The Lanterman House Museum and Archive invites any interested community member to consider becoming a volunteer at La Cañada’s historic house museum, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2015. The Lanterman House is a community resource that offers public tours and school programs from September through July. The Lanterman House is also an archive and houses most of the historical material associated with the city of La Cañada, the Lanterman family, and the larger Crescenta Valley.

Volunteers are always needed and community members are invited to consider becoming a docent and learn the story of the Lantermans and their home and share it with visitors. Docents are trained in local history and touring techniques, and are the public face of the museum. The historic home is also in need of flower arrangers who will change the floral displays each week to reflect the change in seasons.

Lanterman House houses an ever-expanding archive of material associated with the family and the history of the valley. Currently, volunteers are transcribing letters sent home from exotic locales by Frank Lanterman during his career as a theater organist, and organizing his political papers from a 28-year career. Local historical photographs, films, and documents are being inventoried and digitized for ease of research.  All collections are available for research during regular hours, and research requests are fielded from around the U.S. Assistance is needed and the Lanterman House consulting archivist will train volunteers.

Anyone interested in pursuing these volunteer opportunities can contact contact Melissa Patton, Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation director, at (818) 790 -1421, or mpatton.lanterman@gmail.com, for more information. Individualized training and time commitments can be arranged.