Portraits of the Past

Portraits of the Past History San Jose's "Portraits of the Past" presents a glimpse of days gone by in the Santa Clara Val Are you interested in history, fashion, or comedy?

History San Jose's "Portraits of the Past" presents shows that are visually stunning, educational, historically accurate, and amusing. The friendly, fun loving, and talented volunteers make these programs an entertaining and educational view of days gone by in Santa Clara Valley. Museum volunteers assume the roles of locally significant citizens, after careful biographical research to ensure histo

rical accuracy, and portray these characters in interesting and often amusing sketches dealing with notable events in Valley history. We do exercise some license for entertainment value, but the commentary of the vignettes is based on factual local history. Appropriate background music adds additional atmosphere to each segment. Beautiful period costumes, made and worn by performers, make the presentations particularly effective. POP conducts intensive research to ensure that the costumes are both appropriate to the era and authentically constructed. The costumes reflect all facets of life in our early history. Nearly every type of women’s garment is included, from delicate underclothing to the most elaborate ball gown, from ingénue costumes to mature dowager ensembles. Men’s clothing ranges from that of early miners to elegantly attired gentlemen escorting ladies to The Ball. These Historical shows are an ideal choice for community groups interested in a program that educates, entertains and also provides a unique opportunity for a fund-raising event. Contact:
History San Jose
1650 Senter Rd. San Jose, CA 95112
www.historysanjose.org
www.portraitsofthepast.org
Or leave a message: (408)-238-3627

04/11/2025

POP is gearing up for our Spring and Summer events! The Fammatre School event was a lot of fun, and the POP history table and activities were well received by the students and staff. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like us to add to your event!

The Portraits of the Past Spring and Summer calendar looks like this:
April 12 -- ambiance at the Eggstravaganza event at History San Jose's History Park.

April 26 -- ambiance at the Printer's Fair at History Park, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

April 27 -- attending and ambiance at the Spring Tea at History Park. See the History San Jose website for tickets.

April 27 -- some POP members are planning to attend the Croquet, Co****le and Cocktails event at the Hayes Mansion, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Check the Hayes Mansion website for more information.

May 3 -- ambiance at the “Touch a Truck” event at History Park.

June 25 -- our annual get-together at the Great Salad Pot Luck lunch and annual meeting. Location TBA.

July 4 -- walking in the Rose, White & Blue Parade through the Rose Garden neighborhood of San Jose.

August 16 -- ambiance at the Spirit of ’45 event at History Park.

September 13 -- ambiance at the Cars in the Park event at History Park.

Send a message to learn more

02/21/2025

POP members have enjoyed our winter shows so far and are looking forward to the next few months as our spring schedule fills up. On January 30th we did something new: we brought a customized educational show to a local elementary school, which went well! Here is the upcoming calendar of events:

March 15th -- Multicultural event at Fammatre School. POP will staff an informational table to teach about the Valley of Heart's Delight time period in San Jose's history.

March 22nd -- Women's Heritage Day Festival at History San Jose. Details TBA. POP will provide ambiance and assist with activities.

April 12th -- Eggstravaganza event at History San Jose. Details TBA. POP will provide ambiance and hand out Easter eggs.

April 27th -- Spring Tea at History San Jose; theme: "Around the World in San Jose." POP will provide ambiance.

We still have some space in our schedule for spring shows, and are also starting to schedule into the summer, so please give us a call if you would like us to add to your event!

Send a message to learn more

11/19/2024

Portraits of the Past has enjoyed getting back into performing more frequently after the pandemic! POP hosted a table and a fashion display at History Park for the Cars in the Park event in September. Then in October, we provided ambiance for History San Jose's Valley of Heart's Delight fundraiser, put on a fashion show for Los Gatos Terraces, and assisted with the tours and activities at the Halloween Haunt event at History Park. In early November, we provided ambiance and gave tours at the Thomas and Carmel Fallon House in San Pedro Square for the San Jose Roots event.

We are continuing our activities through the winter, so if you want to join us, or have us enhance your event, there is still plenty of room on our calendar! POP members are responsible for putting up the Christmas and holiday decorations at History Park, so please come down for an event, or on any old weekend, and see them!

Upcoming shows include:

Fashion show -- 10 a.m. on December 7th at the Cinnabar Hills Country Club

Ambiance -- Christmas in the Park in December at History Park

Fashion show -- TBA January 25, 2025 for Watermark San Jose

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Portraits of the Past joins the South Bay Ladies' Tea Guild and the Greater Bay Area Costumers' Guild to walk in the Ros...
11/19/2024

Portraits of the Past joins the South Bay Ladies' Tea Guild and the Greater Bay Area Costumers' Guild to walk in the Rose, White & Blue Parade in San Jose on July 4th every year.

Portraits of the Past cast members can appear at your event in costume to provide historic ambiance.
11/19/2024

Portraits of the Past cast members can appear at your event in costume to provide historic ambiance.

05/11/2024

POP members are gearing up for local summer appearances and activities! Please contact us if you want us to be a part of your event, or if you want to join us! We are always accepting new members. Here is our calendar of upcoming events, as it stands currently:

Rose, White, & Blue Parade: July 4, 2024 from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Rose Garden neighborhood in San Jose. POP members will join the Hanchett Park Living Historicals to walk in the popular local holiday parade; our costume theme for this year is "Votes for Women", since it is an election year.

Cars in the Park -- Saturday, September 14, 2024 at History San Jose's History Park. Time TBA. POP will provide ambiance and have a booth.

Valley of Heart's Delight Fundraiser -- October 10, 2024 at History San Jose's History Park. Time TBA. POP will present a fashion show, illustrating "decades of fashion" from the 1940s onward.

Christmas in the Park -- December 2024 at History San Jose's History Park. More details TBA. POP will provide costumed ambiance, and a team of POP members and other volunteers will be the "Elves" who put up the holiday decorations.

Send a message to learn more

03/25/2024

Address

History San Jose, 1650 Senter Road
San Jose, CA
95112

Telephone

+14082872290

Website

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