​By Ili Lobaco
MHM Board Member, Archivist and Collections Manager

Our museum’s Archival Training Program continues to flourish, thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers made up of a high school student, recent Bachelor’s degree graduates and several graduate students in Library and Information Science (MLIS). These emerging professionals gain hands-on experience with every stage of artifact care - from cataloging items into our PastPerfect ​database to researching historical items, preserving and restoring artifacts, and assisting with exhibit preparation.

Their work not only strengthens our collections but also supports our mission to preserve and share the stories behind the objects we steward. We’re proud to help shape the next generation of museum professionals while enriching the quality of care our artifacts receive.

We are thrilled to introduce four new volunteer interns who have joined our archival team, each bringing a unique background and passion for preservation and research. Madi Arnault, Audrey Strople, Tanya Valladares, and Joovy Chen ~ all four are working with Ili Lobaco, our Collections Coordinator/Archivist, as they pursue their passion in museum archival work.

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.

​“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 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!
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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.

​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.