Carla Hayden and Huntington President Karen Lawrence

Office of the President

Welcome

July 21, 2023 - Opening Our Doors More Widely

President Karen Lawrence
President Karen Lawrence

One Sunday in June, while reading the LA Times, I came across an op-ed titled “How Los Angeles Was Sold to the World as a Paradise,” by Larry Gordon, a former staff writer for the paper. In it, Gordon thanked the Huntington Library for providing him with “access to its formidable rare book collection.” Armed with this access, he was able to research the origins of the California dream in 19th-century guidebooks to LA.

My chance discovery of Gordon’s acknowledgment to The Huntington is relevant to recent developments in our Library’s access policy, which allows those with a bona fide research purpose to reference our collections even if their work lies outside academia. As Sandra Brooke Gordon (no relation), our Avery Director of the Library, recently wrote in an open letter to our more than 2,100 current “Readers,” as we refer to them, research has always been at the heart of The Huntington’s mission. And when the Library reopened to researchers post-pandemic, we broadened our Reader access policy so that a greater range of individuals could study our materials.

researcher in the reading room
Reader in the Ahmanson Reading Room of the Munger Research Center.

Rather than emphasize Readers’ educational credentials and letters of reference, we shifted our focus to the collections themselves and whether they would be suitable for the project proposed by a prospective Reader. We strive to provide researchers with access to the materials they require whenever we can, balancing that goal with a duty of care for the materials’ long-term preservation, donor restrictions, and concerns regarding privacy and intellectual property. Those like Larry Gordon who are over 18 and have a justified need to use our collections can now gain access for their research without unnecessary hurdles. And although we charge admission to visit The Huntington’s expansive gardens and galleries, the rare materials in our research library continue to be provided to Readers for free. As Sandy noted, these changes, along with our increased virtual services, have greatly expanded our readership. Library staff members report that they are now responding to 40% more reference queries than in the recent past, as well as providing substantially more virtual document consultations. We offer virtual access to library materials for those unable to travel to The Huntington and when the materials are so fragile that they are restricted to being handled only by special collections librarians.

As a former president of a liberal arts college and now someone with the honor of serving as president of one of the premier cultural institutions in the world, I understand the wisdom of demonstrating that a change reinforces, rather than subverts, past institutional principles. So, I was particularly intrigued when the chair of our Board of Trustees, Greg Pieschala, pointed out to me that our revised, less stringent academic requirements for Readers are actually more, rather than less, consistent with the research goals expressed in our historical documents. The 1926 “supplemental trust indenture” to Henry E. Huntington’s original 1919 trust document both reinforces the original indenture’s goal—“the Advancement of learning, the arts and sciences,” and the promotion of “the public welfare”—but also includes the following purpose: “to render the books, manuscripts, and other contents available, under suitable regulations and restrictions … to scholars and other persons engaged in research or creative work in history, literature, art, science, and kindred subjects, and to all persons whose qualifications meet the requirements of such rules and regulations.” It is this same document that specifically provides for “Research Associates and Fellows, consisting of scholars of exceptional ability engaged in special study and research in such subjects.”

Funding research for “scholars of exceptional ability” is clearly regarded as consistent with the broader access to our rare materials accorded to those “engaged in research or creative work.” These goals are not antithetical; on the contrary, they mutually reinforce the crucial research and educational mission of The Huntington. In further support of this central mission, I am delighted to share that we have recently secured funding to build housing for researchers awarded residential fellowships to work on our collections. Pending a successful project review from local agencies, this incredibly generous gift will fulfill a previously elusive goal for The Huntington. As we further hone our housing plans, I look forward to providing more details on this exciting development.

At a time when book banning has become common in states across the country, The Huntington and other research libraries continue to play a crucial role in providing greater access to those with a research purpose and in demonstrating the relevance of that research to wider educational and public benefit. At The Huntington, we balance access and stewardship of the materials under our care every day. Following the protracted global health crisis that precipitated widespread social isolation, we are especially dedicated to opening our real and virtual doors more widely.

Karen R. Lawrence, President


An audience watches two people have a conversation on a stage, where a large graphic says, “Why It Matters.”

Highlights from Why It Matters: Darren Walker in Conversation with Karen R. Lawrence

On May 31, 2023, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker joined Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence in a conversation about the shifting landscape of charitable giving, the role of art in the pursuit of social justice, and the importance of hope to civic engagement.  

guest speakers on stage

Highlights from Stories We Tell: Founders’ Day At The Huntington 2023

In honor of Founders’ Day 2023, The Huntington and The Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West presented a mix of serious and quirky stories—inspired by Eve Babitz’s archive, The Huntington’s Montezuma cypress, portraits by Laura Aguilar, the Horatio Nelson Rust collection, and glass plate photographs of 1890s and 1900s Chinatown—demonstrating the broad range of The Huntington’s collections and the rich history of the institution’s location in the San Gabriel Valley.

Billie Tsien and Erin Chase

The Soul of a Building: In the Archives with Billie Tsien

Architect Billie Tsien joins Erin Chase, assistant curator of architecture at The Huntington, for a behind-the-scenes visit to see some of the architectural materials in the library archives. This video was produced as part of the Why It Matters program, sponsored by the Office of the President.

Karen R. Lawrence and Billie Tsien in conversation on a stage.

Why It Matters: Billie Tsien in Conversation with Karen R. Lawrence

Nov. 7, 2022 - Architect and educator Billie Tsien joins Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence to discuss how the built environment shapes individual and communal experiences, the interplay between design and purpose, and how architecture can empower future generations. Read Making a Better World through Architecture, or watch the recorded event.

Huntington president Karen R. Lawrence in front of Octavia E. Butler image

Octavia E. Butler inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame

Hear President Karen R. Lawrence speak about Butler's literary collection at The Huntington in this clip from the recorded ceremony. Additional inductees honored this year include Judy Chicago, Rebecca Halstead, Joy Harjo, Emily Howland, Katherine Johnson, Indra Nooyi, and Michelle Obama. View the full program.

closeup of book page

President Karen Lawrence Joins U22 The Centenary Ulysses Podcast

In the first episode of U22 The Centenary Ulysses Podcast, we talk about how Ulysses begins. We’re joined by Karen Lawrence, President of the Huntington Library, John Higgins of the University of Cape Town, and Jamie Salomon, leader of the Bloomsday Ulysses Reading Group for the Montreal Literary Festival. We hear their thoughts on everything from style to playing amateur archeologists.

The Huntington Senior Staff

President Karen Lawrence (center) with The Huntington's senior leadership team. (L-R): Susan Turner-Lowe, Heather Hart, Janet Alberti, Sandra Brooke Gordon, Randy Shulman, Nicole Cavender, Elee Wood, Thomas Polansky, Christina Nielsen, Misty Bennett, Susan Juster.

President Karen Lawrence (far right) with participants in Octavia Butler’s Parables: A Music Talk with Toshi Reagon. (L-R): Sophie Kim, Phil Allen, Shelley De Leon, Juliette Jones, Toshi Reagon, Claudia L. Peña, Melodie Yashar, and Tamisha A. Tyler.

President Karen Lawrence (far right) with participants in Octavia Butler's Parables: A Music Talk with Toshi Reagon. (L-R): Sophie Kim, Phil Allen, Shelley De Leon, Juliette Jones, Toshi Reagon, Claudia L. Peña, Melodie Yashar, and Tamisha A. Tyler.

Huntington staff celebrating The Huntington’s Centennial in August 2019

Huntington staff celebrating The Huntington's Centennial in August 2019.

President Karen Lawrence (center left) with The Huntington's Board of Trustees: (L-R) Wendy Munger, J. Mario Molina, M.D., Gregory A. Pieschala (Chair), Andrew F. Barth, Mei-Lee Ney, Simon K.C. Li, Christine W. Bender

President Karen Lawrence (center left) with The Huntington's Board of Trustees: (L-R) Wendy Munger, J. Mario Molina, M.D., Gregory A. Pieschala (Chair), Andrew F. Barth, Mei-Lee Ney, Simon K.C. Li, Christine W. Bender.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about the importance of libraries and archives.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about the importance of libraries and archives.

The Huntington's 2020 Rose Parade® Float on the theme of "Cultivating Curiosity," winner of the Golden State Award

The Huntington's 2020 Rose Parade® Float on the theme of "Cultivating Curiosity," winner of the Golden State Award.

President Karen Lawrence and Dr. Peter Lawrence with Chinese Cultural Consul Wang and Consul Gu and performers at The Huntington's 2019 Chinese New Year Festival

President Karen Lawrence and Dr. Peter Lawrence with Chinese Cultural Consul Wang and Consul Gu and performers at The Huntington's 2019 Chinese New Year Festival.

	Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and Huntington Governor Robert C. Davidson Jr. with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about why museums and collecting institutions matter.

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and Huntington Governor Robert C. Davidson Jr. with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about why museums and collecting institutions matter.

Architect Billie Tsien with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about architecture and community

​​​​​Architect Billie Tsien with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about architecture and community.