Many of the artifacts in Pomona's collection were acquired by collectors at the turn of the last century, when increased interest in Native American cultures was propelling new archaeological and anthropological studies, as well as substantial acquisitions of artifacts by museums and private collectors. The collection of Native American art would not be at The Claremont Colleges had it not been for the vision of one man, Robert J. Bernard. A graduate of Pomona College in 1917, Bernard became executive secretary of Pomona in 1922. Working with President Blaisdell, Bernard was actively involved in the creation of Claremont College (now called Claremont University Center). He became President of Claremont College in 1959 and retired in 1963. In 1925, Bernard urged the creation of a teaching museum for the colleges and, in 1929, he persuaded Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Tibbet to donate their collection of Native American art and early Californiana to Claremont College.
Other gifts to either Claremont College or Pomona College were soon forthcoming. The collection today is the result of the generosity of 14 individuals. Most unusual as a collector among them was Emil P. Steffa. During his years as a student at Pomona College (1895-1899), Steffa worked closely with Dr. David Burrows, a specialist in the ethnohistory of the Cahuilla. He was an unusual collector for his time because of his scientific approach to his large basket collection. He carefully documented each piece, giving the name and date of the maker, whenever known. The other collectors were, in alphabetical order: Mr. Martin Abernethy, one of the original founders of Pilgrim Place; Mrs. Edward H. Angle of Pasadena; Mrs. M.F. Bailey; Mrs. Emeline H. Burns; Mr. Levi Chubbuck of Glendale, who was a Friend of Pomona College; Dr. E.H. Parker of Phoenix, a noted collector of Hohokam ceramics, who gave over 2000 archaeological and ethnographic artifacts to Pomona College; Dr. George S. Sumner, a faculty member and controller of Pomona College and Claremont College, as well as mayor of Claremont; and Mr. Woodbridge Williams, a student at Claremont College. Thanks to the generosity of these donors, Pomona College students and the community beyond are educated and inspired by a beautiful collection of Native American art.