A Message from the President and Director. Exploring the Mysteries of Life on Earth

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1 FALL 2008 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 A Message from the President and Director President and Director Jane G. Pisano Dear Friends, Your Natural History Museum is moving faster than at any time in its history. We are nearing the halfway point of our $115 million campaign and will soon be announcing the campaign to the public, but I wanted you, our close friends, to be the first to hear about our plans. We lost a dear friend this spring, F. Otis Booth Jr., who took a leadership role on our Board of Trustees for more than 30 years. Otis and his wife Lynn have been generous supporters throughout his tenure, and his gift of stock in 1976 formed the basis for our endowment that is now over $100 million. We will miss him deeply, and you can learn more about his extraordinary life in the following pages. As you will also see in this issue of Inspirations, the generosity of our donors takes many forms. Our Trustees have taken the lead in making transformational gifts to the campaign, and you will have the opportunity to meet two of our newest Trustees in these pages. A profile of docent and Alliance member Shirley Hoggatt and a tribute in memoriam to docent and Alliance member Mel Hindin show how a lifelong interest in the Museum can translate into a planned giving legacy. Our physical transformation continues with the Visible Vault opening in December and the interview below will give you a preview of the dynamic and exciting plan for our new Age of Mammals Hall. I look forward to showing you our many changes in person soon! Warm regards, Jane G. Pisano inside In Memoriam: Franklin Otis Booth Jr. Mel Hindin: A Museum Treasure Meet Our New Trustees Museum Family Reunion A Jurassic Journey Taste of History: A Drop of Sunshine A Passionate Advocate Having a Ball Upcoming VIP Events Exploring the Mysteries of Life on Earth As the seismic retrofit of the Museum s original 1913 Building nears completion, the new permanent exhibits are rapidly taking shape as well. In many ways, this process is even more complicated and fascinating than the construction, so we wanted to give Inspirations readers an insider s preview of the development of The Age of Mammals exhibit through the eyes of curator John Harris, designer Tony Reich and donor Sarah Jensen. John Harris: Our new galleries focus on some of our most important collections to tell stories that are of historic importance and vital to our understanding of the future. For instance, the exhibit The Age of Mammals [working title] uses significant fossils from the renowned La Brea Tar Pits one of the most important Cenozoic era collections in the world to provide the latest scientific information about climate change and evolution. With my colleagues, I developed an intellectual framework that focuses on the factors affecting environmental change in the Cenozoic, including increased volcanism, the movement of tectonic plates that changed ocean currents and the asteroid that hit the Yucatan 65 million years ago. As the world became cooler and drier later in the Cenozoic, grasslands grew and forests diminished so the animals that survived to reproduce were those best adapted to life on the plains, including our primate ancestors. In the framework, I developed a preliminary list of fossils to illustrate concepts of locomotion, feeding, body size and defense/display. It s important to all of us here at the Museum to show not only what we know but how we know it, how we explore the mysteries of life on earth. Tony Reich: For more than a year, our firm, Reich and Petch, has worked closely with John to turn his framework into a threedimensional exhibit that is visually stunning and intellectually compelling for audiences of all ages. With an interpretive planner, we determined which stories would best engage visitors and which specimens would communicate most effectively. Groupings were determined: grassland animals such as horses, rhinos and camels; mammals adapted to ocean life such as hippo-like demostylians, sea cows, pinnipeds (walruses and sea lions) and whales; and our own primate ancestors. Taking advantage of the gorgeous natural light in the 1913 Building, we decided the first floor gallery of The Age of Mammals would be devoted to the Wow! a dramatic presentation of skeletons of extinct mammals and taxidermied specimens of those still alive today. The second floor focuses on how we know what we know and will feature stateof-the-art interactive displays, as well as many of the smaller fossils. We now have superb John Harris poses next to an impressive Thunderbeast specimen that will be featured in The Age of Mammals exhibition. renderings and models of The Age of Mammals, and specimens are already undergoing mounting and preparation for display. Sarah Jensen: As a Museum Trustee, I ve found myself fascinated with the exhibit development process for The Age of Mammals and jumped at the chance to provide a lead gift for this amazing new hall. I m proud to name the first floor the Sarah Jensen Gallery and look forward to 2010, when The Age of Mammals will be the first of our new halls to be unveiled to the public. In the meantime, I m thrilled to co-chair the 2009 Dinosaur Ball with Diane Naegele, and we ll be making the Ball a scientifically interactive preview of the future of the Museum, including The Age of Mammals. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County...to inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. 1

2 Board of Trustees: Wallis Annenberg Anissa Balson Kenneth Bentley* Arun Bhumitra* Lynn W. Brengel Neal H. Brockmeyer Richard Call, M.D.+ Fiona Chalom Howard E. Chambers* Victoria Chapus H. Frederick Christie+ David Comsky* Dr. Mark W. Dundee* Michael J. Fourticq David Glickman Stanley Gold Paul G. Haaga, Jr., President of the Board Sarah Meeker Jensen Curtis C. Jung* Bettina Korek* Roger Kozberg Mrs. Kenneth Leventhal Patricia Lombard Harlyne Norris+ Ki Suh Park* Joan Payden Dr. Jane G. Pisano, President of the Museum Julio Ramirez, Jr.* Mrs. Thomas Reddin Madison Richardson Douglas Ring Richard K. Roeder, Vice Chairman of the Board Edward P. Roski, Jr. Jim Royer, President of the Alliance Simon Wen Shao* Kevin W. Sharer, Chairman of the Board Marilyn F. Solomon* Sheldon Stone Nicholas H. Stonnington* Dr. Richard Sun* Dr. Mae Sue Talley+ Richard S. Volpert,* President of the Board of Governors +Trustee Emeritus *Governor Alliance: Peggy Adams Lynn Alessio Suzonne Bass Fiona Chalom Carl Cooper Lynn Cooper Diane Dykema Mrs. Robert Feinerman Eileen Garson Richard Garson Joan Grasty Shirley Hoggatt Charles Holland Janice Holland Frank Jansen Elaine Kramer, Vice President David Kriesel Mary G. Lane Jill Laverty Mrs. Kenneth Leventhal Michael K. Lindsey Patricia Lombard Mrs. Jennifer McIntosh Jane Gray Morrison Mumsey Nemiroff Mrs. Betty J. Reddin Maryann Rinsch James S. Royer, President Barbara Sanchez Bill E. Schroeder Miriam Weeks Schulman Joan Travis Brigitta B. Troy Lorraine P. Young In Memoriam: Franklin Otis Booth Jr. The Natural History Museum lost a dear friend and treasured member of the Board of Trustees with the passing of Franklin Otis Booth Jr. on June 15, A great-grandson of Los Angeles Times founder General Harrison Gray Otis, he was a former Los Angeles Times executive and successful businessman, who was also lauded for his philanthropy in the Los Angeles community. Otis was a dedicated leader from the time he joined the Museum in Over the next three decades, he served as a Governor, a Trustee and a Trustee Emeritus. His contributions to the Board were many, and the leadership roles he assumed included President and Chairman of the Board, First Vice-President of the Board of Governors and chair of numerous committees and events. His passionate stewardship of the Natural History Museum is perhaps best illustrated by the generous lead gift he made to the Museum s endowment in With Otis s skillful guidance, the fund would grow in time to more than $120 million. His enthusiastic efforts helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional support for a wide variety of Museum projects. He also generously provided a portion of the matching funds the County required to support the Museum s ongoing transformation into a world-class institution. Otis Booth will long be remembered for his visionary leadership. Through his foresight and generosity, he gave the Museum a financially secure future, ensuring that the Museum will forever remain Mel Hindin: A Museum Treasure Mel Hindin, with wife Lois Petzold Hindin Visitors to the Museum s Hall of Gems and Minerals have undoubtedly noticed the scores of impressive specimens on display bearing the proud label Gift of Melvin Hindin. In fact, some of the most important additions to the Museum s mineralogy collections in recent years were gifts from Mel. Sadly, Mel passed away last December, but his cherished friendship and legacy of generosity endures. Mel first developed a love for museums as a child growing up in the Pittsburgh area. Though his chosen profession as a social worker was far afield from museums, he never forgot that love. Toward the end of his distinguished career, which culminated in the Franklin Otis Booth Jr. a source of wonder and discovery for the Los Angeles community. We are most grateful for his years of service and friendship and offer our condolences to his family and especially to his widow, Lynn Booth. directorship of the Hathaway Home for Children in Highland Park, Mel decided to prepare for retirement by becoming a docent at the Natural History Museum. From 1984 until his death in 2007 a span of nearly a quarter century the Museum became a major focus of Mel s life. Mel not only served as a touring docent but also as a volunteer in the Mineral Sciences Department. He was an active member of the Board of Directors of the Museum s Gem & Mineral Council and played a leadership role as a member of the Museum Alliance. Together with wife Lois Petzold Hindin, Mel was also active in the Fellows Program. As a docent, Mel especially relished giving tours of the Hall of Gems and Minerals, which led him to become acquainted with Dr. Anthony Kampf, the Museum s Curator of Gems and Minerals. Mel immersed himself in the world of gem and mineral enthusiasts and assembled a fine collection of his own. But Mel always put the Museum first, and during his last 15 years the Museum s Mineral Sciences Department was the particular beneficiary of Mel s enthusiastic support. Guests can now view a portion of Mel s spectacular collection in a new display in the Hall of Gems and Minerals. Many other pieces that Mel donated can be found throughout the Hall. His friendship and remarkable spirit of generosity will be missed, but he will forever remain a part of the Museum through the many rare and wonderful specimens that he so thoughtfully gave. 2

3 Meet Our New Trustees Madison Richardson: Answering the Mysteries Facing down immediate death is important to Dr. Madison Richardson because hunting is a part of our nature. Embracing his primal connection to all life on earth, Dr. Richardson is delighted to be a Trustee at the Natural History Museum. As an accomplished hunter with trophies from everywhere from Alaska to Africa, he sees the Museum s mission as vital because we re in a process of evolution on a daily basis. Clinical Chief of Otolaryngology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and named one of America s Top Doctors by the Center for the Study of Services, Dr. Richardson speaks movingly of performing facial surgery on truck driver Reginald Denny after he was injured at Florence and Normandie in Like the Museum, medicine allows us to answer mysteries about the world, and he enjoys the way his interests reflect the Museum s collection. In addition to a taxidermy collection, he collects minerals and majored in zoology. He s also a musician and loves to sing the quartet from Rigoletto all four parts simultaneously! Dr. Richardson served as Board Chairman of the Los Angeles Urban League and has been a board member of KCET, The Los Angeles Opera, The Los Angeles Philharmonic and numerous other boards and committees. Dr. Richardson is an international polo player, and he is the former governor of the United States Polo Association. Sheldon Stone: Realizing Our Potential With the seismic retrofit of the 1913 Building almost complete, new Trustee Sheldon Stone is excited about the Museum as an institution in transformation. A Principal in the high yield bond management group at Oaktree Capital Management, Sheldon is also a Trustee of Bowdoin College and a Director of the California Community Foundation. Sheldon and his wife Cindy have two children and live in Brentwood. Cindy has a long involvement with TreePeople, one of the Museum s many environmental partners. I worked with Jane Pisano when she was the Chair of the California Community Foundation, Sheldon says, and I know she can achieve the goal without breaking the china. In an institution as venerable as the Natural History Museum, the challenge is to bring the facility and programming up to the extraordinary level of the collections. Sheldon would like the Museum s Exposition Park site to become as much of a tourist draw as the world-renowned Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, an educational and cultural entertainment destination for adults and families as well as schoolchildren. Jane s vision for the Museum as a hub for other organizations who share our mission of inspiring wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds especially those focused on sustainability here in Los Angeles is personally intriguing to me. I m new to the museum world and look forward to helping the Museum realize its great potential. Museum Family Reunion Many dear friends gathered at the Museum last June for a special reunion of emeriti docents. The event, organized by current Docent Roundtable President Barbara Sanchez and Past President Helena Bowman and hosted by a committee of active and emeriti docents, was an opportunity to demonstrate the Museum s appreciation of the time and talent that emeriti docents gave. The twenty guests in attendance received updates on Museum projects and initiatives from President and Director Jane Pisano, Vice President for Education Carl Selkin and Senior Vice President for Advancement Tom Jacobson. Dinosaur Institute Director Luis Chiappe also apprised the group of the latest dinosaur developments and led the ladies on a private tour of the Thomas the T. Rex Lab exhibit. For many, the get-together was a wonderful way to reconnect with friends and learn about Museum happenings. Says Barbara Sanchez, We are looking forward to continuing our long-standing friendships with these treasured members of the Museum family. From left to right: Emeriti docents Dolores Samuelian, Elaine Leventhal, Lorraine Young, June Weiss and Betty Reddin. 3

4 A Jurassic Journey A dramatic desert landscape, a team of cunning fossil hunters and a race against time to save an irreplaceable treasure from destruction. No, it s not a send-up of the latest summer blockbuster, but a real-life adventure that Susan Matt and her children, Paul and Mackenzie, found themselves on when they accompanied Dinosaur Institute Director Luis Chiappe and his staff on a very special expedition last April. The holy grail of this quest was California s only known set of dinosaur footprints, located in the Mojave Desert the sole dinosaur locality of Jurassic age in the entire state. Although the footprints were discovered nearly fifty years ago, they have never been extensively studied and no public institution has ever made an effort to collect them. Adding a sense of urgency was the site s exposed condition, which left it threatened by weather, recreational activity and perhaps even the chisels of amateur collectors. When they learned of Dr. Chiappe s goal to collect the trackways, Susan and her husband Steve were eager to help and made a gift to sponsor the fieldwork. After months of planning, a team of staff and volunteers including Susan, Paul and Mackenzie was assembled and the group set off for the desert. The team worked painstakingly to manually From left to right: Paul Matt, Dinosaur Institute staff member Doyle Trankina, Mackenzie Matt and Luis Chiappe expose the terraced outcrop where the tracks sat for more than 150 million years. Even the children worked hard, helping to map the footprints and carefully coax them from the earth. According to Paul, age 8, It was really fun, and I liked breaking the stones up with Doyle. I got extra upper arm strength. For Susan, the expedition was an extraordinary opportunity for her children to learn about the science behind the dinosaurs they see at the Museum. I m thrilled to get the chance to take my kids out to see the story behind the Museum s display, she says. They got to meet the scientists and found that they re really nice people. They camped in the scenic desert and they helped participate in some good, hard physical work. The lesson was not lost on Mackenzie, age 11, who drew on her expedition experience to create a school science fair project, complete with a cast of one of the footprints. I think people often don t appreciate how hard it is to collect the bones and stones when they see them in a display case, she says. The rough conditions of field life made an impression too. They didn t even have port-a-potties! she exclaims. The collected footprints are now safeguarded under environmentally controlled settings at the Museum, where they will undergo preparation for eventual display in the forthcoming Dinosaur Mysteries hall. Until that time, visitors can catch a glimpse of one of the trackways in the Thomas the T. Rex Lab exhibit. Thanks to the Matt family s generosity and hard work, the tracks will be preserved in perpetuity, allowing for their continued study by researchers and enjoyment by the public for generations to come. Taste of History: A Drop of Sunshine Sunshine abounded at the third installment of Taste of History, a delectable Fellows event exploring Southern California s rich culinary legacy through the Museum s history collections. Held on the grounds of the historic San Gabriel Mission, this year s Taste of History celebrated the golden age of California s citrus industry and the colorful crate labels that so beautifully illustrated the era. Not only was the Mission a lovely setting for the event, it played a pivotal role in California s emergence as a titan of the citrus industry. It was there that friars planted the state s first significant citrus orchard back in 1804, an act that would indelibly change the region. As Fellows strolled the tranquil grounds during the cocktail hour, they were able to spot descendants of some of those original orange trees, which Mission staff are carefully nurturing in their effort to preserve this important piece of California history. In addition to admiring the gardens, guests enjoyed docent-guided tours of the Mission s buildings and exhibit areas. A lucky few were even allowed to ring one of the six bells in the historic campanario! Beth Werling, the Museum s Collections Manager of Material Culture, further entertained guests with a fascinating presentation on the heyday of the citrus industry, illustrated by paper crate labels from the Museum s collections. With their cheerful colors and pastoral scenes, the labels were powerful advertisements of the California Dream and enticed many in the East and Midwest to go west in search of the earthly paradise the labels depicted. A scrumptious Mission Bistro dinner was the perfect way to round off the evening. Each course featured a delicious citrus-imbued dish. For many Fellows, the event summoned memories of a not-so-distant past when Southern California was dotted with fragrant orange groves. As native Californians, my husband and I remember all the wonderful orchards we used to have, mused Fellow and Fellows Jim and Jennifer McIntosh enjoy the San Gabriel Mission gardens. Alliance member Jennifer McIntosh. The event made us very nostalgic! As guests departed, they excitedly speculated what the next Taste of History topic might be. Wine? Olives? With the Museum s expansive collections and California s storied past, the possibilities are endless! 4

5 A Passionate Advocate Shirley Hoggatt Reading Shirley Hoggatt s long list of Natural History Museum affiliations docent, Fellow, Alliance member, Hildegarde Howard Society member it is immediately apparent that the Museum plays a special role in her life. As a little girl growing up in East Los Angeles, Shirley loved the sense of wonder that visits to the Natural History Museum inspired in her. She enjoyed and still does gazing at the intricate dioramas, the towering dinosaur fossils and the historic artifacts, marveling that each object in the Museum has an important story to tell. Now, as an adult, it is her passion to ignite that spark in the next generation of Museum-goers. The Museum is about inspiring imagination and wonder, she says. Giving kids the enthusiasm to learn about something new. Shirley s background in science she studied nursing at Stanford University and later earned a master s degree in Public Health from the University of Washington and her deep interest in education drew her closer to the Museum over the years. When she and husband Gene began their own family in the 1970s, they were frequent Museum visitors with their son. Then, in 1982, Shirley began training as a docent a role she has cherished ever since. She takes an active approach to her work, often seeking out the quiet, overlooked child and encouraging his or her curiosity. I was amazed at her knowledge and ability to relate details, making discoveries fun while keeping the students close, recalls Docent Roundtable President Barbara Sanchez of the time she spent shadowing Shirley as a docent trainee. I was very fortunate to have Shirley as a mentor for my training. Shirley embraces the many opportunities available through her activities at the Museum. She values the exchange of ideas she shares with fellow docents just as much as she enjoys working with the children. It s the only place you can discuss the latest scientific discoveries with others who are just as interested in learning, she says. And as a member of the Alliance, Shirley appreciates having a forum to express the ideas and concerns that result from her considerable experience working on the floor. What we say and do there really does make a difference, says Shirley. Ensuring that the Natural History Museum remains a center of research and learning is important to both Shirley and Gene, and when the couple drafted their wills several years ago, they included a generous provision for the Museum. As Shirley explains, It is not as important to have our names somewhere as it is to enhance the Museum s ability to conduct research and to continue to gather knowledge that is how the Museum grows. How to sum up someone who has given so much to the Museum, in so many ways? Perhaps Barbara Sanchez puts it best: Shirley is a passionate advocate whose concern is the overall education for all who enter the Museum s doors. For that we are truly grateful. Having a Ball Save the date for the event of the year! The Natural History Museum will host the 23rd Dinosaur Ball on Saturday, April 25, We are delighted that Board of Trustees President Paul Haaga and wife Heather Sturt Haaga will serve as Honorary Chairs and Sarah Jensen is chairing the Event Committee. Towering dinos greet guests at the 2007 Dinosaur Ball. Not just an elegant soiree, the blacktie affair promises to be an exciting and scientifically interactive evening for those in attendance. Along with dining and dancing, guests will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes for a close-up look at the important research and collections departments that are at the core of the Museum s mission to inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. We ll reveal extraordinary treasures from the Museum s expansive collections, which are second in size only to those of the Smithsonian Institution. Guests will also receive an insider s update about the wonderful new galleries in development for our historic 1913 Building. Proceeds from the event will support critical Museum projects, including groundbreaking scientific research, education programs and community outreach. Already serving nearly one million visitors annually, the Museum is poised to become a worldclass museum for the 21st century. Your participation at the 2009 Dinosaur Ball brings us closer than ever to realizing our potential. We do hope you will join fellow Museum patrons, friends and leaders from the Los Angeles community for this spectacular celebration. The event is expected to sell out, so be sure to make your table commitment early. Please contact Dino Ball Coordinator Karla Urbina at or at DinoBall@nhm.org to be part of this magical evening. 5

6 Upcoming VIP Events 6 January Visible Vault VIP Reception At this special reception, Fellows and Explorers will celebrate the opening of the new Visible Vault exhibit, which showcases the Museum s Latin American collections. March First Fridays Fellows Night Once a month the Museum stays open late for an evening of tours, discussions by worldrenowned scholars, live music performances and more. Fellows will enjoy special access to featured guests with their very own VIP cocktail lounge. April Ice Age Urban Adventure Join us at the Page Museum for the annual Ice Age Urban Adventure, a family friendly event that will take you on an exciting journey throughout the Museum. Children and adults alike will engage in activities that explore developments in our modern world as well as discover more about the Ice Age. Dinosaur Ball Saturday, April 25, 2009 Celebrate the Natural History Museum with an exciting and scientifically interactive blacktie gala evening. Spring 2009 Collector s Circle Salon Fellows at the Collector s Circle level and higher are invited to join us for this spring s salon series at the home of one of the Museum s donors. Enjoy a scholarly presentation by a special guest speaker from the Museum, refreshments and a lively discussion. May President s Dinner Fellows at the Curator s Circle level and higher will enjoy an intimate evening at the home of Dr. Jane G. Pisano, Museum President and Director, to celebrate the Museum s scientists and their important research. June Fellows Family Field Trip Fellows will start the summer off with a wonderful family field trip. Discover Southern California s natural world with a Museum scientist as your very own guide! Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Boulevard Los Angeles, CA Nonprofit Org. US Postage Paid Indianapolis, IN Permit No. 8478