This past December Alan celebrated his tenth anniversary as a volunteer at the Homestead Museum. With 575 hours to his credit, Alan consistently makes himself available for festivals and other activities. An avid collector of silent films, it is no surprise that his favorite venue during our Ticket to the Twenties festival is the Gallery where we screen such movies. Reading is another of Alan’s interests, and he has heavily utilized the Homestead’s volunteer lending library securing books and DVDs. His interests include fiction, science fiction, detective stories, histories, and biographies. He has further expanded his horizons by traveling on multiple cruises to various parts of the world. Domestic travel includes attending the “Sons of the Desert” gatherings, a Laurel and Hardy appreciation society, of which he is a member of a local “tent.” The museum very much appreciates his dedication and long-term contributions.
Please tell us why you enjoyed your first visit to the Homestead.
“The fun of seeing things of so long ago and I love [the] history of things.”
What caused you to begin volunteering here?
“[I] like helping out at the Homestead—doing things for the history.”
Please list your favorite programs at the Homestead and tell us why they appeal to you.
“I like all the programs at the Homestead. They give me a way to understand how people lived a long time ago.”
How would you describe the Homestead to someone who has never visited the site?
“It’s a great place to gain information about the history of California from the 1840s to the 1920s.”
What keeps you volunteering at the Homestead?
“Helping out and maybe showing my old 16mm films of the ’20s and ’30s that I have. I would like to do a show sometime.”