Historical Society Looks Toward Future

In 1950, a North Hollywood resident, Elva Meline, read of the donation of 50 books to the fledgling San Fernando Valley Historical Society by former California Rep. Carl Hinshaw.

“I worked for the Los Angeles Public Library and had a strong interest in books and history. It just seemed natural to join an organization that had the same interests,” Meline said Sunday as she recalled her introduction to the historical society.

Hinshaw’s donation has grown into a library of nearly 1,000 books, articles and manuscripts on the history of the Valley and California, housed at the historic Andres Pico Adobe of which Meline, now 80, is curator.

Anniversary Celebrated

And on Sunday, the 200-member San Fernando Valley Historical Society celebrated its 45th anniversary at the Mission Hills landmark, which once was the residence of the brother of the last Mexican governor of California.

As anniversary parties go, the historical society’s version was sedate. Classical music wafted through the air while members and their guests ate snacks and thumbed through dogeared scrapbooks filled with clippings about life in the Valley.

History Idea a Joke to Some

The historical society’s members know that the idea of the Valley having a history can provoke laughter from those who believe its genesis started with Bing Crosby crooning to returning World War II veterans about the Valley’s good life. They also know that there are many who can not conceive of a Valley without subdivisions, freeways, shopping malls and traffic.

“A lot of the new people don’t think we have a history,” Meline said with a note of irritation in her voice.

But the Valley is rich in history, said Bobette Fleschler, historical society president. The first Spaniard walked through the Valley in 1769 with Gaspar de Portola, she noted. Father Junipero Serra founded the San Fernando Mission in 1797. Earlier in this century, the Valley was one of the nation’s richest agricultural areas, with mile after mile of citrus groves.

Reminders Rare

“With all the development, there are very few remaining historic buildings to remind us of the Valley’s long history,” Fleschler said.

To make sure there is always some record of the Valley’s history, the historical society is launching an oral history project. According to Meline, interviews will be conducted with the relatives of some of the leading Anglo pioneer families--the Van Nuys, the Lankershims, the Maclays, the Porters and the Mulhollands.

Additionally, the group is starting a special outreach program for the Latino community to make sure their role in Valley history is recorded.

“Next to the Indians, it’s the Hispanics who have been here the longest,” Fleschler said.

History Books Planned

In 1989, the historical society hopes to begin publication of a series of books on Valley history. The group’s long-range goal, Fleschler added, is to have a museum dedicated to Valley history. The Pico Adobe, which serves as headquarters for the historical society, is one of a handful of local landmarks that focuses on Valley history.

Adobe curator Meline hopes the future holds a larger space for the society’s archives.

“We’ve outgrown our space,” she said, standing in the cramped room that serves as group’s research library. “We do a tremendous amount of research and need room to expand.”