Maria Carrillo

Postponed: Citrus Heritage Program on January 15

January 14 – Update: Due to the rapidly evolving health situation, this program has been postponed to a future date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

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Join us on Saturday, January 15 at 11am as Dr. Benjamin Jenkins presents a look at his recently published book California’s Citrus Heritage in the Assembly Room of A.K. Smiley Public Library.

An Archivist and Associate Professor of History at the University of La Verne, Dr. Jenkins will examine the impact of orange and lemon agriculture in California. Since its introduction to the Golden State in the 19^th century, citrus has been an indelible part of California’s landscape. Its arrival in the Inland Empire in the 1870s gave rise to the citrus industry which placed Redlands at the center of what became an orange empire. Featuring beautiful historic photographs (including from our very own Special Collections!) and interesting stories, you will not want to miss Dr. Jenkins program.

Copies of California’s Citrus Heritage will be available for purchase at the conclusion of the presentation. This program is free and open to the public and will be live streamed on Facebook Live. All in-person attendees are required to wear a face covering for the duration of their time in the Library.

For further information, contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org.

About the Author:

Dr. Benjamin Jenkins teaches United States and California history, directs the Public History Program, and manages the University Archives at University of La Verne. He received his Ph.D. in Public History at the University of California, Riverside, in 2016. His current research focuses on the interactions between citrus agriculture and railroad transportation in southern California. He has worked at Public History institutions such as the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and the Huntington Library. In addition to California’s Citrus Heritage, one of his most recent publications is The Digital Frontier: Archival Digitization and Modern Usage of the Human Record. He is currently completing a book manuscript titled Octopus’s Garden: Railroads, Citrus Agriculture, and the Emergence of Southern California.

North Redlands Interactive History Day

Film Series Returns!

After an 18-month hiatus, A.K. Smiley Public Library’s “Southern California in Film” series returns! Featuring films set in California, the series celebrates the state’s contributions to cinema. From literary adaptations to depictions of historical events, “Southern California in Film” brings together a group of films that showcase the state’s complex past.

Join us for the following film screenings:

September 18 – Stand and Deliver, 1988 (Rated PG)

October 16 – Speed, 1994 (Rated R)

November 20 – Boyz n the Hood, 1991 (Rated R)

December 18 – Die Hard, 1988 (Rated R)

January 15 – Palm Springs Weekend, 1963 (Not Rated) Postponed

Not all films are suitable for all audiences. Schedule subject to change.

Films will be screened at 2pm in the Contemporary Club. Screenings are free and open to the public. Registration will open one week prior to screening date. For more information or for assistance with registration, please contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org.

Shrine To Dedicate New Cannon

Join us on Saturday, August 14th at 10am as the Lincoln Memorial Shine dedicates its new cannon in Smiley Park! Thanks to the generosity of a local family, the Lincoln Shrine now stewards a reproduction Model 1857 Napoleon 12-pounder field gun dated 1864.

The dedication ceremony will include the participation of Civil War reenactors and will feature an artillery demonstration by the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery who will fire the inaugural shot. The Lincoln Shrine will open to visitors following the program.

Visitors of all ages are welcome. Admission is free. The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is located at 125 W. Vine Street in Smiley Park, directly south of A.K. Smiley Public Library. If you have any questions, call (909)798-7632 or email heritage@akspl.org. You won’t want to miss it!

Redlands Community History Initiative

The Division of Special Collections is excited to announce a new community-wide project! The Redlands Community History Initiative seeks to learn about and preserve the stories of the many communities that made Redlands the city it is today, especially those traditionally left out of the conversation.

Redlands has always been a diverse community. People from all walks of life with varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds made their way to Redlands and the East San Bernardino Valley to set down roots, contributing to the area’s growth and prosperity. From the citrus and dairy industries; to service in homes and businesses; and centers of community – everything from churches to barber shops, all Redlanders left their mark on the city.

The stories of beloved historical figures like Israel Beal, who was born into slavery and made his way west after the Civil War; José Rivera, the city’s first law enforcement officer; and Lulu Nash, a popular housekeeper and caterer, have been well-documented, but what of the thousands of others who called Redlands home? What were their names? Why did they choose Redlands?

You can contribute to the Redlands Community History Initiative by sharing photos, letters, diaries, receipts, artifacts, and oral histories, all of which add to the understanding of the many people who built and sustained Redlands over the years. Whatever was important to you and your family is important for history!

Sharing is easy! You can upload images of photographs and other materials directly to the online submission portal, by email to heritage@akspl.org, or in person with an appointment. Contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 to learn how the Library can help you preserve your family’s legacy in the Redlands area.