart made her even more special and a good fit to represent what we stand for. I have had the honor to see her participate in making our museum a better place.” Nennette Ferris, volunteer coordinator says, “Lea’s beautiful smile and cheerful disposition made it easy to work with her. She also has an entrepreneurial spirit and is credited for making our souvenir tote bags.” Vicky Hansen adds, “Lea is a gem, and I hope she stays connected with us.”

​The future is bright for Lea Robinson. As her adoptive community, join us in wishing her the best and in expressing heartfelt gratitude for being a part of our volunteer family!