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Donors

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The Huntington recognizes the contribution of every one of its donors. Here, they share their special stories of how The Huntington touches their lives and inspires them to support the institution.

A couple pose in a traditional Japanese home with a large doorway that opens into a garden.

Appreciation for the Arts and Nature

For Yuko Uyesugi, The Huntington is more than a destination; it has been a home for reflection, learning, and connection. Each visit has renewed her commitment to share the beauty of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and the tranquility of the gardens.

Two people pose near an outdoor party at night.

Collectors’ Councils Expand Huntington’s Collections

Each year the Art and Library Collectors’ Councils donate funds to help The Huntington acquire new objects to expand its collections. Alexandra Patsavas Rosenfeld, chair of the LCC, and Kirsten Hansen, chair of the ACC, are leading the way.

Three people stand together smiling, holding two tiles.

Gift of Friendship: Doyle Lane’s Tiles at The Huntington

For many years the Sanchez family had two remarkable tiles that were gifts from noted California ceramist Doyle Lane, who experimented with glazes and glazing techniques. And now these stunning tiles are coming to The Huntington.

A smiling person in a pink floral shirt stands near water in a green garden.

A Place of Inspiration and Discovery

Susan Napier, a member of The Huntington’s Society of Fellows, describes how the institution’s mission aligns with her values, and shares her love of the gardens, collections, and programs. 

Three people look at an open book in a library.

Donors Fund Acquisition of Momentous Book

Lee and John Devereux joined 19 other donors to fund the purchase of a rare medical publication for The Huntington: a 1543 first edition of De humani corporis fabrica, which revolutionized the field of anatomy.

Two people in dark clothing smile at the camera.

Floral Reunion: Nancy and Charlie Munger Orchids

A moniker recently bestowed on an exceptional plant represents the sweet and serendipitous reunion of two beloved Huntington benefactors. Earlier this year, The Huntington named an orchid hybrid for Charlie Munger, whose wife Nancy was similarly honored after she passed away.

Two parents stand with their young children in a garden.

Members Lily Bu and Jan-Michael Medina

Lily Bu and Jan-Michael Medina don’t live far from The Huntington now, but when they were undergraduates at UCLA, they’d often make the drive from Westwood to visit. “The Huntington made such a positive impression on us back then,” Medina says.

Two people stand near a table under an umbrella on a green lawn.

Members Mitchell Barnhart and Amado Sierras

Mitchell Barnhart and Amado Sierras lived in Pasadena for 35 years before moving north to Pebble Beach. Despite the distance, they remain loyal Members. “What makes The Huntington so special is its everyday accessibility,” Barnhart says.

A smiling couple stands in a green garden.

Members Jack Flemming and Julia Heins

Jack Flemming and Julia Heins became Sustaining Members in 2022. “In many ways, The Huntington has served as a backdrop to our relationship,” Flemming says. They spent the early months of their relationship at The Huntington, walking around and getting to know each other.

A person signs a document at an office table.

Philip D. Nathanson Endows Curator of Photography

Early in 2024, Philip D. Nathanson endowed The Huntington’s curator of photography position. “I donated because The Huntington has enriched my life,” Nathanson says. “It was time to give back.” 

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Two people stand next to a tree with a thin trunk.

Devoted to the Desert Garden

Bernie and Miyako Storch were wild about The Huntington’s Desert Collections. Avid horticulturists and rare fruit growers, the Santa Barbara couple planned their frequent visits to The Huntington around Los Angeles meetings of botanical interest groups in which they were members.

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Two people pose next to an art piece on a wall.

Dijkstras and The Huntington: A Wonderful Romance

Over their 16 years of involvement with The Huntington, San Diego collectors Sandra and Bram Dijkstra have donated several key artworks that have greatly strengthened The Huntington’s American art holdings. 

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A group of people pose for the camera in front of a building.

Forging Relationships and Paving New Paths

Over the years, Ed and Carol Wong have worn many hats: executives, parents, grandparents, and benefactors. And now, they have proudly added another title to their résumé: docents. 

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A person poses for the camera in front of shelves of books and boxes.

A Blueprint for Scholarly Access

Libby Motika’s inspiration to create The Elizabeth B. Motika Fellowship in Architectural History was fueled by various factors: her extensive experience as a journalist writing about architecture, her time spent residing in the architecturally rich city of Chicago, and her familiarity with The Huntington’s architectural archives. 

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A family of four poses for the camera in a garden.

A Love for Lifelong Learning

Every gift to The Huntington makes a difference, enabling individuals to connect with the humanities, nature, and one another. Shaudi and Sean Fulp, members of The Huntington’s Society of Fellows and Library Collectors’ Council, share their love of the institution’s awe-inspiring gardens, collections, and programs, and how The Huntington’s mission aligns with their values. 

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A person sits in a wooden pavilion with a stream in the background.

Cherol Nellon

Cherol Nellon, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, finds tranquility and beauty tucked away in The Huntington’s gardens. At the top of her “secret menu” list is the Pavilion of Washing Away Thoughts, which is nestled between the Chinese and Japanese gardens. “When you’re sitting in the pavilion, it is as if you have been transported into another time,” Nellon says. “The entire hustle-and-bustle world seems to fall away, and it just doesn’t get any better than that.” 

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A family sits on a concrete bench in a garden, smiling for the camera.

Mary and Chris Cole

Mary and Chris Cole became Sustaining Members in 2013 and increased their Membership level to Contributor soon thereafter. Mary and Chris both grew up in the area and visited The Huntington many times as kids, so they wanted to carry on that tradition with their two children, Beatrice and Charlie. 

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Two people smile at the camera.

Cultivating an Abundant Future

The Huntington’s numerous education programs interpret the collections and promote lifelong learning to a broad audience. Now, with the development of the Experiential and Teaching Gardens, The Huntington has vital new tools with which to cultivate increased understanding around themes of sustainability.

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A couple stand in front of a partially-built Japanese house.

Sustained by Tradition

Moving a 320-year-old, 3,000-square-foot house some 6,000 miles is no small feat, but Yohko and Akira Yokoi entrusted the massive undertaking to The Huntington. Through the couple’s donation of their ancestral home, generations of visitors will have insights into Japanese culture and history, as well as traditional architectural, agricultural, and sustainability practices.

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A couple dressed in blue stands among a grove of bamboo and ferns.

Jeane & Harlan Ward

Jeane and Harlan Ward have been coming to The Huntington since the 1980s, and talk about some of their favorite historic and contemporary exhibitions.

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June and Simon Li stand overlooking the Chinese Garden.

A Growing Commitment

June and Simon Li have been crucial participants in the development of the Chinese Garden and have remained active contributors at The Huntington.

A family rests in the grass on a sunny day in a Japanese style garden.

Dr. Kimlin Ashing

Dr. Ashing, a long-time Member, shares the health benefits of visiting The Huntington with her multigenerational family.

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A child reaches for mist in the Children's Garden.

Jennifer Moncayo-Hida and Andrew Hida

Parent members find joy in seeing The Huntington gardens through their child’s eyes.

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Two people stand in a library.

Love of Learning

Scholarly couple, Patricia and Robert Smith, grew their love in the library and gave back with generosity in their legacy.

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Three people stand at the entrance to the Desert Garden.

Forging New Paths

Former chair of the Huntington’s Botanical Gardens Committee helped develop a master plan to enhance the Desert Garden, one of the most notable and iconic landscapes at The Huntington.

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Two people stand on either side of a tall red rose plant.

Lynn LaManna

A childhood visit has turned into 30 years of membership and a tradition for Lynne LaManna’s whole family.

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Two people look down at an architectural drawing set on a table.

Blueprint for Los Angeles

Many of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks—from Memorial Coliseum and City Hall to Bullocks Wilshire and Union Station—were designed by visionary and self-taught architect John Parkinson. 

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Two people stand in front of an electric passenger vehicle that's wrapped in a koi-inspired design.

An Artful Collaboration

At The Huntington, objects that might be seen as purely functional can still be a source of inspiration and engagement.

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Two people smile at the camera in front of a field of pink and white flowers.

Jacqueline Tran

Jacqueline Tran, a long-time member, found solace at The Huntington after the passing of her parents and acknowledges the gardens’ ability to heal.

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A large group photo of 40 or so volunteers.

Volunteers Help Make Plant Sale a Success!

Over 5,000 plant-lovers attended, raising $250,000 for our Botanical Division. We want to express our gratitude to all of the volunteers and shoppers who made this year’s Spring Plant Sale a huge success. More than 250 volunteers helped as porters, prepared the plants, and answered questions. We couldn’t have done it without their help!

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Three people inside an art gallery with the Kehinde Wiley painting A Portrait of a Young Gentleman.

Living Artists at The Huntington

From Kehinde Wiley’s A Portrait of a Young Gentleman to the “Borderlands” exhibition featuring works by Sandy Rodriguez and Enrique Martínez Celaya, The Huntington’s efforts to include living artists is far-reaching, putting its historic collection in conversation with contemporary art.

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Woman by tree

Denise Barnes

Denise Barnes considers The Huntington a gem. Her husband is partial to the Art Museum, while her son loves the Herb Garden. Daughter Caroline (pictured) has many favorites but is particularly fascinated with the waterfalls and bridges in the Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden.

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family sitting in front of fountain

The Society of Fellows: In Good Company

“Members of the Society of Fellows are among the most devoted and engaged members of The Huntington community,” says Pamela Hearn, director of the Society of Fellows. This premier group of philanthropists generates essential support for maintaining the library, art, and botanical collections.

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Jay T. Last

An Enduring Legacy: Jay T. Last

Jay T. Last was as committed to the arts and humanities as he was to science and technology. His dedication to the latter led him to become one of the fathers of Silicon Valley and the founder of the pioneering company Fairchild Semiconductor, which paved the way for the tech industry as we know it today.

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Two women under Chinese lanterns.

More than Memories

Li Wei Yang, The Huntington’s curator of Pacific Rim collections, remembers being astounded by the historical materials amassed and organized by Leslee See Leong, who had invited him to her home to view her family’s papers. 

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four couples

Cherished Traditions: The Rose Garden Tea Room

The Rose Garden Tea Room has a special place in the hearts of countless Huntington visitors, who relish memories of celebrations there or the simple joy of capping a visit to the grounds with the tradition of English tea service. The beloved destination—built in 1911 and which originally served as Henry E. Huntington’s billiard room and bowling alley—recently underwent a major renovation.

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Two people look at a tapestry

Weaving Connections

When Austin Kim, a Pomona College student studying linguistics, agreed to participate in The Huntington’s Fiber Arts Month, he was looking forward to meeting other fiber artists.

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Donor DeShawn Wynn

DeShawn Wynn

DeShawn Wynn has been an Affiliate Member since 2019. Amid her fast-paced and busy schedule as the founder and owner of her event management company, DeShawn finds much needed moments of Zen at The Huntington. 

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Donors Jasmin and Eric Levander

Jasmin and Eric Levander

Jasmin and Eric Levander discuss their love of The Huntington’s awe-inspiring gardens, collections, and programs, and how the institution’s mission aligns with their values. 

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Donors Jerry Kessler and Susan Anderson

Jerry Kessler and Susan Anderson

An award-winning Cymbidium Pauwelsiii ‘Kessander’ orchid spanning 7 feet in diameter and 8 feet in height when in bloom, now proudly sits in The Huntington’s orchid collections, thanks to a generous donation from Jerry Kessler and Susan Anderson.

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Donor Andrew Schmoller

Andrew Schmoller

For long-standing member Andrew Schmoller, the restoration of the grand Huntington flagpole was the perfect opportunity to show his support for The Huntington. 

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Donors Mercy and Howard Steenwyk

Mercy and Howard Steenwyk

Mercy and Howard Steenwyk visit The Huntington weekly with their 2-year-old granddaughter, Liberty. 

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Donor Ron Wardwell

Ron Wardwell

After more than four decades at The Huntington—first as a security officer and then, after retirement, as a volunteer—Ron Wardwell made the generous decision to include The Huntington in his estate plans. 

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Donors Amanda Daflos and Randy Tan

Amanda Daflos and Randy Tan

For Amanda, who was deeply engaged in Los Angeles’ response to the pandemic, visiting the gardens reminded her that life outside her work and the pandemic still existed.

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Donors Ron and Barbara Light

Barbara and Ron Light

Ron, who can be seen pruning roses on Thursdays in the Rose Garden, has been a Huntington volunteer for more than 12 years. Barbara often accompanies Ron in the mornings when he’s volunteering. 

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Shirley and Juanda Scoggins

Shirley and Juanda Scoggins

Sisters Shirley and Juanda Scoggins have been Supporting Members since 2017 and share what they find special about The Huntington.

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Carolyn Chu

Carolyn Chu

Huntington Member Carolyn Chu shares how she finds inspiration at The Huntington.

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Claire and Brian Goldsmith

Claire and Brian Goldsmith

Claire and Brian Goldsmith share what they find special about The Huntington after they joined in 2021 as Patron Members.

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Sarah and PJ Joshi

Sarah and PJ Joshi have been Supporting Members since 2009 and share what they find special about The Huntington.

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Mr. and Mrs. Chen in front of the Hunting Successors Wall

Celebrating the Successors

On May 20, 2021, Successor donors had an opportunity to view the newly updated Successors Donor Wall and stroll the gardens after hours.

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Alma and Mark Banuelos

Alma and Mark Banuelos

Alma and Mark Banuelos discuss their love of the institution’s awe-inspiring collections, programs, and gardens and how The Huntington’s mission aligns with their values.

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Dr. W. Bruce Fye reading

Close to the Heart

After 50 years of collecting, Dr. W. Bruce Fye has donated his cardiology library of more than 2,700 books and rich collection of scarce secondary literature on the history of cardiology to The Huntington.

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Joy and Matthew Lin

Joy and Matthew Lin

Joy and Matthew Lin, longtime residents of San Marino, provided a gift of $3 million for the Flowery Brush Studio, a complex of two buildings for the display of Chinese art.

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Jerry and Terri Kohl

Terri and Jerry Kohl

Local philanthropists and Huntington neighbors Terri and Jerry Kohl provide a generous gift of $2 million for the Rose Garden Tea Room renovation project.

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Ricki and Joel Robinson

Ricki and Joel Robinson

Accommodations for nursing mothers and caregivers made possible by generous funding from Ricki and Joel Robinson, members of the Society of Fellows.

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toshi mosher

Toshie Mosher

A new rose hybrid was given its name by donor Toshie Mosher, who purchased the naming rights through a generous donation to The Huntington’s “Sharing the Love” fundraising campaign.

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Kim and Tony Cookson

Kim and Tony Cookson

Longtime member Tony Cookson tells of his unforgettable Huntington memories and what inspires him to donate.

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Barbara Motin

Barbara Motin

For Barbara Motin, it was a guest pass that opened her eyes and heart to The Huntington.

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Frank and Toshie Mosher

Frank and Toshie Mosher

Frank and Toshie Mosher create an endowment to enhance cultural programming in the Japanese Garden.

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Multiple works by Evelyn Waugh

Evelyn Waugh, Revisited

In December 2013, The Huntington acquired an extensive collection of rare books and manuscripts by Evelyn Waugh (1903–1966).

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Sonia and Monica Narang

Sonia and Monica Narang

Sisters Sonia and Monica Narang both travel the world for their careers, but they consider The Huntington their “home away from home.”

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June and Simon Li

June and Simon Li

A $2 million gift from June and Simon Li of Pasadena will make possible the Star Gazing Tower, a new pavilion perched atop a ridge along the southwest side of the garden.

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Todd Rugee and his sister at The Huntington

Todd Rugee

Longtime member Todd Rugee recounts how his childhood visits to The Huntington with his “Grammy” fostered a lifelong love of the institution and even set him on his career path.

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Stan Shayer and Jeffrey Romano

Stan Shayer and Jeffrey Romano

Longtime members Stan Shayer and Jeffrey Romano discuss their love of the institution’s awe-inspiring collections, programs, and gardens, and how their values align with the institution’s mission.

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Mark H.L. Chen and Chun-Mei Chen

Mark H.L. Chen and Chun-Mei Chen

More than two decades ago, Mark Chen was introduced to Jim Folsom, the Marge and Sherm Telleen/Marion and Earle Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens. Since that meeting, a friendship has bloomed—and a garden has been built.

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Leslee See Leong

See Leong Papers: A Chinese American Family's History

This spring, The Huntington acquired the papers of Gilbert, Florence, and Leslee See Leong, members of two of the earliest and most prominent Chinese American families in Los Angeles: the Leong and See families.

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Sherm and Marge Telleen

Capstone Gift Celebrates Decades of Involvement

Sherm and Marge Telleen honors Jim Folsom’s years of service and many accomplishments by providing a generous gift.

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Brody family

Brody Botanical Center Dedicated

The Huntington formally dedicated the Frances Lasker Brody Botanical Center in October 2009.

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Ken and Erika Riley meet with Cosima Gillhammer

Supporting Medieval Scholarship

Erika and Ken Riley share a special interest in medieval history.

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