Draft:Palm Springs Historical Society

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Palm Springs Historical Society
Formation1955
FounderMelba Berry Bennett
TypeNonprofit
Legal status501(c)(3)
HeadquartersVillage Green Heritage Center, Palm Springs, California
Region served
Palm Springs and Coachella Valley, California
President
Tracy Conrad
WebsiteOfficial Website

The Palm Springs Historical Society (PSHS) is a nonprofit organization in Palm Springs, California, with a mandate to preserve and share the history of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Founded in 1955, the Society manages a collection of historic buildings, archives, and museums, and operates educational programs, including walking tours and public exhibits.[1]

History

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PSHS was established in 1955 by Melba Berry Bennett,[1] a local author and historian[2] who urged the Palm Springs City Council and trustees of the Welwood Murray Memorial Library to create a permanent historical organization.[2][3][4] Bennett began recording oral histories of early settlers, including Nellie Coffman and Cornelia White, which became part of the Society’s archives.[5][6]

In 1961, the Society took responsibility for two of Palm Springs’ oldest surviving buildings, the Cornelia White House[7] and the McCallum Adobe,[8] which were restored and converted into public museums.

PSHS has oversight for a wide range of artifacts and maintains an extensive photographic archive.[9] In 2015, its collections were transferred to a climate-controlled facility in the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, which was renovated to house the Society's Research Center.[10][11]

In 2009, Palm Springs was designated a Preserve America Community, by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, partly as a result of the efforts of the PSHS.[12]

Museums and Archives

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The Palm Springs Historical Society manages several historic sites and cultural institutions in downtown Palm Springs:

  • McCallum Adobe (1884) – The oldest surviving building in Palm Springs, built by settler John G. McCallum, now a museum interpreting early desert life.[13][14]
  • Cornelia White House (1893) – A pioneer-era wooden house constructed from railroad ties, located next to the McCallum Adobe at the Village Green.[7][15]
  • Ruddy’s General Store Museum – A Depression-era general store recreation with more than 6,000 original unused products and fixtures collected by James Ruddy.[16]
  • The Oasis (Trini Lopez Exhibit) – An exhibit launched in 2025 highlighting the life and career of musician Trini Lopez.[17]
  • Welwood Murray Memorial Library (Archives) – Home to PSHS' Research Center, it contains photographs, maps, oral histories, and documents available to researchers.[10]

Programs and Outreach

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PSHS hosts guided walking and bike tours of Palm Springs neighborhoods and landmarks, which are led by volunteer docents during the cooler months of the year.[18][19] Tours highlight subjects such as celebrity homes, mid-century modern architecture, and historic buildings, as well as special site visits including the Welwood Murray Cemetery.[18][20]

Since 2019, the Society has partnered with The Desert Sun to publish the weekly history column “Intriguing Stories,” written by local historians including Society president Tracy Conrad.[21]

Funding and Support

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In 2024, the Inland Empire Community Foundation announced a $4.5 million endowment gift from the estate of philanthropist Jane Lykken Hoff to support several local nonprofits, including PSHS.[22][23] The endowment was established to provide ongoing funding for the benefactors in perpetuity.[22]

Relationship to Other Local Preservation Organizations

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Palm Springs has several other organizations involved in the city's preservation efforts. The city’s Historic Site Preservation Board was created in 1981 to review and recommend sites and districts for Class 1 and Class 2 historic designations.[24] The Palm Springs Modern Committee was founded in 1999 as a nonprofit focused on mid-century modern architecture.[25] The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation was established in 1997, focused on the preservation of the region’s historic architecture and cultural resources.[26] Modernism Week is an independent nonprofit festival devoted to mid-century design and architecture,[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b Conrad, Tracy (2025-03-21). "Endowment fund assures Palm Springs Historical Society's impact in Palm Springs area". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  2. ^ a b Conrad, Tracy. "Frank and Melba Bennett's 'different and useful' contributions to life in Palm Springs". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  3. ^ Kaufman, David (2018-10-05). "Explore desert's rich history with a Historical Society walking tour". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  4. ^ Baumer, Julie (1968-09-16). "Melba Bennett, 'Grand Dame,' Dies of Cancer". Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  5. ^ "Eden: Journal of the California Garden and Landscape Society" (PDF). California Garden and Landscape Society. pp. 13–15. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  6. ^ "The Women Who Built This City". City of Palm Springs. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  7. ^ a b Niemann, Greg (2024-02-14). "CV History: Carl Lykken Was the Pioneer Who Installed Palm Springs' First Telephone at His Store". Coachella Valley Independent. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  8. ^ Foster, Emily Chavous (2022-09-28). "McCallum Adobe is Oldest Building Still Standing in Palm Springs". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  9. ^ "Palm Springs, California | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation". www.achp.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  10. ^ a b Hopwood, Rob. "Welwood Murray library withstanding the test of time". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  11. ^ Kremer, Lydia (2015-03-13). "Welwood Murray Memorial Library Pays Homage to the Past, Takes on 21st Century Look". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  12. ^ "Palm Springs, California | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation". www.achp.gov. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  13. ^ Kleinshmidt, Janice (2023-02-28). "The People Who Made Palm Springs". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  14. ^ Brown, Renee (2016-12-01). "McCallum family is first to plant roots in Palm Springs". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  15. ^ Niemann, Greg (2023-07-09). "CV History: The Adventurous White Sisters Made Their Mark on Early Palm Springs". Coachella Valley Independent. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  16. ^ Bond, Paul (2024-10-28). "Ruddy's General Store Museum reopens in Palm Springs". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  17. ^ Conrad, Tracy (2025-01-17). "Musician Trini Lopez featured in new Palm Springs exhibit". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  18. ^ a b Kleinschmidt, Janice (2025-02-05). "See Homes on a Bike Tour With Palm Springs Historical Society". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  19. ^ Brown, Renee. "Explore the Coachella Valley's rich history on a historical society walking tour". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  20. ^ Kaufman, David (2018-10-05). "Explore desert's rich history with a Historical Society walking tour". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  21. ^ Conrad, Tracy (2019-06-20). "Intriguing Stories: Palm Springs history comes alive in new Desert Sun series". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  22. ^ a b Aldern, Laurie (2024-10-17). "Jane Lykken Hoff Leaves $4.5M to Support Coachella Valley Nonprofits". IECF. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  23. ^ Conrad, Tracy (2024-12-01). "Late Palm Springs philanthropist donates $4.5 million to local nonprofit organizations". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  24. ^ "Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB)". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  25. ^ "Palm Springs Modern Committee". Desert Charities. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  26. ^ "Checking Browser". www.desertcharities.com. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  27. ^ "Modernism Week Attendance Increases by 20% - 152,000 Attendees Participated". DCN News. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2025-08-27.