State historians visit Burbank

Joyce Rudolph

BURBANK -- The Gordon R. Howard Museum -- its docents -- and the

downtown shopping area were among the highlights for a group of history

experts visiting the city this past weekend.

Held Friday through Sunday, a three-day Spring Symposium of the

Conference of California Historical Societies drew more than 150 museum

curators, history teachers and other members from San Diego to Mohave on

up to the Oregon border, organizers said.

The group’s symposiums are held twice a year, once in Northern

California and once in Southern California. They provide members with

resources for preserving artifacts and sharing historical information,

said President Gordon Martin of Stockton.

The conference is sponsored by the nonprofit organization for

historical societies, Martin said. It serves as a resource for history

teachers who need guest speakers for classes and background information

on class projects.

Members who work for museums can enhance their exhibits with

suggestions and information provided by conference contacts, he said.

“Our members are experts in preserving and displaying antique

clothing, and knowledge about farming and military history,” Martin said.

“Some of our experts specialize in the missions of California.”

Burbank Historical Society members were hosts for the event, planning

an itinerary that included stops at the Gordon R. Howard Museum and the

Warner Brothers Studios.

Martin said he was impressed with downtown and the Burbank museum.

“It’s an extremely good museum and has a great bunch of people who

work in the museum as docents,” he said.

A former U.S. Marine, Martin said he enjoyed seeing the Portal of the

Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation and Museum at Valhalla Memorial Park.

Mary Jane Strickland, who helped revitalize the Burbank Historical

Society and who, along with her husband, Harry, has given thousands of

volunteer hours to organizing a building fund to create the Gordon R.

Howard Museum complex, was elated at the response to the symposium.

“It exceeded our expectations,” she said. “The cooperation from the

city of Burbank and local businesses has been outstanding. We are very

proud of our museum.”

Event chairwoman Elaine Rosenberg and her husband Les, president of

the Burbank Historical Society, were also pleased.

“We had so much fun,” Les said. “We met a lot of nice people and it

was just a good deal.”