A VISIT TO THE WENDE MUSEUM IS A MUST

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

As an element in The Museum's professional growth, our Board of Directors and Committee Chairs have begun systematic visits to important, and developing, museums in our part of Southern California. Most recently, Board Member Liane Schirmer arranged for us to visit the remarkable Wende Museum in Culver City. It was one of the most stimulating museum experiences that we've shared.

Liane Schirmer, member of The Museum's Professional Development Committee, responding to a community propaganda poster on exhibit in the Wende Museum.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

For many of us, the fact that young Americans in our colleges and universities have no appreciable memory of the existence of the Berlin Wall, a divided Germany, and the real threats to our nation's survival during the Cold War. The presence of the world's largest collection of Soviet Era artifacts outside of Europe resides here in the greater Los Angeles area. 

 Heroic Egg Sorter - propaganda painting - Wende Museum in Culver City  2011

Ceramic sculpture of Heroic Miner - Who Exceeded His Quota -  Wende Museum 2011

Museum Board Member Bronwyn Ralph inspects an exhibit of commemorative plates at the Wende Museum in Culver City.  "Wende" is a German word meaning the "turning point."

Defacing a bust of Lenin during the Soviet control of East Germany could have easily resulted in prison and/or torture. Here, painted with colors from the West, is a statue defaced shortly after the fall of East Germany in 1989

Library of the Wende Museum. It contains many soon to be priceless books related to Cold War history.

Protected with earthquake protection netting, the leaders of the communist world peer into history, Most of these kinds of artifacts were quickly destroyed after the fall of the Soviet Union, and East Germany in 1989.

The Wende Museum

5741 Buckingham Parkway, Suite E, 

Culver City, CA   90230

ANGELES TEMPLE - L.A. IMAGE NUMBER 229

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES  -  Los Angeles at its 230th year.

One of the most interesting personalities of the 1930s and early 1940s in Southern California was the charismatic Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Church of the Four Square Gospel. The headquarters of her organization was at her Angelus Temple, still standing in Echo Park.

Angelus Temple - vintage postcard -  Gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 

from Gary Fredburg 2009 -  click on image to enlarge

Several Four Square churches were established in the San Fernando Valley. "Sister" Aimee was born in 1890 and lived until 1944. She is buried at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale.

PATT MORRISON AND LIANE SCHIRMER

One of Southern California's most important events is the annual L.A. Archives Bazaar. Here, in the foreground, Liane Schirmer presents a brochure about The Museum of the San Fernando Valley to Los Angeles Time's writer Patt Morrison. This year's highly successful Bazaar event was held at the Doheny Library of the University of Southern California.

BECOME PART OF YOUR MUSEUM COMMUNITY TODAY

Liane Schirmer, son and Peter Shire 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Involvement with your Museum is an adventure. Being part of bringing about a real Museum for the San Fernando Valley is so rewarding! Here Liane Schirmer (chair of The Museum's Committee on Religion) introduces her son to the great California artist Peter Shire.
Start your Museum experience by joining Richard Hilton tomorrow morning at the Amelia Earhart statue in North Hollywood Park (Magnolia and Tujunga) at 10 am. In about 2 and 1/2 hours, you'll get hooked on San Fernando Valley history and lore. The walking tour is yours for a $10 donation, and the memories are free.

Join your Museum soon - telephone: 1 (818) 347-9665

LIANE SCHIRMER LEADS EFFORT TO PRESERVE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RELIGIOUS HISTORY

2009 The Year of Valley History
Liane Schirmer - at the Phyllis Hansen "Charmed" book lecture for the San Fernando Valley Historical Society - June 2009. Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - (click on image to enlarge)
Well know linguist and translator, Liane Schirmer leads The Museum of the San Fernando Valley's on-going effort to preserve and share the religious heritage of the greater San Fernando Valley. She was photographed in front of a hand carved statue of Nuestra Señora de La Purissima Conception (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception), in the Andres Pico Adobe in Mission Hills.

Want to help Leianne out? Send histories of your church, synagogue, mosque or temple to:
Liiane Schirmer
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
21031 Ventura Boulevard
Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Historic postcards, photographs, brochures, religious images and ritual materials, and books about Valley-related spiritual organizations are greatly welcomed. As you read this, Liane is working on a traditional Roman Catholic "holy cards" collection and upcoming exhibit.
You can leave telephone messages for Liane and her Valley Religions Committee at 1 (818) 347-9665

AUTHOR! AUTHOR! PHYLLIS HANSEN WRITES A BOOK ALL ABOUT CHARMS - JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

(click on image to enlarge)
On their way to Brighton Collectibles Stores, and retail locations that sell Brighton accessories across America, a terrific coffee table book called Charmed is now available. Written by Phyllis Hansen, a Board Member of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, the book tells everything you might want to know and more about the charms of today and yesteryear.

To make the book even more fun, there is full page color photo of an amazing charm bracelet owned by our Museum's religion advisor Liane Schirmer.

(click on image to enlarge)

You can find out where to buy Phyllis Hansen's book by checking: www.brighton.com

MUSEUM BOARD AND ADVISORS SUPPORT "THE THIRSTY CITY" PLAY

Elizabeth Morin and Karen Whitaker prepare to enter the headquarters building of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Elizabeth and Karen are members of the Board of Directors of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.


Advisor to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, Liane Schirmer brings her son and his buddy to see the premier of Theatre of Will's THE THIRSTY CITY. The boys have two more weeks before they begin 5th grade. Liane is a linguist and translator. She advises The Museum on religion and religious organization in Los Angeles.

Richard Hilton is an actor and historian. He is preparing a walking tour of Van Nuys. Richard is a member of the Board of Directors of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

Your Museum has a dedicated Board of Directors and great Advisors. Other Board members attending the play were Rania Pallad, Gerald Fecht, Willard Simms, and Phyllis Hansen.
The San Fernando Valley deserves a great Museum of history and culture.