A philanthropist's love of community and history continues to make a valuable impact in the Coachella Valley three years after her death.
A recent grant from the Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund via the Inland Empire Community Foundation will enhance preservation efforts at the Palm Springs Historical Society. That's vital for the stalwart organization, which has been integral in preserving the region's history ever since Melba Berry Bennett established it in 1955.
Lykken Hoff died in 2023 at the age of 103. Her endowment fund has been an empowering resource for the historical society, among other entities.
"Jane had been generous to the organization long before this bequest," said Tracy Conrad, president of the nonprofit. "She planted all sorts
of interesting things for the society. And the fund, and recent grant, is just a continuation of that.
"Jane loved the Historical Society and spent a lot of time around here doing various projects, supporting it both financially and spiritually," she said.
The organization's board will choose the best route to distribute the recent grant. Conrad noted that there are several capital measures toward which the resources could be put as well as the nonprofit's ongoing expansion of its operations and overall mission.
That mission has long been recording, preserving and displaying everything from historical artifacts, documents and photos of the Palm Springs area to promoting public education, awareness and appreciation of the "region's rich heritage."
"Jane had been through 30 years of the historical society and was also on the board," Conrad said. "Her impact here has been invaluable in the way that it is now, and the fact that it still exists. She is an example to us all of a life well lived. Her devotion to community as a kind of 'spirituality' has a lot to do with her communing with nature."
She was an incredible horsewoman, Conrad added, saying the animals knew her "spirit."
To be sure, the spirit of the Palm Springs Historical Society mirrors Lykken Hoff's incredible legacy.
The society operates four museums and a research center: The Village Green Museums; The McCallum Adobe, which dates back to 1884; The Cornelia White House (1893); and The Oasis, the area's newest museum, which hosts the Trini Lopez exhibit and is the home base for nonprofit's historical tours.
There's also Ruddy's General Store, in which visitors can find plenty of nostalgia and seemingly be transported back to a general store experience of the 1930s.
The organization's research center at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library (1940) in Palm Springs should be noted for housing a vast number of historical materials. One unique feature is that visitors can search or browse the museum's collections online to access and explore photos, periodicals, books, manuscripts, and more.
Arranging an on-site visit to the library is encouraged as well.
"I'd love people to know more about our mission, which is to preserve our history and also to educate the community," Conrad said. "There are many ways people can participate, including walking and biking tours, or by volunteering at our museums. We are highly involved in the community, and people can participate in many of our programs."
The walking and biking tours are popular, in fact, especially in fall and winter. Visitors are provided historical accuracy plus a bevy of unique stories tied to the city.
Conrad is deeply rooted in the organization, having worked there many years.
"I'm endlessly amazed at the history of Palm Springs," she said. "I write a column every Sunday (in The Desert Sun), and I cannot believe that a small town, a little tiny town on the edge of the desert, has the history that it does. It's amazing. Astonishing even.
"I am privileged to get to study that history, then try and share it in a way that amuses people," she said. "Maybe it makes them proud to live here. We have gorgeous golden light. We have a natural environment that's unparalleled. We have an interesting and engaged community where a gracious life can be had."
We also (still) have Jane Lykken Hoff, Conrad might have easily added.
"Jane lived long," she said of the revered philanthropist. "She had a great life here, and she cared so very much about Palm Springs as a community."
Learn more at pshistoricalsociety.org.
The Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy. Like the Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund, your endowment can offer a lasting way to support the causes and communities you care about. IECF can help you create a fund that reflects your values and provides support across generations. Visit iegives.org or email giving @iegives.org.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Legacy, philanthropy elevate Palm Springs Historical Society's efforts
