Rotary Club Recognized For Golden State Collection

Second Decade of Support by Rotary Club of South Pasadena for the “Golden State Collection”  Project Partnership with Library - Steve Fjelsted

PHOTO: George Vieth | SouthPasadenan.com | Mayor Michael A. Cacciotti presents Rotary President Dan Watson with a copy of “King Sequoia” by Bill Tweed

Now well into its 11th year,  the Rotary Club of South Pasadena and the South Pasadena Public Library continue to proudly expand “The Golden State Collection,” a project partnership that has greatly improved the Library’s collection of checkout books on California topics.  Since its inception, the project is responsible for the addition of about 500 wonderful new books.

Each Tuesday for its noon meeting in the Oneonta Tower Room, the Rotary Club honors its guest speaker by donating a Golden State title selected by the Library staff  for the Library’s collection. Each book is affixed with a custom “Golden State Collection” bookplate that the particular guest speaker signs. After the meeting the already-cataloged book goes straight into the library collection. Titles that have been purchased through the years constitute the best new books on California’s arts, history, leaders, ethnic groups, legends, geography, travel, nature, and other important topics.

All of the Golden State books can be looked up by title, subject, or author in the Library’s computer catalog. They can also be looked up by entering Golden State Collection” under “Series”  in the online catalog. New titles are added regularly.

- Advertisement -

The book presented by Mayor Michael A. Cacciotti in the photo is “King Sequoia” by retired National Park Ranger Bill Tweed who appeared along with Barbara Eisenstein, South Pasadena author and naturalist, for a Library Author Night on October 10, 2016. Tweed’s book explores the evolution of the fascinating relationship between humans and the Big Trees, from their early status as tourist attractions embodying California’s superlative, almost unbelievable appeal. Featuring a cast of adventurers, artists, researchers, politicians, and environmentalists, “King Sequoia” reveals how our enduring relationship with these giant trees has shaped our physical, intellectual, and political landscapes.

The following is a list of some of the titles purchased recently:

  • Art of the Gold Rush
  • Birth of the Cool: California, Art, Design of the Second and Culture
  • Bitter Harvest: History of California Farmworkers
  • Black Gold in the Joaquin
  • Bret Harte’s California: Letters to the Springfield Republican and Christian Register, 1866-67
  • California Indians, Illustrated Guide, 17 Tribes
  • The City that Grew (As Told to Caroline Walker)
  • Food in California Indian Culture (Classics in California
  • A History of the Santa Clara Mission (California Heritage)
  • Hugging Trees in Los Angeles: The Experience of Communing with Nature
  • King Sequoia: The Tree That Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think About Nature
  • Lixia of Gold Mountain: A Story of Early California
  • Mexican Outsiders, The: A Community History of the California Plutarch.
  • Red Dirt: Growing Up Okie
  • Tehachapi, Southern Pacific – Santa Fe
  • Views of Los Angeles: 125 Black and White Photos