On Saturday, March 14, at 2:30pm, the Colton Area Museum Association (CAMA) guest speaker program will feature UCR Public History Graduate Student, Audrey Maier. Born in San Bernardino, Ms. Maier graduated with a B.A. in Art History from University of California, San Diego and a M.A. in Public History, from the University of California, Riverside. Currently, Ms. Maier is a Ph.D. candidate in Public History at the University of California, Riverside, and will discuss her research on women’s labor in the citrus industry.
Since much of the citrus packing house labor was performed by women, this presentation will focus on the lives and experiences of these women from the 1980’s to today. Ms. Maier will examine not just how these women worked, but also how they built homes and communities in Southern California.
Ms. Maier writes, “The complex social and political landscape that developed in Southern California in the 20th century drives my historical interests. As a historian, I seek to unpack the relationships between elaborate festivities, pervasive racism, booming industry, and titillating fantasy that continue to shape Southern California. As a public historian, I use local history as an entry point to engage Californians in conversations about their community's history and the issues they face today. Overall, my professional aim as an academic historian and public historian is to balance working with local marginalized communities, while also situating these local events within larger national and international historical contexts.”
Community residents and visitors alike are invited to attend this exciting event on Saturday, March 14, at 2:30pm, in the downstairs CAMA assembly room. The Colton Area Museum Association offers an interesting slate of guest speakers throughout the year. They represent a wide variety of perspectives and experiences that are not only informative, but inspirational for those who want to know more about Colton’s History – past, present, and future.
The CAMA will also be open that day, March 14, 11:00am – 2:00pm providing the opportunity to see the many outstanding displays of Colton history. The CAMA address is 380 N. La Cadena in Colton. Regular CAMA hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00pm-4:00pm, and on Saturdays 11:00am-2:00pm.
For more information about the museum and it programs, contact the museum at 824-8814, or Dr. G at 213-3730