Dr. Syrtiller Kabat was a teacher at East Palo Alto Day School (later Nairobi Day School) when she was elected to the Ravenswood City School District board. She was involved in the Mothers for Equal Education (MEE) and the Nairobi movement. Additionally, she owned the Weeks Street Community Gardens land and helped establish the East Palo Alto Fine Arts, Inc. These diverse interests are represented in her collection.