Ralph Gibson
Museums Administrator
The general public often thinks of museums as places where historic relics are preserved and put on display with informative text. This quaint description barely scratches the surface of what we really do.We educate through public programs, documentaries, and exhibits that interpret our history so that everyone can learn what came before. We store and preserve historic objects, photographs, maps, and documents so researchers today or in the far future can learn about our past.
In a sense, museums serve as the living memory of our history. Some people today deny the holocaust ever happened; some believe the moon landings were faked; and in Texas, a high school history textbook removed the word “slaves” and replaced it with “workers” – one step toward denying that the institution of slavery ever existed.
Museums have never been as important as they are now. It’s up to all of you to tap into the living memory of our past by visiting or volunteering in a museum and to never forget.
Kasia Woroniecka
Curator of Collections
Some of the objects in our collection tell stories of adventure, invention or romance while others have stories of true necessity. The collection of bedpans that was recently accepted belongs to the last category. |
| Female Urinals |
Bedpans, the less glamorous cousins of the chamber pot, have been used for centuries by people who were too weak to get out of bed to take care of basic needs. The “flushing of the bowels” was often the recommended treatment for many ailments and bedpans, the ordinary, everyday objects that tell stories of patient care and human suffering, kept nurses busy.
Most bedpans in our collection are mass produced items without manufacturers labels, making them difficult to date. Old sick room utensils were often made of pewter, brass or glass. Porcelain and china were used in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century many were made of enamel and stainless steel. Since the 1960’s bedpans and urinal basins have been made of plastics and other disposable materials.
Boots “Slipper” bedpan, England, c. 1900-1950
Due to its shape this bedpan is known as a “slipper” bedpan. Instructions are printed directly on the pan: “This Slipper should be passed under the Patient in front between the legs. If a flannel cap is made for the blade fastened by strings under the handle considerable comfort will be afforded.”
Jones Relax bedpan c. 1930s.
This metal bedpan is coated in porcelain enamelware and was manufactured by the Jones Metal Products, Co. of West Lafayette, Ohio. It is the seamless no. 500 model, which set the standard for bedpan design, and its size and shape has not changed much since the 1940’s. Jones Metal Products Company began business in 1923, at the site of a former metal stamping and porcelain enameling company in West Lafayette, Ohio. It began producing pots and pans, but soon after shifted to the production of hospital utensils.
Porcelain bedpan and female urinal c. 1890-1930s.
Even empty these bedpans are quite heavy. The one pictured weighs about 5 pounds and is the "slipper" type, later referred to as a “fracture” bedpan. It was used by patients who suffered fractures or had undergone joint replacement surgery.
Ceramic bedpan c. 1900-1930.
Stamped in green inside the rim: "Original 'Perfection' Bed and Douche pan, The most comfortable and sanitary bedpan in the world. For hospital and home". Made in England by Grimwade’s Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent. The company started around 1885 and specialized in earthenware and fine bone china.
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| Ceramic bedpan |
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| Blue granite-ware bedpan |
Kelsey Monahan
Curator of Archives
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| Fair Entrance, 1961, Placer County Fair Collection |
Despite the chilly weather it’s feeling a bit like summer at the Archives and Research Center. Volunteers and interns are busy processing two new collections: The Placer County Fair Collection that came to the Archives in 2017, and the Gold Country Fair Collection which was acquired last year.
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| Fair Entertainers, 1971, Placer County Fair Collection |
These collections include many photographs and slides. Processing them requires looking at every image, creating an inventory, rehousing them in archival materials, scanning, and entering them into our database. It is a time intensive process but in the end these collections will be preserved and accessible to researchers for years to come.
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| Beauty Pageant Contestants, 1969, Placer County Fair Collection |
The Gold Country Fair began as the 20th District Agricultural Fair in Auburn in 1889. However, from 1903 to 1936, no agricultural fairs were held in Auburn. In 1937, the State apportioned money to encourage district and county fairs. This enabled Placer County to hold the first annual Placer County Fair in Roseville, and for the 20th District Agricultural Association in Auburn to obtain state funds and hold a fair again. The 20th District Agricultural Fair was later called the Auburn District Fair, and then eventually the Gold Country Fair.
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| Auburn District Fair Sheep Event, 1955, Gold Country Fair Collection |
The material from these collections can tell us a lot about Placer County. They are a glimpse into how we celebrated, the fashions we wore, and how fairs in Placer County have changed over time. We’re excited to be caring for these collection and to share a sample of their contents.
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| Auburn District Fair Pageant Winners, 1962, Gold Country Fair Collection |
Bryanna Ryan
Supervising Curator
For the past year, we have patiently awaited the opportunity to hear voices of the big names from the DeWitt General Hospital which were recorded on “Voice-O-Graph” 45 RPM record discs in 1945. People like Colonel Smith, Colonel Storck, and Lorraine Anderson (who are all highlighted in the museum) preserved personal messages on these and the opportunity to have their voices come to life was incredible. |
| Lorraine Anderson |
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| Colonel Storck |
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| Colonel Smith |
These lacquered cardboard discs (seven of them) were originally created in a portable recording booth provided by the American Red Cross. They were beyond our capabilities to safely play, so we nominated them to be a part of the California Revealed Project and they have now been digitized.
The big day finally arrived, and the audio files were sent to us to review! We gathered, breathless with anticipation, to hear the messages contained. What words of wisdom did Colonel Smith share? Surely, the content must be very special for them to have been recorded and saved for posterity…
It turns out the occasion for the recordings was Lorraine Anderson’s 20th birthday. From the sound of it, the crew were really feeling the effects of the celebration by the time they decided to make these recordings. While not quite what we expected, they do offer a glimpse of the camaraderie of the staff and give a little insight to their time here which was otherwise, off the books. As soon as the files are published online, we will send you all the link.
Dave Allen
Native Sons of the Golden West
The Native Sons of the Golden West, Auburn Parlor #59 invite you to join in the festivities of their annual 49er Days on Saturday, March 14th.. It is an event that moves around the Highway 49 corridor with this year in Auburn.After an initiation of new members at 10:00 am, it is open to the public at 1:00 pm with a formal Native Sons dedication of the Historic Women’s Jail. This is part of the Placer County Museum, under the steps of the Placer County Historic Courthouse in Old Town Auburn.
The evening banquet begins at 5:00 pm in the new Springhill Suites located on Bowman Road, with a chicken and Tri Tip BBQ dinner provided by Carol’s Market of Ophir. Retired California State Park Historian Mary Helmich will present her recently published book, A Legacy in Brick and Iron - Sacramento’s Central and Southern Pacific Railroad Shops. This is an all-inclusive book on the innovation and importance of this railroad hub to the United States.
If you are interested in dinner tickets, which are $30.00 per person, call Dave Allen at 530-401-1000, the Auburn Native Sons Hall at 530-887-1267, or email at dsallen59@sbcglobal.net
April McDonald-Loomis
News from Placer County Historical Society
Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting
When: April 2nd, 2020Time: 6pm dinner, 6:30pm program
Where: Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 East Street, Auburn
Cost: $16 per person
Menu: TBD
Program: TBD
Mail Dinner Checks to:
PCHS c/o Jane Hamilton, 1871 Crockett Road, Auburn, CA 95603
(530) 885-7839 or hamiltonjane1@me.com
DO NOT BRING ALCOHOL.
Calendar of Events
MARCH 2020
March 7, 5:30pm “Murder and Mystery,” The Pour Choice, 177 Sacramento Street, Auburn. (530) 889-6500
March 9, 6:00pm Rocklin Historical Society Board Meeting, Parks & Recreation Office, 5460 5th Street, Rocklin. (916) 624-3464
March 10, 4:00pm Roseville Historical Society Board Meeting, Carnegie Museum, 557 Lincoln Street, Roseville. (916) 773-3003
March 16, 6:00pm Forest Hill Divide Historical Society business meeting, Forest Hill Divide Museum. (530) 367-3535
March 18, 6:00pm Loomis Basin Historical Society General Meeting, Loomis Library. (916) 663-3871
March 26, 7:00pm Placer Genealogical Society Meeting, Beecher Room, Auburn Library, Auburn. (530) 885-2216
APRIL 2020
April 13, 6:00pm Rocklin Historical Society Board Meeting, Parks & Recreation Office, 5460 5th Street, Rocklin. (916) 624-3464
April 14, 4:00pm Roseville Historical Society Board Meeting, Carnegie Museum, 557 Lincoln Street, Roseville. (916) 773-3003
April 15, 5:30pm Historical Advisory Board Meeting, Bernhard Winery, 291 Auburn-Folsom Rd. Auburn. (530) 889-6500
April 15, 6:00pm Loomis Basin Historical Society General Meeting, Loomis Library. (916) 663-3871
April 18, 1:00pm “Victorian Spiritualism,” Bernhard Museum, 291 Auburn-Folsom Rd, Auburn. (530) 889-6500
April 23, 7:00pm Placer Genealogical Society Meeting, Beecher Room, Auburn Library, Auburn. (530) 885-2216
Historical Organizations
Colfax Area Historical SocietyJay MacIntyre, President
(530) 346-8599
colfaxhistory.org
Donner Summit Historical Society
Bill Oudegeest
(209) 606-6859
donnersummithistoricalsociety.org
Foresthill Divide Historical Society
Troy Simester
(530) 367-3535
foresthillhistory.org
Fruitvale School Hall Community Association
Mark Fowler
Gold Country Medical History Museum
Lynn Carpenter
(530) 885-1252
Golden Drift Historical Society
Sarah Fugate
(530) 389-2121
Historical Advisory Board
Glenn Vineyard
(916) 747-1961
Joss House Museum and Chinese History Center
Larry Finney
(530) 305-9380
Lincoln Area Archives Museum
Elizabeth Jansen
(916) 645-3800
laamca.org
Loomis Basin Historical Society
Karen Clifford
(916) 663-3871
ppgn.com/loomishistorical.html
Maidu Museum & Historic Site
Kaitlin Kincade
(916) 774-5934
roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum
The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics
David C. Antonucci
(775) 722-3502
Sierraskimuseum.com
Native Sons of the Golden West Parlor #59
Dave Allen
(530) 878-2878
dsallen59@sbcglobal.net
Newcastle Portuguese Hall Association
Mario Farinha
(530) 269-2412
North Lake Tahoe Historical Society
(530) 583-1762
northtahoemuseums.org
Old Town Auburn Preservation Society
Lynn Carpenter
(530) 885-1252
Placer County Genealogical Society
Toni Rosasco
(530) 888-8036
pcgenes.com
Placer County Historical Society
April McDonald-Loomis
(530) 823-2128
placercountyhistoricalsociety.org
Placer County Museums Docent Guild
Fran Hanson
(530) 878-6990
Rocklin Historical Society
Hank Lohse
(916) 624-3464
rocklinhistory.org
Roseville Fire Museum
Jim Giblin
(916) 538-1809
rosevillefiremueum@gmail.org
Roseville Historical Society
Denise Fiddyment
(916) 773-3003
rosevillehistorical.org
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