While Pasadena is well-known for the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game and its world-class institutions like JPL and Caltech, there are many exciting secrets the city holds.
Discover little-known facts about the Crown City on Thursday, Jan. 12 with author and researcher Nat Read’s presentation “What You May Not Know About Pasadena.”
This zoom event, from 5 to 6 p.m., is free to the public.
Of Pasadena, Read said what makes it a great city is that “it has a fame far beyond its size.”
“Santa Clarita, Glendale, Pomona and Torrance are all larger, but have nowhere near the international and national significance of Pasadena’s,” he said. “For example, every astronomical discovery in the 19th century was made in Pasadena. The speed of light was first measured here. What do I love about it? The involvement of its citizens. People move here who want to be part of the community. People who want to be left alone move somewhere else.”
Read said he would be drawing from his most recent book, “One Hundred Years in Pasadena: The University Club Of Pasadena 1922 -2022,” for the discussion.
In an earlier discussion about his book, Read told Pasadena Now that the University Club approached him in 2021 to write its centennial book.
“Before I wrote the book I had no idea how distinguished its founders were. Among the first ten presidents of the club three were former college presidents and seven had doctorate degrees. The Club’s first vice president was awarded a Nobel Prize while serving that club role. Pioneer members included Nobel Laureate Robert Millikan; astronomers Edwin Hubble and George Ellery Hale; California Impressionist painter Alson Skinner Clark; Mount Lowe Railroad engineer David Macpherson; father of Julia Child, John McWilliams, earthquake authority Charles Richter; and many noted architects including Henry Greene (of Greene and Greene) and Myron Hunt,” Read said in April 2022.
Nat Read is a public relations consultant and author. He grew up in Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Austin College.
Read Communications, his business, is in Pasadena. He served as a naval deck officer and reached the rank of Navy captain, specializing in public affairs. He has also served on numerous non-profit boards in Southern California and was a founding director of California General Bank.
To sign up for the Zoom on Thursday, visit https://pasadena.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?eventid=7125.
For more information, call (626) 744-4066.