SDHS Times Summer 2005
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Times WWW. S ANDIEGOHISTORY. ORG Summer 2005 Volume XXXXII, Number 3 ©San Diego Historical Society ©San Diego Historical Summer in San Diego! Del Mar 1915 (SDHS #4189) FROM DAVID WATSON, From Ron Urich, Outgoing President EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR It’s been an interesting two years for me as President, witnessing much positive progress here at the Society. n early June, the Board of We developed the HELP program (History Trustees met to discuss and Learning Education Partnership) in conjunction with define the focus of the the San Diego Unified School District to aid their I third and fourth grade teachers to teach local Society’s programs over the next Ron Urich history to their students. five years. We all recognize the We embarked on a number of new exhibi- importance of seeing this year’s tions, including Wedding Belles, Romp!, Corridos sin Fronteras: A New reorganizing efforts as a short- World Ballad Tradition, and, most recently, Developing San Diego: term revitalizing process that will Making History Every Day. We enjoyed Showcase Houses at the Naval Training Center and allow us to emerge with finances the Alfred Haines House, a History Maker’s Dinner celebrating the intact and a new sense of direc- David Watson Heart of San Diego, the Costume Council’s Oscar Night Party, and tion to fulfill our mission, but we our own Serra Museum’s 75th Anniversary celebration. have not lost sight of the need to aim for long-term stability. Perhaps, in retrospect, we were too ambitious at a time when The Board identified key areas on which to focus our our expenses have escalated while revenue from private, corporate, resources as we look forward. First, our Collections – city, and state have decreased. A Union-Tribune article in March gave a discouraging, albeit accurate, view of our financial situation. Photographs, Archives, and Curatorial – were defined as However, we now have a new Executive Director, David Watson, vital to who we are and what we do. Our educational who is charged with taking our organization in a new direction, programs, particularly the HELP program, School in the capitalizing on our strengths, and redefining our mission. In this, he Park, and the Serra docent program, were given strong has the full support of the Trustees, the staff, and our many volun- support, as were our publications, including the Journal of teers, and we are confident in our ability to move forward in the coming months. San Diego History and the Times, and our website. The On July 1, Hal Sadler will take over as President and I wish him Board also renewed its belief that both the Serra Museum well; the Society will be in good hands. and the Marston House are vital to the identity of the I thank you for your support over the last two years; it has been Society. my pleasure serving this fine institution. We also recognized the importance of an exhibition that communicates San Diego history to the public. A permanent exhibition about San Diego history has been a Comings and Goings at the goal of the Society for many years, although numerous obstacles have delayed its development, including the San Diego Historical Society planning and financial complexities associated with a project of this size. Nonetheless, the Board has renewed its David Watson has been confirmed as permanent Executive support for a permanent exhibition of this nature, and has Director of the Historical Society. Congratulations, David! urged me to recommence the planning process. Indeed, our Ron Urich has come to the end of his term as President of staff have already made a start and a way must be found to the Board of Trustees. We thank him for his hard work and dedication over the last two years. fund the project. The Society has much to be proud of. We are anticipat- Hal Sadler has succeeded him as President of the Board and we wish him a successful term of office. ing growth in our innovative educational programs and we are once again publishing the Journal of San Diego History, Lynn Mooney, Tom Carter, and Nell Waltz are all leaving our Board of Trustees. We thank them for their support and in an exciting partnership with USD under the editorial guid- hope to still see them as members and friends. ance of Iris Engstrand and Molly McClain. Our Collections Helen Kinnaird, Kenneth Golden, and Michael Morgan continue to grow, and our service to the public in the are joining us as new members of the Board. We welcome Photograph Archives and Research Library has no peer. We them and hope they enjoy their time with us. are also aiming to find new ways to support our sites. John Panter, Assistant Executive Director, has left the I am very pleased to be a part of the planning and Society as he is relocating to New Mexico. There is too much development process that is taking place within the Society to say thank you for, John. We will miss you. and, as always, the Board’s support has been invaluable. We Last, but not least, we have to say farewell to long-time vol- also very much appreciate the members’ continued support unteer and former staff member, Bee Knott, who has had to of the Society and its mission to tell San Diego’s story to all. leave us for health reasons. It won’t be the same without you, Bee! 2 REPORT FROM THE COSTUME COUNCIL Photo: Mary Hakes by Elisabeth Bergan, President of Costume Council his year the San Diego Historical Society received some wonderful donations to its Costume and Textile Collection. T The Costume Council is most grateful to Mr. Maurice Kawashima for his wide-ranging gift of men’s clothing from some of the greatest designers of the twentieth Costume Council Visits FIDM century.Also, an anonymous local collector has promised gifts of vintage Hermes scarf in Los Angeles dresses,Armani suits, and Celine acces- by Devan McGirr, Curatorial Assistant sories.These gifts, along with their stories, are a mirror of history and n April 20th about 20 members of the Costume Council further strengthen the Costume and Textile and curatorial staff visited the Fashion Institute of Design Collection. Oand Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, a private I would also like to thank our members college that prepares students for careers in the fashion, graphics, for their outstanding generosity. Lois Olson has again renewed her interior design, and entertainment industries. The visit began with a Couture membership, and we would like to extend special thanks tour of the innovative and ultra-modern campus. Situated in a and welcome to Christine Gordon-Dill, a new Patron.Warmest 15-acre grassy park, the campus feels like an oasis amid the noise thanks also go to the following ladies for their continued Patron and bustling activity of downtown Los Angeles, while the imaginative support: Sue K. Edwards, Mary Lou Fox, Martha Gafford, Barbara design of the campus offers an environment conducive to creative Gerber, Mary Ann Ginnow, Barbara Kjos, Bess Lambron, JoBobbie thought. Metal sculptures are displayed on the lawn of the park, MacConnell, Peggy Matthews,Virginia Napierskie, Sandra Nichols, and water fountains and arched arborways provide students with Patty Levaur Rome, Lois Roon, Joy Urich, and Nell Waltz.Thanks to relaxing spots to study. you all. Next, the group toured the school’s new state-of-the-art design This year we took the first, long overdue step toward catalogu- studio. Designed by award-winning architect, Clive Wilkinson, the ing the collection, and began the exacting and expensive work of studio is a functional work of art. The studio includes more than examining each piece and putting it into its proper environment. one hundred computer workstations, numerous drafting tables, and This work is being done by Laurie Egan, Curator of Collections, and conference rooms. Students can work by a faux swimming pool in her superb volunteers. Please call Laurie at 619-232-6203 ext. 121 sleek lounge chairs designed especially for laptop computer use; or if you are interested in volunteering. It is an extraordinary, inspiring they can work on their laptops while kneeling or sitting cross- hands-on opportunity to learn about costumes, textiles and legged on short, furry chairs surrounding sushi tables. museums. After a tasty lunch in the student lounge, the group enjoyed a We look forward to an exciting, enjoyable year of programs docent-led tour of the FIDM museum’s The Art of Motion Picture and to opening up more of this fine collection to both students Costume Design Exhibition. The exhibition features exquisite cos- and museum visitors. tumes from such recent Hollywood films as Lord of the Rings, Troy, and Phantom of the Opera. All of the costumes are displayed out in SUMMERTIME . AND THERE’S the open, so visitors can lean in close (under the watchful eyes of YARD WORK TO BE DONE! gallery guards) and appreciate the intricate craftsmanship that went into the making of these garments. The group’s visit concluded with We are looking for yard maintenance equipment for use at the Villa Montezuma. We need: shopping in the museum store and receiving complimentary goodie • hedge trimmers • hand clippers bags from FIDM. • shovels • edger This fun outing was one of many organized by the Costume • pruners • lawnmower Council, a group that supports the needs of the Historical Society’s Costume and Textile Collection. For more information or to become Are there any donations out there? Contact: Laurie Egan 619-232-6203 ext.121 a member, call Carolyn Waggoner at 619-462-6617.