FECM Newsletter.

Newsletter for the Friends of the
EASTERN CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
Preserving Inyo County's Past for the Future
P.O. Box 33 Independence, CA 93526 Winter 2019-2020
FRIENDS OF THE EASTERN CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, March 14, 2020
3-5 P.M. Reception at the Museum
5:30 P.M. Potluck Dinner, Silent Auction, Introduction ofTrustees American Legion Hall, 201 S. Edwards St., Independence, CA
Guest Speaker Cynthia Pridmore Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence July 2019 Insights from the California Earthquake Clearinghouse

GU~SPEAKER-Cynthia Pridmore
Cindy Pridmore has been an engineering geologist with the California Geological Survey for over 30 years. As part of the State of California geotechnical earthquake and tsunami response, she has participated in post-event scientific data collection to better understand events that have affected California, including the 2014 Napa earthquake and the recent 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes. She was appointed Chair of the California Earthquake Clearinghouse in February 2019. She works closely with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services on earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic hazards. She serves on the national and state communication, education and outreach committees for the US West Coast ShakeAlert earthquake early warning program. Cindy and her husband, Gary, also a geologist, consider rndependence their second home. Gary grew up Independence and his family has resided in the Owens Valley for several generations.
FRIENDS OF THE EASTERN CALIFORNIA MUSEUM

Officers:
Dave Wagner President
Mary Roper Vice President
Linda Hubbs Secretary
Jean Crispin Treasurer
Trustees:
Sharon Avey Roberta Harlan
Alina Berry Lynn Johnson
Deena Conway-Davenport Pat McLernon
Jennifer Duncan Pat Woods

Rich White (Past President)

Address: FECM P.O. Box 33 Independence, CA 93526
FECM is a 501 ( c) (3) nonprofit organization
Former ECM Curator joins the FECM Board of Trustees
Roberta Harlan, former Curator of Collections and Exhibits for the Eastern California Museum, has been named to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Trustees, bringing our Board to full level.
New ECM Curator named
Upon the retirement of Roberta Harlan (now our newest Board of Trustees member), long-time employee Heather Todd was promoted to Curator of Collections and Exhibits for the Museum. Liz Livermont was hired part time to fill Heather's position as Museum Assistant.
Mammoth tusk on display at ECM
A mammoth tusk discovered in Owens Valley is now on display at the museum. A long-term loan from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, this tusk measures approximately 4 feet long. The tusk is from a mammoth that lived during the end of the last Pleistocene ice age 11,000 to 15,000 years ago.

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Faces of Incarceration: New display at ECM
Faces of Incarceration, a unique collection of artwork showing portraits and quotes from Manzanar incarcerees, is now on display at ECM. The quotes show a full range of perspectives from the people who were so intimately impacted and, coupled with current-day portraits, the exhibit significantly expands our understanding of the complexities and challenges related to Japanese-American incarceration. A program focusing on this exhibit will be held in January. The date and other details will be provided via email, or you can call the Museum at 760-878-0258.
Faces of Incarceration, a recently installed exhibit at the Eastern California Museum

Digitization of Manzanar documents and photographs
Also related to the Museum's Manzanar collection, the Museum digitized many of its Manzanar documents and photographs under a federal subcontract with California State University, Dominguez Hills. A scrolling digital exhibit at the Museum's Manzanar wing shows a fascinating view ofthe documents. This is extremely important for historical preservation, as these items were donated to the Museum by former incarcerees prior to the establishment ofthe Manzanar National Historic Site located just a few miles south oflndependence.
First of 10,000 incarcerees arrive at ManzaRalph Merritt holding the last incarceree to be nar on March 23, 1942. evacuated from Manzanar on November 21, 1945.

We cannot do this without you!
Your financial contribution is critical to the FECM's ability to continue support of Museum activities. Our Museum is a unique jewel, holding collections important to the Owens Valley, Inyo County, the State of California, and the United States. Your donation makes you a critical member of the Friends of the Eastern California Museum, and we thank you sincerely.
Please take a look at your mailing label, where you will see your renewal date. Ifyour label indicates you are past due, please use the membership form on the back ofthis newsletter to renew your membership today. In order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming FECM Board of Trustees election, your membership dues must be received by February 29, 2020.
The FECM is in the process of revamping its website. Currently we are not able to take credit card payments for membership dues. We apologize for the inconvenience. You will be notified once the website is up and running and for those of you who wish to receive your newsletter electronically, you will be able to access it through the new website If you have any questions about the status of your membership, please email the membership coordinator at fecminyo@gmail.com or call 760-258-7306 and leave a message.

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Slim Princess Engine #18 waiting for passengers at the welcome home
party at the Museum. In the background is the train barn that houses the
locomotive. The barn was built with funds from FECM, Inyo County,
and Carson & Colorado Railway.

Slim Princess Engine #18 is Back Home
After a several month absence, the Slim Princess Engine #18 is back at the Museum. The train was delivered to the Durango & Silverton Railroad in Colorado to allow the crews in Durango to study its operation. The Slim Princess has a steam engine that runs on fuel oil and the Durango & Silverton engines run on coal. Durango & Silverton Railroad is considering converting to fuel oil and wanted to become familiar with the operation of a fuel oil powered locomotive. The Slim Princess gave passengers a unique ride between Durango and Silverton.
On November 2, FECM, ECM, and the Carson and Colorado Railway cohosted a BBQ fundraiser and welcome home party at the Museum. The party featured train rides, a tri-tip dinner, live music, and a silent auction. More than 200 people attended and the event raised over $2000 for the FECM that will go toward continuing support ofMuseum operations. The Carson and Colorado Railway also raised funds for their organization.
Randy Babcock, author of SP Narrow Gauge 18 Steams Anew!, gave a presentation on the restoration of Engine #18 and its recent journey to Colorado. The book is available for purchase in the Museum bookstore.
Bookstore Items
The Museum bookstore has some wonderful new items.
The Boys In The Sky-Blue Pants
by
DorotbrClon.
The Museum has received several boxes of The Boys in the Sky-Blue Pants, by Dorothy Cragen (a former Museum Director), and the books are for sale. Long thought to be out of print, this book fills a singular niche in recounting U.S. military presence in the Owens Valley during and after the Civil War.

The Union Troops At Camp Independence Preserved Peace ln The Owen1 Valley-Nevada-Utah
1862-1877

The Museum also _has new T-shirts, each featuring one of four outstanding baskets from the Museum's collection ofNative American baskets from the area.
For the young ones, there is a wide collection of chlldren's stuffed animals, mostly local species.

And when you visit the Museum, don't forget to check out the sale shelf for great deals on last-chance items.

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Yes, I would like to sponsor a paving stone of the Eastern
California Museum "Founder Patio: in the amount of:
0 $125 Friend 0 $250 Sponsor
0 $500 Patron 0 $1,000 Founder
I would like the paver to be engraved with the following inscription:
Each paving stone is 8" x 8" and may contain 5 lines of text with up to 16 characters per line (spaces between words count as characters). Letters are 3/4 inch tall.
nlH E,\STfHN l.,\UFf)HNI;\ i\llJSF1JM HE,.',EUVE:-. 'OIE RICIIT Of' ;\Pl'IH.>\lr\1. FOR ,\LI. PHOl'OSFI) 11\'SCTHPTION:-.
DATE: _______________
DONOR NAME: _____________
ADDRESS _______________
PHONE: _______________
Email Address: _____________
Please return thisform with payment lo: Friends ofthe Eastern California Museum (FECM) Post OJ/ice Box 33 Independence, Cal1fornia 93526
For more information. please call (7601 878-02'i8
RECENT FOUNDER'S PATIO ORDERS
Don Becker: FOR THE GHOST AND GHOSTESS OF CERRO GORDO Marilyn Bracken: IN MEMORY OF JOHN A. ZUCCO OUR GRAMPS BRACKEN FAMILY DAHLBERG FAMILY Tamara Cohn: ANN CAPODANNO HER LAUGHTER AND LOVE LIT UP THE EASTERN SIERRA SKIES The Dupuis Family: IN MEMORY OF CARLA SIL VERN ALE GONE TOO SOON LOVED AND MISSED BY EVERYONE Roy and Jane Gillam: WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE LIVED IN THE EASTERN SIERRA Julie Metz: IN HONOR OF VIRGINIA MACLEOD, HIKING COMPANION EXTRAORDINAIRE Gary Miller & Ronald & Gayle Stock: IN LOVING MEMORY OF ANNIE &
GUS MARSILE, LOVE GARY, GAYLE, JILL & LORI

DONATIONS IN MEMORIAM
Jimmy Fukuhara: Donation In Memory of Eve Beckman Dana Williams: Donation in Memory of Ruthe Williams

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Join the Friends of the Eastern California Museum
The Friends of the Eastern California Museum (FECM) work to promote, preserve and protect the important co llections and memories that make up [nyo County' s only regional museum. The Friends raise funds and contribute time and work to help maintain and improve the museum's buildings and grounds. We support spec ial exhibits and arrange for speakers, field trips, and programs that inform and entertain Inyo County res idents and visitors who come from far and near. We have partnered with the Carson and Colorado Railway to display and promote the restored Slim Princess steam engine. We also provide funds to maintain the Museum's collections and enhance its permanent exhibits. Every March we hold our Annual Meeting, with a potluck dinner. silent auction and guest speaker. We invite you to join with us to support the Museum. FECM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
NAME ______________ _ ADDRESS ________________
CITY STATE ZIP CO DE PHON E
EMAIL ADDRESS
D YES, please send my newsletter and ann_ouncements via email MEMBERSHIP LEVELS:
0 INDIVIDUAL --$25 0 FAMILY --$40 0 CONTRIBUTING --$100
0 BUSfNESS/ORGANIZATION --$150 0 SUPPORTING --$150 0 PATRON --$250
0 SUSTAINING --$500 0 BENEFACTOR--$1 ,000 AND UP
Enclosed is my payment of$_ ___ ____ Make checks payable to FECM and mail to FECM, PO Box 33, Independence, CA 93526
DATE _________ The membership year begins on the date your dues are received.
D New Membership D Renewal Members receive a newsletter, email invitations to special events, programs and field trips, and a IO percent discount at the Museum Bookstore

FRIENDS OF THE EASTERN CALIFORNIA MUSEUM
P.O. BOX3 3
lNDEPENDENCE, CA 93526