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| Donations continue to grow the Angeles Chapter's Living Legacy Library. Credit: Rod Currier |
Fred Winch had a problem. The 96-year-old Santa Monica resident and Angeles Chapter Sierra Club member was downsizing the contents of his apartment for more convenient living. But he couldn’t bring himself to let go of a complete collection of "American West" magazines, beautiful and scholarly quarterlies that were published from 1964 to 1976. Fred wanted to be sure these classics had a good home, so he thought of us and called. Now the “American West” file is part of our Chapter library.
In his late 70s, Ernie Elmore of Anaheim realized his backpacking days were probably more of a memory than a future reality. So, what to do with a beautifully organized set of guidebooks and maps? Ernie called the Angeles Chapter and made a donation that filled some important gaps in our collection.
Paul Carlton of San Clemente has been an active Sierra Club member for decades. In his mid 80s, Paul focused on clearing the shelves of books collected from travels around the world. He invited us to take our pick, and the library became a bit more complete.
Adding to the Chapter's collection
These unsolicited gifts made us realize we should offer long-time Chapter members the option of donating fine books and maps they no longer needed, especially if their children in this digital age showed little interest in print classics. We contacted a roster of folks by e-mail and U.S. mail for those not on the Internet.
We felt a sense of urgency. For many fine collections this could be a “last call” of material that might otherwise be lost. In response, many long-time members told us they shared our concern and thanked us for providing a home where treasured parts of their library would find use and be well protected.
In the last three months, the Chapter has been making home visits and have met a wonderful group of wilderness-loving folks, many in their mid-80s, who have made generous donations that are moving our library toward a world-class level.
The donations just keep on coming
Cherlyn Meese Mentes of San Clemente was a close friend of Robert Wenkam, first president of Sierra Club Hawaii and author-photographer of large format books published by the Sierra Club covering each island in the Hawaiian chain. Wenkam gave Cherlyn autographed copies, and she passed them on to us.
David Harrah of Studio City was part of the 1950 first ascent of Yerupaja, a famously difficult peak in the Peruvian Andes. That ascent opened a new era in Andean climbing and was celebrated in a number of books and articles, which Harrah autographed and donated to the Chapter along with a first-rate library on the entire Andes.
Eleanor Carter of Glendora proudly pointed to the Angeles Chapter 100 Peaks certificate on her wall as she donated books by and about John Muir, including “Yosemite:, The Sierra Club and John Muir”” and “Dear Papa” – letters between Muir and his daughter Wendy.
Jack Klippensteen of Cheviot Hills had just one book in mind for us – and it is a gem: Mountain Dreamers, a history of Sierra Nevada skiing centers by Robert Frolich, autographed by Olympic skiing great Jill Kinmont.
Harrison Starr lives in Marina Del Rey but his first love is the desert, and with his wife he spends two months each year at Borrego. Harrison donated his extensive desert library, including a rare multi-volume limited edition of recollections and experiences by “desert rats” along the Mojave Road.
Hank Warzybok told us we wouldn’t have any trouble finding his home in Lakewood because the yard was planted in a “different kind” of vegetation. Halfway down the block we saw desert succulents and cacti of unbelievable size and beauty. Before handing over a well-kept set of guidebooks, Hank invited us into his equally stunning back yard where we were not surprised to learn he maintains a desert plant nursery.
Sierra Club publications about Muir
Had our invitation to donate to the Chapter’s Living Legacy Library produced only a single response, it would have been worthwhile if that response was the one from Peter Mann. The Pacific Palisades resident donated early editions of John Muir, a complete file of large format books published by the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth in the 1960s and 1970s, and seemingly every mountaineering book reviewed by the American Alpine Journal in the last 40 years.
The honor roll would be incomplete without naming donors Frank Meyers of Chatsworth (a Chapter member since 1949), Joan Alexander of the Fairfax District, and upcoming visits with Jeanne Allen, Fay Ardon, Kay Paletta and Paula Poll.
Thanks to all of these Chapter members, our library is getting better and better.