Larry Burgess and Nelda Stuck Team Up to Revive Redlands History Programs

Courtesy photo

Nelda Stuck, left, and Larry Burgess.

By Nelda Stuck

Editor’s Note: The author is a former cultural arts editor for the Redlands Daily Facts. This article was submitted as a community announcement on behalf of the Museum of Redlands programs.

REDLANDS — Larry Burgess and Nelda Stuck are teaming up to present the return of the Redlands Historical Museum Association and Museum of Redlands programs.

The event will take place June 7 at 1 p.m. at the Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka St. The public is invited.

For about 20 years, the RHMA presented Redlands history-related programs twice a year, until construction of the new Museum of Redlands and the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the events.

The June 7 event opens with Burgess’ reminiscences from older Redlands literature, followed by the public sale of the Monte and Nelda Stuck Redlands books and memorabilia collection. All proceeds will go to the new Museum of Redlands.

Beginning this spring, Nelda Stuck pondered the right venue to sell the collection of Redlands memorabilia and more than 150 Redlands-related books to raise funds for the museum. The Stucks are downsizing and have been eager to get their stacked and cataloged books into other collectors’ hands. Residents of Redlands for 49 years, they have been serious memorabilia collectors since the Redlands Centennial in 1988, when Nelda was interviewing many Redlands old-timers and writing centennial-related articles for the Redlands Daily Facts.

Burgess, a noted historian and former director of the A.K. Smiley Public Library, offered to share background stories and information on some of the books as a way to begin museum programming again. He will pick and choose from some of the less-well-known authors and books to bring Redlands history alive. His new book, "Tales from the Zanja: How Oranges, Water, and Strife Made Redlands a Quintessential American Town," will be published in late 2026.

While Redlands memorabilia from the collection has been donated to the A.K. Smiley Public Library Heritage Room for the Museum of Redlands, duplicates and more general items will be priced for sale.

The opportunity to view books and items begins after the program and continues until 4 p.m. The Contemporary Club will also be open the following day, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for additional browsing and sales. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted.