Jan Dennis Papers

Janet DeNike Dennis was raised and educated in the small New England town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. After graduating from Ridgefield High School, she attended Art Career School in New York City, which led to her initial work in newspaper advertising for JC Penney. Jan then segued into the graphic arts department of the publishing house, YEAR Inc., where she worked on the production of pictorial books and current event magazines.

In 1957, Jan and her husband, Stan, created Janstan Studio while living in Santa Monica, CA. Janstan Studio is a graphic arts business that Jan continues to operate. Two years later, the Dennis' moved to Manhattan Beach, CA., where Jan developed a rich passion for the town and its history. While raising their two children, Jan became actively involved in the community, volunteering for nearly every non-profit organization in Manhattan Beach including the local head start program, which eventually lead to her becoming the head of the Mira Costa PTA.

After serving on the Planning Commission, Jan was elected to the 1984 Manhattan Beach City Council, where she served as the second female mayor in the city’s history from 1986-1987 and was also the president of the Chamber of Commerce. As she became more involved in the community, Jan found that her adopted hometown was filled with a fascinating history and realized there was a need to explore its heritage. She began researching the town and its citizens and shared what she learned in numerous magazine articles and nine books that were dedicated to the residents of Manhattan Beach. Her collection of materials is unparalleled in scope and has proven to be an invaluable resource for the community.

Jan has written nine books on Manhattan Beach as of 2020. Her first book, “A Walk Beside the Sea: A History of Manhattan Beach,” was published in 1987; followed by “Shadows on the Dunes: An Architectural History of Manhattan Beach” (2001); “Manhattan Beach” (2001); “Manhattan Beach Police Department” (2003); “Manhattan Beach Pier” (2005); “Skirts Across the Sand: A History of Manhattan Beach Women” (2008); “Manhattan Beach Chronicles” (2012); "A Thread in the Tapestry: A History of Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach" (2017); and “The History of the Manhattan Beach Fire Department” (2019). In 2006 she started the Manhattan Beach Heritage Conservancy to "recognize, preserve, and revitalize the historic architectural and cultural resources of Manhattan Beach" ("Manhattan Beach historical conservancy comes into 21st century"). Dennis is also a member of the Neptunian Woman's Club of Manhattan Beach, and the local historical society.

Jan has also been recognized with numerous awards including many Community Service Awards, Outstanding Service Award and Distinguished Service Award for the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, Medal of Valor Service Award, I Love MB City Council Commendation Service Award, the Lion’s Club International's Citizen of the Year, Manhattan Beach Chamber's Rose and Scroll Award, El Camino College Distinguished Woman Award, and the 2013 Woman Of Distinction Award for California Assembly District 66. In 2016, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the City of Manhattan Beach, and in 2017 she received the Bob Meistrell Local Legend Award.

Sources: "Manhattan Beach : Dennis Becomes Mayor". 4 Sept. 1986, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-04-cb-13902-story.html

“About Jan Dennis.” Jan Dennis - Manhattan Beach Historian, www.janstanstudio.com/jan-dennis-manhattan-beach-about.html

“Jan Dennis.” Southbay, 9 Nov. 2017, southbay.goldenstate.is/jan-dennis/

“Manhattan Beach Historical Conservancy Comes into 21st Century.” Easy Reader News, 30 Apr. 2016, easyreadernews.com/manhattan-beach-historical-conservancy-comes-21st-century/

Dailybreeze. “Former Mayor Jan Dennis Fell into Role as Manhattan Beach Historian.” Daily Breeze, Daily Breeze, 6 Sept. 2017, www.dailybreeze.com/2012/12/15/former-mayor-jan-dennis-fell-into-role-as-manhattan-beach-historian/

"Jan Dennis Biography", Kristin Long, 2020.

"Community Service History", Kristin Long, 2020.

1966-1967

Head Start Program volunteer

1968-1972

Member of the Woman’s Auxiliary for the Manhattan Beach Little League

1968-1985

International Student Service Host Family

1968-1993

Member of the Chamber of Commerce

1969-1970

Member Bay Area Narcotic Roundtable

1969-1971

Coordinating Council Narcotic Representative

1969-1972

Member Juvenile Justice Committee

1969-1972

Created/organized First Living Christmas Tree. Decorating ceremony for small children. Tree still in Polliwog Park.

1969-1973

Member of the Coordinating Council

1970

Created PR campaign for the Police Department: “Smile at the Next Policeman”

Created PR for Drug committee: “Action Eye Opener”

“Community Service Award” — Manhattan Beach Police Department

“Commendation for Community Service” Chamber Of Commerce

1970-1971

President of the Manhattan Beach Little League Woman’s Auxiliary

1970-1974

Created and published the “Dugout News” for the Manhattan Beach Little League

1972-1982

Member Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

1972-1973

2nd V.P. Coordinating Council

1974

Appointed to Commission for Manhattan Beach School District Educational Goals

“Outstanding Service Award” Chamber of Commerce

1974-1986

Co-founder and member of the Steering Committee for the Medal of Valor Awards Luncheons

1977

President Mira Costa PTA

1978

President and formed the “Mira Costa Circle” from the Mira Costa PTA

1979-1980

President Mira Coast Circle (PTA)

“Distinguished Service Award” – Chamber of Commerce 1979-1984

1979

Appointed to the Blue Ribbon Ad Hoc Committee for consolidation of Police & Fire Department

1981

Appointed to the Planning Commission

Appointed to the Ad Hoc Traffic Committee

1st V.P. Chamber of Commerce

Manhattan Beach profile, “Jan Dennis, Manhattan Renaissance Woman”, in Beach Reporter

1982

President Chamber of Commerce

Member “Re-E1ection Campaign for Marilyn Ryan” Committee

Formed the Manhattan Beach Olympic Committee

1982-1984

Chairman of the Medal of Valor Awards Committee/Luncheon

1983

Created JPH Enterprises (Touring Company)

Member of the El Segundo Employers Association

1984

“Medal of Valor Service Award” for 10 years of dedication

1984-1988

Member of the City Council

1986-1987

Mayor City of Manhattan Beach

Chairman/ Founder of the 75th City Anniversary Committee

1986-2000

Member Historical Society

1987

Initiated Manhattan Beach FLAG and LAPEL PIN

Initiated Student Government Leadership Day Program for Mira Costa students

Researched, wrote and self-published a coffee table book, “A WALK BESIDE THE SEA”, a history of Manhattan Beach containing 209 pages

1987-1989

Board of Directors Historical Society

1988

Member Neptunian Woman ‘s Club

Ran for Council and Lost

Founder/Member Manhattan Beach Residents Association

1988-1991

President Manhattan Beach Residents Association

1990-1991

1st V.P. president Coordinating Council

President Coordinating Council

Program Chairman Manhattan Beach Residents Association

1991

“Community Service Award” — Carnation Co. & Volunteer Center

1992-1993

Program Chairman Neptunian Woman’s Club

1993

Worked on the book, “BLOW” author Bruce Porter

“Citizen of the Year” Lions Club International

“Certificate of Appreciation — Coordinating Council

1994-1996

Wrote for the Manhattan Beach Little League Roster

1996-1998

President Neptunian Woman’s Club

1997

Created/Chairman “Envelope of Life” project

Developed the City’s 85th display at the City Library. Subject: The Neptunian Woman’s Club

1998

started new coffee table book, “SHADOWS ON THE DUNES” a history of Manhattan Beach Architecture

First “Bright Light” personality in “Beach Reporter”

“El Camino College Distinguished Woman Award” placed on the Women’s Wall of Fame in Schauerman Library at the College

1999

First to be declared an “Icon” of Manhattan Beach by the “Beach Reporter”

2001

Signed contract with Arcadia Publishing for the adaptation of “A WALK BESIDE THE SEA”. New title “Images of America: Manhattan Beach” .

“Appreciation of Donation” — Manhattan Beach Police Department

2002

Self-published “SHADOWS ON THE DUNES”, 207 pages.

Researched & wrote “MANHATTAN BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT” for Arcadia Publishing

Donated “Life Shear Rescue Tool” to Fire Department

“Appreciation of Donation for Rescue Cutters” – Manhattan Beach Fire Department

2004

Researched new book “MANHATTAN BEACH PIER” for Arcadia Publishing

Developed and Chaired the “Manhattan Beach Cultural Heritage Conservancy”

2004-2005

“Certificate of Appreciation” – Home Instead Senior Care

2005

Researched and wrote, “MANHATTAN BEACH PIER”, published by Arcadia Publishing

Donated a $14,000.00 Kiln to the Mira Costa High School Ceramic Department

2006

Wrote history of “THE BADMINTON CLUB” for the Club’s 70th Anniversary

Started a 4-year scholarship for Sara Hilgendorf, who graduated from Mira Costa and went to UCLA

“Rose and Scroll Award” Chamber of Commerce and Don Knabe, Supervisor, 4th District

2006-2008

Researched, wrote, and self-published “Skirts Across the Sand”, a 100-year history of Manhattan Beach Women

Had printed & published “Skirts Across The Sand”

2009

Chaired the Neptunian 100th Anniversary

Wrote “How Well Do You Know Your Town’s History” for the “Manhattan Beach Sun” newspaper

2010

Member 100th City Anniversary Committee

Developed “Walking Tour” for Manhattan Beach Cultural Heritage Conservancy

Developed “Manhattan Beach History” Deck of Playing Cards

“El Camino College Distinguished Woman Award” — placed on the Women’s Wall of Fame in Schauerman Library at the College .

2016

Distinguished Service Award City of Manhattan Beach

2017

Researched, wrote and published, “Thread in the Tapestry: A History of Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach”

Bob Meistrell Local Legend Award

2019

Researched, wrote and published, “The History of the Manhattan Beach Fire Department”