Twentynine Palms Historical Society
29 Palms, California
Accessions Report - Winter 2016
by Marilyn Collier
The 2016 Pioneer Days, Old Timers' Gathering, and the Weed Show have happened. The winter pace won't be much slower as we prepare for the holidays. Sue Kelly keeps helping with the filing when not busy with the Gift Shop. Marilyn Fernald has rearranged the main exhibit room with the winter decorations. Deanne Chatterton and Joni Franklin are working diligently to enter all the items in the electronic archives. Roselie Mendoza still has scads of negatives to scan. Pat Rimmington is still trying to identify people in photographs, plus research. John Steiner helps with research and writes articles for publication. Cheryl Erickson keeps up with the Thank You notes, helps with the computer entries, and works with Velma Holland on the library items. There are still books from the Gartners that need to go on the shelves. I've been kept busy with the wonderful archival items that were brought in for preservation.
Remember to donate your "old" items from the early days of Twentynine Palms to the Twentynine Palms Historical Society rather than throw the items into the trash. If you aren't sure that we would want your items, please bring them by on Wednesday morning or give us a call.
If you love history and our area, and wish to help in the preservation of our history stop by and see us on Wednesday morning. We'll find something that for you to do.
Researchers studying the history of Twentynine Palms or the Morongo Basin history are welcome to visit us on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon as we are always at the Old Schoolhouse Museum Library. For those that live farther away, you are able to contact us through our website. The information on how to obtain research assistance is there. Requests by e-mail and regular mail are restricted to one or two specific area requests. A $20.00 donation is required by the e-mail and regular mail requests. If you want to know what is happening at the Old Schoolhouse Museum or view the latest and oldest photographs visit: http://29palmshistorical.com/.
- Gray Press Plate: Keep your Dollars Local-Shop 29 Palms. Different local businesses advertised with services offered, location, and telephone numbers. Donated by Larry and Dana Bowden.
- The People of San Manual by Clifford E. Trafzer. Published by San Manual Band of Mission Indians 2002. Inscribed and signed by author.
- Yuma Frontier Crossing of the Far Southwest by Clifford E. Trafzer. Published by Western Heritage Books. Inc. 1980. Signed by author. Both books donated by Clifford E. Trafzer.
- Guide to 50 Interesting and Mysterious Sites in the Mohave by Bill Mann . Published by Shortfuse Publishing Co. 1998.
- Landers: Earthquakes And After Shocks San Bernardino County. Quarterly Vol. 40 (1) Winter 1993. Compiled by Robert E. Reynolds.
- San Bernardino County Museum Association Fall 1962 Vol. X No. 1 Manuals of San Bernardino County by Elton R. Edge and Gerald A. Smith. Last three items donated by unknown benefactor.
- 9" by 9" Realty sign: Sold by M. G. "Watty" Watkins Realtor 29 Palms. Sign donated by Pat Rimminton.
- Adjustable dress form that can convert from feminine to masculine shapes. Donated by Deanne Chatterton.
- 24" X 18" Wild Flower of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center poster.
- Special Use Air Space card. Back has ohone number for Special Air Space Status. Last two items donated by U. S. Marine Corps Ground Combat Center.
- El Oasis Year Book 1963 (Has the program for Senior Banquet)
- El Oasis Year Book 1964
- El Oasis Year Book 1965
- El Oasis Year Book 1966
- El Oasis Year Book 1967
- El Oasis Year Book 1968
- El Oasis Year Book 1969
- El Oasis Year Book Supplement 1965 All the El Oasis Year Books, programs, and Supplement donated by Ton Nicoll.
- Wooden Historic Plaza sign circa 1990's (This is from when name was changed from the Plaza to the Historic Plaza)
- Huge wooden HENRY R. MOCKEL STUDIO sign from 1960-1970's. This hung over his place of business in the Plaza. Both signs donated by Donald Dench.
- Packet containing magazine article on James E. Cole, the first Superintendent of Joshua Tree National Monument, plus correspondence relating to this event. Also copies of correspondence with Art Kidwell and information about five acre donation to Joshua Tree National Monument. Donated by Lawrence E. "Bud" Cole.
- Desert Magazine August 1958
- Desert Magazine November 1959
- Desert Magazine November 1960
- Desert Magazine September 1960
- Desert Magazine April 1950
- Desert Magazine August 1944. The Desert Magazines were all donated by Tracy Heck.
- National Cash Register S626316 and the numbers 728 are right below the other numbers. Circa 1900. The glass is still intact and the key is there. Found out in the desert off of Godwin Road and donated by John Kramer.
- Mighty Midget Minneapolis miniature stove that could be used to make coffee by burning leafs, twigs, etc.
- Bob Michels's mining hat. It still has the SKULLGARD label inside. The last two items donated by Pat Rimmington.
- Three Art Mortimer business cards.
- Southwest Art September 2012 magazine. An ad placed by Art Mortimer and Urban Landscape by Art Mortimer.
- Southwest Art April 2009 magazine article entitled Scenes of California by Art Mortimer.
- The Artist Magazine November 2010 Sketching in the Rough is an article about Art Mortimer and his art.
- Painting the Towns Murals of California by Robin J. Dunitz and James Prigoff, published by RJD Enterprises 1997 Signed by one of them on Oct. 7, 2005. Several of Art Mortimer's murals, plus an article about him.
- Mural Art Murals on Huge Public Surfaces Around the World Published by Publikat Vertags-und Handels GrnbH & Co. KG 2008 Several murals by Art Mortimer including our own Battle of the Bell. All items pertaining to Art Mortimer donated by Art Mortimer.
- East Mohave Diary by Bob Ausmus, published 1989 by Tales of the Mohave Road Publishing. The donor is unknown as the book was found in the library.
The Twentynine Palms Fire Department has been disbanded. We are the recipients of their Logs from July 18, 1958 through the present. We also have their plaques, framed pictures, and three hundred twenty-seven copies of 50 Years Of Fire, Floods And Calamities and those that fought against them 1958 -2008. The books are for sale in the Gift Shop for funding the restoration of Fire Department's Engine #1.
There are times when an item has been given and the donor known, but we cannot archive them until we have a Gift Release Form with the donor's signature and a witness's signature. Without the signed releases we have no right to retain anything brought to the museum unless it was an anonymous gift. Our Editors also insist on having the reports by a certain date. There may not have been sufficient time to complete all the necessary procedures. Our Accessions Committee wants to thank everyone who donated. Your generosity allows us to catalog and save the history of our area for future generations.
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