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Octavia E. Butler was born in Pasadena in 1947 to a shoeshine and a domestic worker during a time of heavy racial segregation. She often accompanied her mother to clean houses (entering through back doors) and witnessed employers treat her mother poorly.
She was incredibly shy and it was difficult to make any connections socially. She suffered from a slight dyslexia. Schoolwork was harrowing. To escape, Butler found solace in books. First reading classic fairytales before discovering the world of science fiction. She began writing short stories as a young teen. After high school, she worked, went to community college, and continued writing. She won her first prize money ($15!) for a short story when she was a freshman.
Butler’s writing career spanned decades. From her first novel Patternmaster, published in 1976, to her last, 2005’s Fledgling, Butler pioneered the genre of science fiction and broke barriers as one of the first female and Black science fiction authors. Her work won dozens of literary awards and still proves relevant in the 21st Century. In 2022 her novel, Kindred, was adapted for streaming on Hulu.
While Butler spent her later years in Lake Forest Park, Washington–where she passed away in 2006 at the age of 58 after a fatal stroke and subsequent fall–Pasadena was her home.
While some of the places she held a connection to are no longer around such as her primary school, James A. Garfield Elementary, the Pasadena Butler knew still exists.
Butler never drove. Her main mode of transportation was a public bus and she’d often spend hours walking the neighborhoods of Pasadena, writing down observations in notebooks and soaking in inspiration for her novels. Now it’s your turn to explore Octavia Butler’s Pasadena.
EXPLORE OCTAVIA BUTLER’S PASADENA
Octavia E. Butler Magnet (Formerly Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy)
1505 N. Marengo Ave
The first school in the country to be named after the author, Octavia E. Butler Magnet donned its new name for the first time in September of 2022. Formerly Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy, this is where a young Octavia attended middle school. At that time, it was simply named Washington Junior High School.
It was within these halls that she struggled with fitting in, her shyness, and undiagnosed dyslexia. It’s also where she first showcased her writing skills. This aptitude was noticed by Butler’s teachers who encouraged her to keep developing her talents.
Octavia E. Butler Magnet is located at 1505 N Marengo Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103
La Pintoresca Library
1355 N. Raymond Ave.
Because of her nearly paralyzing shyness, Butler spent long hours at the library when she was a child. When she discovered the Pasadena Central Library she quickly got a library card so she could check out her own books.
The La Pintoresca Branch is a quarter of a mile south from the Junior High Butler attended and would have been within walking distance. Butler lived in multiple places within walking distance of the library as well though I’ve been unable to find any exact addresses.
La Pintoresca (meaning “picturesque” in Spanish) was built in 1930 as Pasadena’s first branch library. A grand hotel with the same name used to sit on this property and would cater to east coast tourists who’d come to Pasadena in the winter for its Mediterranean climate.
The hotel existed from 1888 until it burned to the ground in 1912 and was never rebuilt. This article from the archives of the Pasadena Public Library details more history of the La Pintoresca branch.
La Pintoresca Branch Library is located at 1355 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103.
John Muir High School
1905 Lincoln Ave.
Named for the storied preservationist and California icon, John Muir, this high school was established in 1926 as a technical high school. Over the first few decades it changed its location and identity several times before settling in its current location as a four year high school in 1954.
At that time, the school was a mix of white students from neighboring La Cańada-Flintridge, Black students from the northwest side of Pasadena, and a mixed-Latino population from adjacent Altadena. In 1963, La Cańada-Flintridge built their own high school and after the class of 1964, all students from that area left John Muir to attend the new school. This changed the school’s student body from being one that was incredibly culturally and racially diverse to one that was majority people of color.
Butler was a student at John Muir during these transitions and graduated in 1965. It’s hard to imagine that these changes weren’t reflected in her future work (think Parable of the Sower) as she explored the Black experience through themes of power and identity, inequality and racial discrimination.
John Muir High School is located at 1905 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103
Pasadena City College
1570 E. Colorado Blvd.
After high school, Butler attended Pasadena City College. She also had to find work during this time and often found highly physical positions in warehouse type jobs. Her height of nearly six feet benefitted her in these roles but added to her insecurity and isolation.
It was while she was a student at PCC that she submitted a short story called “To the Victor” to a college literary contest and won first prize of $15. She graduated in 1968 with an associate of arts degree.
Pasadena City College has a long line of famous (and infamous) alumni including Jackie Robinson (and his brother Mack), Charles Manson, all founding members of the rock band Van Halen, Jack Parsons, Armie Hammer, and singer Kenny Loggins.
Pasadena City College is located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106
Vroman’s Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Southern California’s oldest and largest bookstore, Vroman’s has been around in some iteration since 1894. Butler was a frequent customer and most likely would have taken Pasadena’s bus route 2 to get here. Later, she was also a featured speaker at author events.
Vroman’s hosts hundreds of free community events each year and has an inhouse wine bar called Vroman’s 1894. There’s also a coffee shop and loads of well curated gifts to compliment your book purchases. It is a Pasadena landmark not to be missed.
Vroman’s Bookstore is located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101. It’s open daily from 10am-9pm (7pm on Sundays).
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino
In 2008, two years after her death, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino (Pasadena adjacent) received Octavia Butler’s papers. Over 80 boxes contained 8,000 pieces including notebooks, personal cards, research materials, drafts, short stories, and essays. The author had held on to nearly everything from her writing career.
While the collection is not on public display (currently), researchers can request a special appointment to view it.
The Huntington Library is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. It’s open six days a week from 10am-5pm (closed Tuesday); admission is required, ticket prices vary.
Octavia’s Bookshelf
1361 N. Hill Ave.
Though Butler wasn’t alive to see the opening of Octavia’s Bookshelf, it would be remiss not to include Pasadena’s first Black owned bookshop that pays homage to the author. Opened in February of 2023 by Nikki High, partially thanks to a generous crowdfunding effort, the bookshop offers an array of literature by BIPOC writers. Look for fiction and nonfiction, a lovely selection of children’s books, gift items, and other merch.
And yes, the cozy space on Hill Avenue features an assortment of Octavia Butler’s life’s work.
Octavia’s Bookshelf is located at 1361 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104. It’s open daily from 10am-7pm.
That’s Octavia Butler’s Pasadena! Let us know if we missed anything in the comments .
Check out our other author trails, bookish tourist! John Steinbeck in Salinas, Jack London in the Bay Area, Mark Twain along the West Coast, and Maya Angelou in San Francisco to name a few. And while you’re in SoCal make time for a self-guided tour the LA Central Public Library.
