Yu-shan Han (1899-1983) taught at the History Department, UCLA (1941 to 1966). The collection consists of 24 histories of academies in China published between 1684-1910, a printed text of the Diamond Sutra (1798), a set of original woodblocks for the Diamond Sutra, imperial examination papers (1646-1904), imperial edicts, and manuscript scrolls.
Nancy Van Lauderback Tovar grew up in Chino, CA where she attended local schools for her formative studies, eventually graduating from UCLA. Following graduation, she joined the staff of the Los Angeles graphics powerhouse: Saul Bass Associates, later named Bass/Yaeger. This agency was internationally known for creating iconic logos and packaging for Hollywood's major motion pictures, airlines, telephone, and food industries. After an illustrious 40-year career she retired as Vice President and Director of Production. Ms. Tovar was an active member of the Vestry for the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Lincoln Heights. She was a creative force organizing classes that produced artistic banners, streamers, posters, and urban photography that reflected the Mexican heritage of the community. As an activist, Ms. Tovar was also a participant and supporter of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium. She wrote several books including: Diary of a Ruko (her husband's journey as a civil rights activist and WWII Veteran), The Parks Family Home in Chino, Tales from the Tovar Garden, as well as journals of her life in the barrio and her personal battle with cancer. Ms. Tovar lost this battle and passed away on March 13, 2010. The photographs in this collection represent her passion for documenting art and life in Los Angeles, and her commitment to the struggle of la Raza.
Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) was a modern dance pioneer influenced by Walt Whitman, Emerson and American Transcendentalism. She first gained recognition and support for her work after moving to London (1899). In 1904, she met Edward Gordon Craig, and they worked and toured together for three years. Later, she opened a school of dance for children in Bellevue near Paris (1914), and another in Moscow (1921). She continued to dance until her accidental death in 1927. Howard M. Holtzman (1921-1990) was a poet, lawyer and collector. His interest in Isadora Duncan began when he read her memoirs and sought to explore and document the influence of her artistic expression on the history of art. Recognizing the role that certain relationships, both personal and artistic, came to play in shaping her artistic development, Holtzman collected materials that reflect others' influences on Isadora, documented the impressions of many people who had seen her perform, and acquired the Edward Gordon Craig material in this collection. The collection consists of Isadora Duncan's business and personal papers, primary writings, and material about her. There are also materials by and about Edward Gordon Craig, Raymond Duncan, and Ellen Terry. Materials include dance programs, business correspondence, writings by Isadora Duncan, photographs, objets d'art created by her brother Raymond, research materials compiled by her biographer, Allan Ross Macdougall and collector Howard Holtzman, correspondence between Howard Holtzman and Irma Duncan, and programs and photographs of other dancers who influenced or were influenced by Isadora Duncan.
The collection consists of manuscript scores (holographs or copies) and open reel tapes of music composed by Herschel Gilbert for television series and motion pictures, and includes some related materials such as parts, cues, lyrics sheets, and sketches.