Pasadena City College Archives FAQ

This resource is based on frequently asked questions received by the archives staff at PCC.

A

Artists in Residence

1987 Oliverira, Nathan
1988 Zajac, Jack
1989 Cuevas, Jose Luis
1990 Chas-Riboud, Barbara
1991 Graham, Patrick
1992 Nagel, Andre
1993 Smith, Alexis
1994  Wegman, William
1995 Frank, Mary
1996 Thiebaud, Wayne
1997 Brown, Christopher
1998 Teraoka, Masami
1999 Milton, Peter
2000 Ringgold, Faith
2001 Uelsmann, Jerry
2002 Reice, Milo
2003 Mead, Syd
2004 McMillen, Michale
2005 Saar, Alison
2006 Bronson, Jessica
2007 Alexander, Peter
2008 Future Farmers
2009 Cowin, Eileen
2010 Panter, Gary
2011 Martinez, Daniel Joseph
2012 Morell, Abelardo
2013 Laduke, Tom
2014 Reas, Casey
2015 Ybarra, Jr., Mario
2016 Khalsa, Sant
2017 Hawkinson, Tim
2018 Newkirk, Kori
2019 Weber, Marnie
2020 Hartog, Jacci Den
2021 Hundley, Elliot
2022  Hanasik, Jason 
2023 Saldamando, Shizu 
2024 Bey, April and Valenzuela, Rodrigo

B

Building Names

Common Name Official Name Individual/Family for Whom Building was/is Named
C Building

*Horace Mann Building

Jack Scott Building

Horace Mann

Dr. Jack Scott

D Building *Jane Adams Building Jane Adams
E Building Louis Agassiz Building Louis Agassiz
R Building Catherine J. Robbins Building Catherine J. Robbins
U Building Sarafian Hall Dr. Armen Sarafian
UU Building (Retired) Lillian Vosloh Forum Lillian Vosloh
Westerbeck Westerbeck Recital Hall Robert and Adrienne Westerbeck
Robinson Stadium ` Jack and Mack Robinson
Boone Sculpture Garden   Dr. George Boone and Family
Art Gallery Boone Family Art Gallery Dr. George Boone and Family
Jameson Amphitheater

Jameson Ampitheater

J.W. Jameson
 

Sexson Auditorium

John A. Sexson
 

Creveling Lounge

Louis Creveling
 

Jack Robinson Memorial Field

Jackie and Mack Robinson
 

Robinson Park Softball Field

Jack and Mack Robinson

Buildings C, D, and E, the three main buildings of the campus at its inception were originally named for Horace Mann, the founder of America's modern educational system;  social reformer and pacifist Jane Adams, and world renowned scientist, Louis Agassiz. 

Dr. George Boone (1923-2008), An alum of PCC, dentist, and major philanthropist, the  Boone family contributed the bulk of the funds for the Boone Sculpture Garden.   The garden which stands on ground where their family home once stood, was named his parents, George Sr. and Fern Boone. “   The Art Gallery also bears the family name but have yet to determine their contribution to the project. 

Creveling—Louis Creveling was in the first Junior College class and was the first student body president in 1924.  He went on to build a clothing manufacturing business in Los Angeles and according to an L.A. Times article from 1986 he's quoted as saying  "I can't account for my fascination with PCC,"  this from a man who has befriended every PCC president for more than 20 years, headed its Alumni Association. and donated to many of its funds.

He said that he has no idea how much money he has given to the college, "but it's one of my favorite charities, if you could call it a charity."

John W. Harbeson   Serving as the campuses longest-serving principal from 1927-1950, Harbeson guided the college through the Depression, the 1933 earthquake, and World War II.  It was also during his tenure that the college band became of official band of the Tournament of Roses Parade.  In addition to reconstructing the buildings damaged in the 1933 quake, Harbeson directed the building of the college's Observatory, which was dedicated by Albert Einstein. 

Jameson – possibly the JW and Ida M. Jameson Foundation of Sierra Madre but pure speculation at this point.  

Howard E. Marvin  Brilliant mathematician, award winning artist, pioneer software executive and developer  https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=marvin-howard&pid=173411214 

Dr. Catherine J. Robbins  Robbins began her 42 year affiliation with the campus as a teacher and ended in 1965 after serving ten years as the campus president.   At that time she was one of only two female community college presidents in the country.   In 1959 she was named by the Times as "Woman of the Year in Education." 

Robinson named facilities were all named for athletes Jackie and Mack Robinson.

Dr. Armen Sarafian Superintendent-President from 1965-1976,   Sarafian presided over many changes at PCC while president, including the completion and dedication of five new buildings on campus.

Dr. Jack Scott  is a former president of Pasadena City College and Chancellor of the California Community Colleges System.  He also was a member of the California State Assembly and California State Senate. 

Sexson—John A. Sexson was the superintendent of schools in Pasadena from 1929 to 1948.   

Lillian Vosloh –As the founding Dean of the PCC Nursing Division, Vosloh initiated the ADN program at PCC in 1952 and persuaded the California legislature to provide statutes allowing a two-year academic program in nursing. 

Westerbecks—Robert Westerbeck was an alum of PCC and his wife Adrienne taught music on the campus until 1971.  In 2011 the family trust implemented the bequest of the  Westerbecks and donated $4 million dollars to the PCC Foundation.   This was the largest single donation ever received by the campus. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C

Campus Publications

Title Date Creator
The Arts 1933 Pasadena Junior College
Bamboo Post 1979/82 PCC Asian-American Affairs Office
Black Pearls 1975/77 PCC Office of Pan African Affairs
Black Awareness 1969 PCC Students
Business 1933 Pasadena Junior College
Campix 1938/39 Pasadena Junior College
Campus Dialog 1969 PCC Faculty and Students
Create 1961/63 Pcc Engineering and Tech Dept.
Dink 1951/54 Pasadena City College
Ego 1938 Pasadena Junior College
Engineering 1932 Pasadena Junior College
First the Blade 1932 Pasadena Junior College
First Flight (Book of prose and poetry) 1938 Pasadena Junior College
Forestry Club 1921, 1923, 1940 PHS/PJC Forestry Dept.
Gad Flight (Journal of independent student opinion) 1962 Pasadena City College
Globe (ESL) 2007-08 (some missing) ESL Lanuage Dept.
Huddle (single and bound) Official program for all home games of PCC Bulldogs 1938, 1945-71 (some missing) PCC Press
Lookout 1938-39, 1942 Forestry Club of Pasadena Junior College
Liberacion  2000 For students and by students of PCC
Mad Dog 1928/29 Associated Students of Pasadena Junior College
Mustang (bound) 1950-52 John Muir College
Pasadena Mecha 1983 PCC Mecha
Patriot (Sons of Liberty ) 1979, 1985 PCC Students
Prarie 1955-62 PCC Students
Rife (A Pararie Parody) 1955 PCC Press
Prarie-E 1963 PCC
Scholar and Clown 1931 Associated Students of PJC
Scan (Student Christian Association News) 1952-53 PCC
Soph Soap (News of the sophmores) 1943-45 Sophmore Class of Pasadena Junior College
TAB 1938, 1946, 1949 Douglas McMann, Pasadena Junior College
Unidos 1972 PCC Mexican-American students and staff

VOMAG

1934-39, 1934-38

Pasadena Junior College

D

Deans and Chairpersons

Department Chairperson Dates
Allied Health Pauline C. Anderson 1980
Allied Health and Life Sciences Jaqueline W. Jacobs 2000
Biological Science Mabel B. Peirson 1930-1955
  Margaret Stason 1955-1970
  Stanley E. Gunstream 1970-1980
  Richard J. Pierce 1980-1990
  Stanley E. Gunstream 1990-2000
Commerce Leland M. Pryor 1930-1955
  George C. Juett 1955-1980
  James L. Clark 1980-2000
  Don A. Paxton 2000-
Communication Harold E. Salisbury 1970-1980
  Crystal Watson 1980-1990
  Michael Bloebaum 1990-
Community Skills Center James E. Crayton 1980-2009
  Rick Hodge 2009-
Computer Sciences Frank A. Yett 1970-1990
  Richard W. Chamberlain 1990-
Counseling Chuck Ward  
  Jackie Dodds  
  James Aragon  
Engineering and Technology Robert G. Moses 1955-1970
  Lawrence A. Johannsen 1970-1990
  Robert D. Navarro 1990-2009
  Douglas Haines 2009-
English Murray G. Hill 1930-1955
  Dorothy Dixon 1955-1960
  Woodrow Ohlsen 1960-1980
  Richard Woods 1980-1990
  Rae G. Ballard  1990-2000
  Amy Ulmer 2000-
Foreign Language Kathleen Dorothy Loly 1930-1955
  Dorothy Dixon 1955-1960
  Arthur S. Wiley 1960-1970
  Phyllis C. Nelson 1970-1980
  Marina F. Cobb 1980-1990
  Rae G. Ballard 1990-
Health Sciences    
Household and Fine Arts Katherine E. McGorray 1930-
Industrial Arts Walter W. Martin 1930-1940
  Helen H. Reid 1955-1960
  Lennox Tierney 1960-1980
  David Schnabel 1980-1990
  Linda Malm 1990-2009
  Alexander I. Kritselis 2009-
Library Ethelyn Wakefield 1909-1912
  Winifred E. Skinner 1912-1947
  L. Herman Smith 1947-1958
  Margaret B. McCaughna 1958-1959
  William K. Grainger 1959-1967
  William I. Weitzel 1967-1968
  William K. Grainger 1968-1983
  Joanne Y. Kim 1984-1990
  David R. Dowell 1991-1995
  Mary Ann Laun 1995-2012
  Pearl Ly 2013-2014
  Leslie Tirapelle 2014-2021
Mathematics Peter W. Stoner 1930-1955
  L. Clark Lay 1955-1960
  William W. Olsen 1960-1980
  William P. Blair 1980-1990
  Richard W. Chamberlain 1990-2000
  Carl Main 2002-
Military Science and Tactics Major Frank E. Bertholet 1930-
Natural Sciences David N. Douglass 2009-
Nursing Lillian Vosloh 1955-1970
  Joan M. Davidson 1970-1980
  Shirley J. Wrasse 1980-1990
  Lois L. Linn 1990-2000
  Mary E. Winn 2000-
Physical Education William K. Dunn 1930-1955
  William K. Dunn and Elizabeth Jensen 1955-1960
  John C. Thurman and Suzanne Macauley 1960-1970 (Thurman) 1960-1980 (Macauley)
  Anthony P. Linehan 1970-1980
  William Sandstrom and Jo Ann Swanziger 1980-2000 (Sandstrom) 1980-1990 (Swanziger)
  Jessie Moore 1990-
  Willie Robinson, Jr. 2000-
Physical Science/Natural Sciences Bailey W. Howard 1930-1955
  Edwin V. Van Amringe 1955-1960
  Ralph A. Barnmore 1960-1980
  Norman J. Juster 1980-1990
  Bruce A. Carter 1990-
  Patrick O' Day  
  Alice Corey  
  Tom Mallory  
  Dave Douglass 2006-
School of Trades and Technology Edward D. Cornelison 1940-
Social Science R.L. Ashley 1930-1940
  William Bell Langsdorf 1940-1955
  Ralph J. Hallman 1955-1980
  John F. Christopher 1980-1990
  Kennon G. Miedema 1990-2000
  Gretchen L. Anderson 2000-2009
  MIchael Finkenbinder 2009-
Speech Paul W. Smith 1960-

L

Library History

S

Superintendent/Presidents of Pasadena Junior College and Pasadena City College

1924-1927 William F. Ewing, Ph.D.
1927-1950 John Harbeson, Ph.D. 
1950-1959 William Langsdorf, Ph.D.
1959-1965 Catherine Robbins, Ph.D. 
1965-1976 Armen Sarafian, Ph.D.
1976-1978 E. Howard Floyd, Ph.D. 
1978-1983 Richard Meyers, Ph.D.
1983-1987 John Casey, Ph.D.
1987-1995 Jack Scott, Ph.D.
1995-2007 James Kossler, Ph.D.
2007-2009 Paulette J. Perfumo, Ph.D.
2009-2010 Lisa Sugimoto Ph.D. (Interim)
2010-2014 Mark Rocha, Ph.D.
2014-2015 Robert Miller, Ph.D.
2015-2019 Rajen Vurdien, Ph.D.
2019-2023 Erika Endrijonas, Ph.D.
2024- Jose A. Gomez, Ph.D.

T

Timeline

1911 Land on Colorado Blvd. is purchased for construction of Pasadena High School which opened in 1913.  
1924 Pasadena Junior College (PJC) is established on the Pasadena High School campus.    
1924 A vocational school was established on N. Lincoln which originally was called John Muir Technical High School but served later as the west campus of PJC.  
1928 Pasadena Junior College and Pasadena High School merge into a four-year plan; grades 11-14 (lower and upper Bulldogs).  The Colorado Blvd. campus changed its name to Pasadena Junior College.  
1928 School mascot changed from the Pirate to the Bulldog  
1931 Albert Einstein and 8,000 people dedicate the new astronomy observatory.  
1933 Earthquake severely damages the three main buildings on the Colorado Blvd. campus.  Students attend classes in 50 tents on the campus for three years.  
1936-1938 Mack and Jackie Robinson attend Pasadena Junior College  
1938 John Muir Technical High School merges with Pasadena Junior College  
1938 Aviation students tested its second student designed and built plane led by Max Harlow and Clinton Hoffman  
1939 The Bulldog band is officially recognized as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Band.  
1942 The West Campus is used for military training during WWII.  
1948 Colorado campus name changes to Pasadena City College  
1949 PCC celebrates its Silver Jubilee  
1953 PCC launches its Registered Nurses program  
1954 The district sunsets the 6-4-4 educational plan replacing it with the 6-3-3-2 plan.  
1955 John Muir College is converted to a much needed high school and the college-level students are sent to the now two-year Pasadena City College.  
1957 Bulldogs become Lancers  
1966 Pasadena Area Community College District forms  
1967 Bylaws forming the faculty senate are adopted which was followed up in 1988 when state legislature passed a bill that established an academic senate on each community college campus.  
1974 PCC celebrates its 50th anniversary  
1979 The PCC Foundation is established  
1987 Planning begins for major campus rebuilding for the  next decade  
1992 Community College Reform Act leads to the establishment of the Classified Senate.  
1993 Walter T. Shatford II Library and Media Center open  
1994 The first campus parking structure opened adding 2000 additional parking spaces  
1996 The Community Education Center, administered by PCC,opens provding basic education, occupational training, high school diploma program, and English as a second language (ESL) courses.  
1996 The new Child Development Center (CDC) opens just west of the campus  
1999 PCC celebrates its 75th anniversary and the Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium opens  
2014 The Center for the Arts opens