HSJ E-News
April / 14 / 2017
Join Us for the 3rd Annual Silicon Valley Bikes! Festival & Bicycle Show
Sunday, May 7 11:00am - 5:00pm at History Park

 
May is National Bike Month! Help us celeb rate with cycling  enthusiasts from across the Bay Area.  Enjoy a day of family fun that includes BMX stunt rider shows, roller racing, bike polo demonstrations, music, exhibitors, bike repair clinics, local artists and artisans, and a spectacular bicycle show. Meet Santa Clara Valley's cycling clubs and riding groups, and check out the Cargo Bike Village, Artists Colony, bike repair clinics, and more!

Admission is $5.00, $5.00 per show bike, and children ages two and under are admitted free.

In This Issue
Save the Date for the Valley of Heart's Delight: 
June 24, 2017, 6:00pm - 9:00pm at History Park!  

History San José's annual Valley of Heart's Delight event returns!  This year will be celebrating the Greatest Generation and the legacy of the men and women who served from the Valley. 

Step back in time with our friends from Spirit of '45, who will be on hand to help transport us to the end of World War II with costumes, tents, equipment and vehicles transforming History Park. Dance to the big band sounds of the Sons of Jubal and enjoy a delectable dining experience from Catered Too!

For tickets, sponsorships and more information, visit: hsjvalleyofheartsdelight.org or call 408.521.5016
Fashion to Die For In the News!  

Last month we opened our newest exhibit, Fashion to Die For: A Shopper's Dilemma, exploring some of the darker sides of the retail and fashion industries. Check out Gary Singhs' piece from Metro, and stories from Anne Gelhaus and Sal Pizzaro for the San Jose Mercury News. 

Check out the exhibit for yourself! Fashion to Die For: A Shopper's Dilemma is open Saturdays & Sundays, 11:00am - 4:30pm, at the Leonard & David McKay Gallery at the Passetta House in History Park. Learn more
Become a Volunteer or Docent at HSJ!


This month, two of our volunteers - Janna Standridge and Diane S olomon - will be recognized by  the Junior League of San Jose at the 48th Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on April 28  for their positive impact at HSJ. It was a difficult decision to make as all of our volunteers are dedicated, talented and invaluable to the staff at HSJ. These two individuals represent all those behind the scenes who make our work possible.

Janna has volunteered for over 25 years in many roles at History Park and the Collection Center. Most visibly as "Head Elf," she leads a group of volunteers each winter who make the Park and staff offices more festive with holiday decorations.

Diane has been the founding force and tireless biker behind "Silicon Valley Bikes! Festival and Bicycle Show." For the past two years Diane has brought together countless groups who gather in May at the Park and find a community in their common love of cycling.

Currently we need docents (18 yrs or older) to work weekends at the McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House here at History Park. If you or a friend is interested in learning more about becoming involved, please call 408.521.5020 or email [email protected].

We want to thank all our wonderful volunteers and docents who make our work possible at History San José!
Collections Corner

 
Artists for Hire: Painting for the Market in Santa Clara Valley
History San José's collection includes close to 500 paintings by artists local to Santa Clara Valley, and especially San José. Painters such as A. D. M. Cooper, Andrew Putnam Hill, and Elizabeth A. Rockwell supplemented their income from sales of their work by accepting commissions from wealthy landowners, businessmen, and corporate entities throughout the area. These works included not only portraits, but valued property such as prize animals. In the case of Francis Harvey Cutting, his patrons were San Francisco's Gumps Department Store, and the State of California, who hired him to paint California's missions for the World's Fair. Explore the range of "hired art" in Santa Clara Valley as well as a selection of the artists' work held by History San José.  Learn more  


Don't miss Painting the Town: The Work of Rey Giese
Born in San Jose, Rey Giese created his own sign painting business from the ground up starting in 1935. His career spanned more than 75 years and this large collection of his work gives a unique peek into San Jose's past. Explore Rey's work at Painting the Town: The Work of Rey Giese, on display in the Arbuckle Gallery of the Pacific Hotel in History Park, Tues-Sun, 11:00am - 4:30pm. Learn more


M useum Mystery - What is That?!


 
Can you guess what this object is or what it was used for? Email your responses to
[email protected], and one lucky person with the correct response will win a special prize courtesy of History San José! We'll post the answer in next month's newsletter.

Last Month's Object
Did you figure out what last month's artifact was? This one was tough one, even for us! We think that it is some type of milliner's or hat maker's tool, but we are not entirely certain what it was used for. Like many times in history and anthropology, we do our best based on the clues we're given. This object was donated to the Collection with other hat making tools. The cylinder is too narrow to really be a hat molder though - it would have to be a really strange stovepipe hat to fit on it. The numbers on the sides suggest it's for measuring but they are kind of strange too. There are indented lines that are similar to tools used to spool couch or mattress thread used in tufting. Sometimes the mystery objects are mysteries to us too.
UPCOMING EVENTS 


History San José Spring Tea
Saturday, April 15 with Seatings at 11:00am & 2:00pm
Renzel Room in the Pacific Hotel at History Park
Enjoy a traditional tea with finger sandwiches and sweets at History Park, fe aturing exclusive  blends by  Satori Tea and served by the players of Silicon Valley Shakespeare. Afterwards, take a curator led tour of HSJ's Fashion to Die For: A Shopper's Dilemma

Tickets: $40 HSJ Members, $45 Non Members
$50 After March 17. Contact Juanita Lara for reservations:  408.918.1045 or  [email protected]



Silicon Valley Bikes! Festival & Bicycle Show
Sunday, May 7 at History Park
11:00am - 5:00pm
Tickets: $5 for ages 3+
HSJ Members Free
Come join our Valley's biggest cycling enthusiasts for a day of celebrating cycling and its history, family fun, community building and more! For more info visit: www.siliconvalleybikesfestival.org 


Bombs United Car Show
Saturday, May 20 at History Park
9:00am - 4:00pm
Tickets: $5, $25 per vehicle
The Bombs United Car Show and picnic is back again! Enjoy a day of tricked out 
cars and much more!


Taco Festival of Innovation (Sat)
& San Jose Bacon Festival (Sun)
Saturday, May 27, 12:00pm - 8:00pm
Sunday, May 28, 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Tickets: $10
Chow down the whole weekend at History Park! Come out Saturday for tacos and save room Sunday for bacon! For tickets and more info visit: www.mvblfeast.com