Whittier College is home of the Institute for Baseball Studies, the first humanities-based research center of its kind associated with a college or university in the United States.
Founded in 2014, the Institute began as a partnership between Whittier College and The Baseball Reliquary, a traveling museum from Pasadena that was founded and run by the late Terry Cannon. The Institute's goal is to prompt the teaching and exchange of ideas, the development of research initiatives, and the creation of public symposia and celebrations highlighting baseball’s significance in American culture.
While the original main goals of the Institute emphasized programs, the Institute for Baseball Studies now houses a significant library of books and materials on all aspects of baseball. The foundation of the collection was The Baseball Reliquary’s archives and research materials (and various oddities), now supplemented by significant donations of books (now well over 3000) and periodicals, the papers of distinguished baseball historians and journalists, works of art, and a variety of materials that support multifaceted and interdisciplinary studies at Whittier College. A particular highlight is the Richard and Teresa Santillán collection of virtually everything produced by the Dodgers since their move to Los Angeles, including both printed materials and promotional items.
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