Pasadena didn't even exist in 1861, so how could it have played a part in the Civil War? What three Civil War generals had close ties to Pasadena? How was the movie "The Right Stuff" related to both Pasadena and the Civil War? And why is Fair Oaks Avenue in the wrong place? Those and several other questions will be answered in an examination of the people who lived in this area before, during and after the Civil War, along with their wartime careers.

From pre-war adventurers to post-war politicians and businessmen, California history provides a host of interesting characters, and a surprising number of them found the Pasadena area to be a nice place to live and work.

This month's speaker is our own Round Table president, Nick Smith. He will provide an overview of the people who influenced the development of the Pasadena area, from its 1850s era, as the Rancho San Pasqual, up through the election Woodrow Wilson and beyond, all involving people from your history books (and a few who got left out) who lived in the Pasadena area.

Nick is a technical specialist at the Pasadena Public Library, where his job includes statistical analysis and web design, as well as working with the public at the circulation desk. With a varied background, he has worked in the bookstore field, performed as a storyteller, worked on a radio show on KPFK, and been editor/art director for a fantasy magazine.

Nick's interest in the Civil War began in his youth, during the Centennial. By high school, one of his focuses was on war games about the Civil War. While he has done professional war game designs, he has never done one for the Civil War. Nick attended Caltech in Pasadena, and has been a member of our Round Table for over 17 years.

Join us as we learn more about Pasadena's local Civil War connections.

Janet Whaley
Program Chair

 

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