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"'°nitY°f STAFF REPORT
Library and Museum Services Department
DATE: August 18, 2015
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Mary Beth Hayes, Director of Library & Museum Services
SUBJECT: ACCEPT A GIFT FROM THE ARCADIA MUSEUM FOUNDATION IN THE
AMOUNT OF $5,087 FOR THE PURCHASE OF HISTORICAL
DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND ARTIFACTS FOR THE
MUSEUM'S COLLECTION
Recommendation: Accept
SUMMARY
The Arcadia Museum Foundation provided the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage a gift
of $5,087 to enable the Museum to purchase historical documents, photographs, and
artifacts for the Museum's collection.
DISCUSSION
Recently, staff at the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage became aware of an online
auction of authentic and original historical memorabilia related to Elias J. "Lucky"
Baldwin. Some of the items include local land lease documents, invoices, ledgers,
receipts, and letters relating to Lucky Baldwin's land and business interests. Several of
these items include original Baldwin signatures. A separate collection includes original
photographs of Clara Baldwin, daughter of Lucky Baldwin, as well as a silver teapot
from the Baldwin estate. These original photographs, as well as the original Elias J.
Baldwin signatures, represent a significant and important addition to the Museum's
collection. For instance, the Museum's photograph collection does not currently contain
any original photographs of Clara Baldwin.
The cost for these items exceeded the amount budgeted for artifacts in the Museum's
current operating budget, so it may have been necessary to pass on the auction. Upon
hearing this, the Arcadia Museum Foundation quickly offered to provide the necessary
funds to purchase these items, ensuring that the Museum was able to take advantage
of this unique opportunity in a timely basis. In total, the Arcadia Museum Foundation,
as part of its mission to support the vision of the Gilb Museum, provided a gift of $5,087
to offset the cost of these important artifacts. Due to the time - sensitive nature of the
Accept Gift of $5,087 from the Arcadia Museum Foundation
August 18, 2015
Page 2 of 2
online auction, the funds were previously accepted by staff and used to purchase the
items. This agenda item will ratify those actions.
FISCAL IMPACT
This gift of $5,087 enabled the Gilb Museum to purchase historically significant
documents, photographs, and artifacts that would otherwise not have been able to be
purchased.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council formally accept a gift from the Arcadia Museum
Foundation in the amount of $5,087 for the purchase of historical documents,
photographs, and artifacts for the Museum's collection.
Approved.
Dorninio Laz�art�
City Manager