BASEBALL HALL OF FAME PICHER DON DRYSDALE WENT TO VAN NUYS HIGH SCHOOL

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

One of the greatest pitchers in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers was Don Drysdale, who was born in Van Nuys, California. A Cy Young Award winner, Drysdale attended Van Nuys High School with the actor Robert Redford.  Honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Drysdale lived as a youth only a few blocks from Van Nuys High.

 DON DRYSDALE

July 23, 1936 to July 3, 1993

Don Drysdale baseball card in original protective cover - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2014.  (click on images to enlarge them.)

VAN NUYS DIPLOMAS WERE 1930s MILESTONES FOR ROBERT MARCH

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY              2013

The decade in which Robert March earned these educational milestones was difficult in the San Fernando Valley. The Great Depression dominated the economics of America from 1929 until the onset of World War Two. Let's peek at Robert's progress from 1930 until his graduation from Van Nuys High School in 1939. 

Progress report from Van Nuys Elementary School  January 1930 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.)

Progress report from Van Nuys Elementary School  January 1932 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.)

Graduation diploma of Robert March, June 1936 - Van Nuys Junior High School - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.) Note: The junior high school and high school diplomas were signed by the same woman, Donna H. Hubbard.

Graduation diploma of Robert March, June 1939 - Van Nuys High School - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.)

INSIGHTS FROM CANOGA PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN MID 1930s

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                 2013

 Household Economics Club - Canoga Park High School - 1936 -  Utopian yearbook - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013.  (click on images to enlarge them)
These yearbooks once belonged to Bill Schepler. They contain a diary of events through the entire year, and essays by students about their feelings and experiences.

Track Team -  Canoga Park High School - 1936 -  Utopian yearbook - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. 
Any surviving men from this track team would be in their 90s now. Enlarge this image and you'll see that they don't look all that different from kids today.

Varsity Football Team - Canoga Park High School 1933 - The Hunters' Call Yearbook -  Gift to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. 

Three cheers for our football team!

They will always fight.

With their strength and might,

so then give

Three cheers for our football team.

Hip - Hip - Hip - Hur-rah!

When the green and white

Makes a very good fight

Our cheers will repeat,

We just can't be beat

Then three cheers for our football team

Everybody, Rah Rah - Rah!

Canoga Park Cheer  1933 

HOWARD HUGHES AND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY          2012

A monumental figure in the history of the San Fernando Valley was Howard Hughes. A film-maker, adventurer, and builder of remarkable aircraft, Hughes left an indelible mark on American aviation and the history of the San Fernando Valley.

 Howard Hughes

From 1941 to 1943, Howard Hughes was engaged in the making of the motion picture "The Outlaw".  The film starred Van Nuys High School graduate, Jane Russell. (click on image to enlarge it.)

 Glendale, California c. 1932. Hughes Aircraft Company built the H-1, a plane that would break the land plane speed record.  In addition to Hughes, there were 12 employees of the company,

In 1936, design engineer Dick Palmer and Howard Hughes built the H1 racer. Hughes flew the craft from Burbank to Newark, New Jersey in just under 7 1/2 hours.


Join Kristine Keller in her efforts to archive and present the history of Aeronautics in the San Fernando Valley for today and for future generations.


Kristine Keller - Chair of the Aerospace Project

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230 
Museum messages for Kristine Keller              1 (818) 347-9665

1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Among the many important objects recently donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley was this 1936 edition of Die Woche magazine. Part of the Henry Van Wolf collection, donated by Joseph Van Wolf, the magazine features several Olympians who made their home in the San Fernando Valley at the time.

Die Woche magazine 1936 - donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Joseph and Ladonna Van Wolf 2011  (click on image to enlarge)

Gary Fredburg (left) Museum Vice President examines Die Woche magazine being contributed to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Joseph Van Wolf (center).  At the right is Richard Hilton, Museum Board member and Director of Museum tours.  The three men are in the art studio of the late San Fernando Valley sculptor, Henry Van Wolf.

AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 1936

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

On January 17th, 1936, this cryptic hand made postcard was sent to Mr. A. M. Stockl at 100 Hobart Street, Los Angeles, California. The 1 ¢ postcard was sent from San Fernando California and is signed:
"A.P.A.  Judge Poultry Show" 
A quick on-line match showed the APA related to poultry, and revealed an assocition formed in 1873 and incorporated just four years before this card was sent.

The cartoon shows an aggressive writer, with typewriter and script, pushing out of his way (possibly) an entertainer. What this would mean to someone attached to the American Poultry Association, perhaps as a judge is not understood. What are your ideas.

Postcard with cartoon pasted on the message side 1936 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010.

REPUBLIC PICTURES HELPED SHAPE VALLEY HISTORY

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES
Entrance to Republic Pictures 1936 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.
Republic Pictures in the 1950s - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

It's not called the "Entertainment Industry" by accident, and old time Republic Pictures knew what popular entertainment meant. From classic cowboy movies, to early science fiction and "cliff hanger" series, Republic Pictures had its pulse on America.

GREAT SNOW OF 1936 IN GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Snow in Orange Tree 1936 (click on image to enlarge) Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010.
The great snow of 1936 - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010
Young women in 1912 - Photo among the snow images in an album page.
Ila and Elenore - Likely Glendale girls c. 1936

DON DRYSDALE - THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY'S BASEBALL HERO

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY HISTORY
Don Drysdale - Historic postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010 (click on image to enlarge)
Donald Scott "Don" Drysdale was born on the 23rd of July 1936 in Van Nuys, California. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, Drysdale attended Van Nuys High School where he was a baseball teammate of the future actor Robert Redford.
One of the most important pitchers in Major League Baseball, Don Drysdale was a mega-favorite of L.A. Dodgers fans. Because of his brilliant career, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. His number “53” was retired by the Dodgers in 1984.
Don Drysdale’s ashes are buried in Forest Lawn, Glendale.

TROVE OF WWII ERA VALLEY PORTRAIT PHOTOS FOUND

2010 - The Year of Valley Adventures

Portraits of His Son by John Charles Steele 1936 to 1943 - Images courtesy of James "Mitch" Steele 2010 (click on images to enlarge)
For a decade in the San Fernando Valley, Jack Steele took photographs of his favorite subject, his son John Steele Jr. Upcoming may be some photographs taken at the omni-popular Pop's Willow Lake.
John Charles Steele Sr. and his son - Father_Son Day at the Beach.

JACK & RINA DAVIS, NORTH HOLLYWOOD PIONEERS

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Rina Davis of the Pioneer Davis Family - Photo from the Davis Family Album, Gift from Dave High - July 2009
Handsome Rina Davis lived her life in North Hollywood, California. She lived in her 90s.

Jack Davis Davis of the Pioneer Davis Family - Photo from the Davis Family Album, Gift from Dave High - July 2009 Jack Davis (see earlier posting) spent his life as a farmer
in the San Fernando Valley. He also purchased land in Studio City, that he developed for commercial purposes. Jack died in 1936 of cancer.

Rina Davis of the Pioneer Davis Family - Photo from the Davis Family Album, Gift from Dave High - July 2009
The Davis family home was located near the present Gelson's Market - Laurel Canyon and the 101 Freeway. These people were identified by a Davis family descendent, Guy Weddington McCreary in August 2009.

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY MEETS ON JULY 22nd.

2009 - The Year of Valley Histry
First Day Postal Cover - Dedication of the Van Nuys Post Office - August 29th, 1936 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2009 (click on imge to enlarge)

The next meeting of the combined Boards of Directors and Advisors of The Museum will be on July 22, 2009.
6 to 8 pm. Parties interested in being part of The Museum's agenda should telephone: 1 (818) 347-9665