Pasadena Library’s Local History Collection (Photo – PPL)
In a significant move to preserve Pasadena’s rich history, the Centennial Room collection from the Central Library was relocated this week to a temporary location.
By News Desk
The collection, which contains nearly 10,000 items documenting the city’s cultural and historical development, is being moved to safeguard it during the upcoming retrofit and repair project at the Central Library.
Tim McDonald, Director of Libraries and Information Services, announced the relocation, emphasizing the importance of preserving the collection while the library undergoes significant renovations. The Centennial Room, which has long served as a dedicated space for historical archives, includes a diverse range of materials such as newspapers, magazines, photographs, oral history transcripts, scrapbooks, city directories, sound recordings, and more. These items are vital resources for both research and personal study, documenting Pasadena’s past and providing a window into the city’s evolving story.
Notably, the Centennial Room also includes “tomorrow’s history,” with current documents reflecting the ongoing development of the city. This ensures that the collection not only preserves Pasadena’s rich past but also serves future generations with up-to-date historical records.
An Unusual Location
Due to the age and delicate nature of some materials, finding a suitable temporary location was critical. After an extensive search, the former morgue at the Pasadena Public Health Department, located in the building that once housed Alta Vista Hospital, was selected. The space has been renovated with shelving installed to house the collection, meeting the necessary temperature and humidity requirements for the optimal preservation of paper-based materials.
“I appreciate the generosity of the Public Health Department in sharing their building space with us temporarily,” McDonald said. “I look forward to returning these items to their home in the Central Library Centennial Room when the retrofit and repairs project is completed in 2028. The library is an essential community gathering place for sharing information. By protecting these one-of-a-kind local history resources, the library will ensure that future generations can learn about our past with these historic documents.”
As a result of the move, the Centennial Room collection is temporarily closed to public access. However, library staff are available to assist with research requests. Individuals seeking access to the materials or needing help with specific research topics can contact the library for assistance. In some cases, access to materials may be provided by appointment.
The retrofit and repairs project is expected to be completed by 2028, after which the Centennial Room collection will return to its permanent home at the Central Library.
I was born and raised in Pasadena. I have family pictures some of the area gave it back to 1952. I would like to turn them in. See if you can use them where should I go?