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University of California Berkeley Elise Stern Haas THE APPRECIATION OF QUALITY Regional Oral History Office The Bancroft Library Elise Stern Haas 1978 SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE October 20, 1990 ":* Elise Haas Arts Patron , A memorial is scheduled next week for Ruth Heine Dahl, presi Matriarch of S.F. dent of the H**e PiaaOtCo., who. Family lied IB Stencil ou October 2 tt a& 91. By Da* Levy Ruth Htn was bom in SMistt 1899. G. 0. OmmicU S*ff Wrtur in Her father, Heine, | established the Heine Piano ElUe Stern Hats, patron of Co.,j which operated a string of West! the arts, civic leader and member Coast agencies. of the pioneering San Francisco 1 She was educated at St Rose. family that founded and still in San Francisco and manages Lev! Strauss and Co., Academy Stanford University. She married died yesterday at Mount Zlon Thomas Dahl Jr. in 1923. For the Hospital. She was 96. next 38 yean they resided in Ha- 1 Mrs. Haas, the widow of Walter wall. A. Haas, was the first woman presi dent of the San Francisco Museum In 19W they returned to San! Francisco. She of Modern Art (formerly the San became president; Co, t- Francisco Museum of Art) and of the Heine Piano and opera ed two local decorators I Mount Zion Hospital and Medical shops. Center. She was also a founder of A service will be held at the the San Francisco Youth Sympho Grace Cathedra] Chapel at 10:30 ny Association and chairman of a.m. Tuesday. the Stern Grove Festival Associa Contributions may be made to tion, which her parents establish ELISE STERN HAAS the Lincoln Child Center Founda ed. Grandniece of Lavi Strauss tion, 4368 Lincoln Avenue, Oak Mrs. Haas was born in San land. Calif. 94664; Shrinen Hospi Francisco In 1893, the only child of San Francisco League of Women s tal or the American Cancer Soci Rosalie Meyer and Sigmund Stern. Voters, the Visiting Nurse Associa ety. Her father was president of Lev! tion and Red Cross blood drives Strauss and Co. and nephew of the during World War II. company s founder, Levl Strauss, The Haases also made signifi George A. Scott the Bavarian immigrant who cant contributions to institutions in 1850. La Mesa founded the firm in involved education, health, the t Remembered yesterday as an environment and social services. George A. Scott, a radar civic-minded and; elegant, philanthro Mrs. Haas and other members Navy communications Mrs. Haas was a devoted pioneer pist. pa of the received the Alexis a family who served as navigator for pilot ! the arts and culture of the tron of de Award Bush Tocqueville Society George during World War II, : city. She was involved with the the United of from Way America died Sunday at the of 82. age ; Museum of Modern Art from its in 1985. The citation said that the in the 1930s. She served Atfocta.ua fntt inception Walter, and Elbe Haas Fund. , on its women s board, the board of which they founded in 1952, re trustees, and served as its chair flected "the family philosophy man from 1964 to 1966. Robert Tessier that wealth is a responsibility and Under her leadership, the mu that the sharing of it Is a way of Los Angeles seum solidified its financial bts* life." and built its collec Actor Robert Tessier, whose! up permanent In 1914, Elise Stern married tion. She was herself a and baleful looks helped him portray! painter Walter A. Haas, who was president and villains in such! sculptor and said she was commit- of Levi Strauss and Co. from 1928 tough guys ted to local artists. movies as "The Deep" and supporting to 1955. Under their sons, Walter "The; Longest Yard," died October 11 at* "You ve heard the expression A. Hass Jr. and Peter Haas, the the age of 56. grande di.me," commented San company has become the world s Known for his trademark Francisco attorney Moses I.asky, largest apparel manufacturer. shav-i- ed Mr. Tessier s first who served with Mrs. Haas on the Walter A. Haas Jr. is also the own head, promi-! nent role came in 1970 with museum board. "Well, that was er of the Oakland Athletics base "Cry Other film credit* what she was. She was one of those ball team. His son, Walter J. Haas, Blood, Apache." include and "Hard- people that make a community is president and chief executive "Hooper" Times." His last was> proud of itself." officer. picture "Night-Wish." released this year. Mrs. Haas assumed leadership Mrs. Haas leaves her sons, of the museum at a time when It daughter Rhoda Goldman, 10 taf laird Pntt was struggling financially and un grandchildren and 20 great-grand sure of its artistic and civic mis children. sion, arts observers said last Fred L night A memorial service will be held Hartley "She was a strong person with at 11 a.m. Monday at Congregation Los Angeles good ideas and excellent taste," Kmanu-El at Lake Street and Ar- said Mary Keesllng, who also serv Boulevard In San Francisco. guello Fred L. Hartley, whose push ed as women s board president. The family requests that peo for innovation and alternative en- "I m so glad I had the chance to ple wishing to make a memorial ergy boosted Unocal Corp. from a- have her in life." my donation contribute to the San small oil company to an interna Mrs. Haas was for many years Francisco Museum of Modern Art, tional conglomerate, died yester Zlon associated with Mount Hospi the Stern Grove Festival Associa day after a long, unspecified ilii- served as tal, where she president tion or Mount Zlon Hospital in San ness. He was 73. from 1938 to 1940. She headed the Francisco. of California Regional Oral History Office University The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California California Jewish Community Series Elise Stern Haas THE APPRECIATION OF QUALITY With Introductions by Meyer Friedman, M.D. and Henry T. Hopkins An Interview Conducted by Harriet Nathan in 1972 Sponsored by the Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum Copy No. / of of Copyright (?) 1979 by the Regents the University California and the Trustees of the Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum TABLE OF CONTENTS -- Elise Stern Haas PREFACE i A PERSONAL NOTE TO MY CHILDREN by Elise Haas ill INTRODUCTION by Meyer Friedman, M.D. v INTRODUCTION by Henry T. Hopkins vii INTERVIEW HISTORY viii ANCESTORS AND FAMILY HISTORY The Meyer Family Grandfather Eugene Meyer The Newmark Family 4 Grandmother Harriet Newmark Meyer and Her Children 5 Rosalie Meyer 6 Marriage to Sigmund Stern The Stern Family Residence in San Francisco 10 Birth and Mother s Illness Christian Science 12 Mother s Music and Musical Friends 13 Mother s Accomplishments, Activities and a Gift 14 GIRLHOOD RECOLLECTIONS 17 Home at Pacific and Octavia 17 Some Long-Term Friendships 19 School and Classes 20 The Earthquake Memories: San Francisco and Fair Oaks Homes at Fair Oaks 28 MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN 31 Meeting Walter Haas 31 Decision and a Wedding 33 Walter, Jr. 34 The World War I Years 35 Peter 36 Rhoda Galileo, Deerfield, U.S. and Harvard 38 Miss Godchaux - French and Grammar 40 The -1929 Family Trip to Europe 41 The 1939 Trip 42 Wartime and the Family 45 Peter and Jody 46 Two Generations 47 HOUSEHOLDS AND HOMES 48 The Willis Polk House 48 The Loveliest Lot in Town 48 The Top Apartment 49 Some Eric Mendelsohn Designs 51 CELEBRATIONS, TRAVELS AND INTERESTS 53 Birthdays 53 Sports and the Out-of-Doors 54 "Gloriana" and the Mountbattens 58 Visiting Israel 61 Aspects of Art and Music 66 COMMUNITY GROUPS AND SERVICE 69 Yerba Buena Club, Golden Gate International Exposition 69 The Nomura Luncheon 71 Blood Donor Service: World War II 73 Mt. Zion Hospital 76 U.C. and the Haas International Award 80 Concerts for Young People 82 Merola and the Singers Competition 84 Stern Grove and the Concerts 85 Maintaining Stern Grove 88 Proposed Center for the Performing Arts 90 THE PRACTICE OF ART 92 Lessons in Painting and Drawing 92 Classes in Sculpture 92 Developing an Art Collection 96 THE STEINS 100 Meeting Sarah and Michael Stein 101 The Matisse Portrait of Sarah 102 The Gentlemen from Gump s 102 Sketches from "Joie de Vivre" 104 "Granny Wants to Sell" 104 A Michael and Sarah Stein Memorial Collection 106 Meeting M. Matisse 106 Nate Cummings and the Portrait of Mike 108 The Elmire Incident 109 Janet Planner 111 Idea for a Show 112 Visit to Alice Toklas 115 Four Americans in Paris 117 TAKING CARE OF PAINTINGS 120 The Kecks and Conservation 120 Hazards of Lending Paintings 121 Sidelights on Coffelt and O Keeffe 124 Reproduction of "Femme au Chapeau" 126 HENRY MOORE 128 Some Acquisitions 128 Arranging a Visit with Moore 130 Seeing Moore s Studio and Garden 131 Moore in the U.S. ERNEST BLOCK 133 Manuscripts and Lectures at U.C. 134 Letters for the Music Department 134 ALBERT BENDER 138 A Camera for Ansel Adams 139 Tributes Printed by the Grabhorns 139 A Book and Some Clippings 141 The Letters from Mexico 143 DIEGO RIVERA 145 A Fresco for the Country Place 145 The Rivera at Stern Hall 147 MARINO MARINI 150 Some Portraits 150 The Horse Sculpture 150 TRANSITION IN ART, AND THE PROMOTION OF ARTISTS 153 ART MUSEUMS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF ART 155 Role of the Trustee 155 Disposition of "Femme au Chapeau" 157 The Museum s Rental Gallery 158 The Children s Choice .