EVELYN ELEANOR HUSTON

died at Mt. San Antonio Gardens in Pomona on September 14, 2010. She was 98. Born in Pomona on October 13, 1911, Ms. Huston was the eldest of 4 children of San Dimas residents Roy and Ella Huston. She graduated from Bonita High School and Chaffey College. She transferred to the University of California, Berkley where she earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Library Science. She graduated magna cum laude and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. During her 41-year career, Ms. Huston made tremendous contributions to several California university library systems, and she also served as President of the California Librarian's Association. Between 1934 and 1942, she held librarian positions at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1942, the State Library in Sacramento sought her expertise and recruited Ms. Huston to develop a statewide network of document resources. While in Sacramento, she was an advocate for legislation establishing the 1948 California State Depositories Act for specific local and college libraries. Honnold/Mudd Library at the Claremont Colleges is one of the depositories. Ms. Huston had a passion for women's rights. During her tenure at the State Capitol, there were no women registrars and she was instrumental in changing that by securing the first women registrars. In 1956, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) brought her back to southern California to serve as Associate Director of Libraries. She developed programs for Caltech and was actively involved in the planning for the present high-rise Caltech Library. In 1963, she returned to the University of California system and accepted a position as Head of Governmental Publications at the University of California, Riverside campus. In 1966, she transferred to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) campus where she served as Assistant University Librarian and Head of Public Services. Under her leadership, the Public Services Division of the UCI library system was developed. Ms. Huston's contributions to the UC system also included the establishment of Bureaus of Government Research at UCLA, UCR, and UCI. After her retirement in 1975, Ms. Huston continued to use her library expertise by helping to establish a successful library at Mt. San Antonio Gardens. She was a very caring, service-oriented individual who loved books. Depending upon needs and interests, Ms. Huston would research and obtain what reading material was available, and then deliver it to many residents at Mt. San Antonio Gardens. Also during retirement, Ms. Huston retained an avid interest in government and politics, and was active in the Claremont League of Women Voters in the 80s and 90s. Ms. Huston is survived by her brother, Leonard Huston of Alta Loma; her sisters, June Frink of Pomona and Ida Nagel of Corona; her nieces, Diane Turner, Jo Ann Timmons, Catherine Bellow and Janet Huyck; her nephews, Craig, John and William Huston; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. According to her wishes, there will be no memorial service. Memorial donations may be sent to the Library Fund at Mt. San Antonio Gardens, 900 E. Harrison Ave., Pomona, CA 91767.