USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913 > Part 48
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The Museum Association lost no time in entering upon its work in the art gallery and improving the opportunity afforded by this magnificent gift. The first step taken by it was to organize the school of design, and for that purpose Messrs. Weinstock and Lubin con- tributed $1000 toward the purchase of the necessary casts and para- phernalia for the school. It was opened in January, 1886, and was continued for a number of years. It developed in this city and the surrounding counties an aesthetic taste and a cultivation of artistic talent that eventually produced wide results, and many of the students afterwards earned names that stand high among the artists of Cali- fornia. The Ladies' Museum Association founded a number of schol- arships for those who showed artistic talent but could not afford the expense of developing it under ordinary circumstances, and the op- portunity was eagerly embraced by a number who in later days did credit to the institution.
During the loan exhibition the Museum Association had secured a large number of life members in this city, and a larger number subse- ยท quently in San Francisco among former Sacramentans who had not forgotten their attachment for their old home. With the revenue from these, from a small number of members who paid regular dues, and from admission fees to the gallery on such days as it was open to admission, rounded out by voluntary contributions from generous citizens, the school became self-sustaining, and the good it did lives after it.
In 1887 the association, in conjunction with the board of trustees
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of the city, applied to the legislature for the custody of the state's mineral cabinet, which had up to that time been kept in the State Capitol. The legislature passed a law empowering the governor to appoint three trustees to take charge of the cabinet and locate it in the E. B. Crocker Art Gallery, without expense to the state, so that it might be more readily viewed by the people. In accordance with this act, Governor Bartlett appointed three of the directors of the Mu- seum Association for that purpose and the cabinet was removed and placed on the lower floor of the gallery. Mr. Irelan, the state miner- alogist, consented to allow his assistant, Dr. Schneider, to be detailed to re-classify the cabinet, and when he had done so the trustees, through Dr. Pyburn, the secretary, began arranging it in cases, and the work being completed, December 26, 1888, it was thrown open to the inspection of the public on the following day. The state retained its title to the property, but its custody being as explained, rendered it a very valuable addition to the gallery. Later on, a valuable collec- tion of minerals and natural history exhibits and curiosities of an earlier association which was known as the Agassiz Institute was presented to the association.
In September, 1888, David Lubin presented to the association five exquisite pieces of statuary purchased by him in Italy. In October, 1888, the association, which had never called on the citizens of Sacra- mento for contributions to its support, except for the loan exhibit of 1885, determined to hold a second loan exhibition. The ladies of the city resolved to aid it, prominent among them being the wives and daughters of members of the association. They organized and were known as the Ladies' Museum Association of Sacramento, with Mrs. Mayor Gregory as president ; Mrs. William Ingram, Jr., secretary, and Mrs. Albert Bonnheim, treasurer. In two months they had a member- ship of one hundred and thirty-eight, and offered to take charge of the loan exhibition, which they did, and made it a success fully equal to the first one.
For many years, in fact, almost from the time of transfer of the mineral cabinet to the art gallery, the trustees of the cabinet have been H. Weinstock, J. A. Woodson and Dr. Pyburn.
The present directors of the California Museum Association are: J. A. Woodson, president; H. Weinstock, vice-president; Daniel Flint, R. P. Burr, E. C. Hopkins, E. J. Devlin, D. A. Lindley, M. J. Curtis and Sparrow Smith; W. F. Jackson, secretary. Mr. Jackson has al- ways been the custodian of the gallery since its gift to the city, and during the continuance of the Art School, held under the auspices of the Ladies' Museum Association, he was the instructor. His name stands among the foremost artists of California and is well known throughout the state.
The officers of the Ladies' Museum Association at present are: President, Miss Bessie Crouch; vice-president, Mrs. J. E. Terry; sec-
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retary, Mrs. Frederick J. Schwartz; treasurer, Mrs. W. H. Govan; directors : Mrs. William Beckman, Mrs. W. K. Cothrin, Mrs. E. F. Frazer, Mrs. L. A. McLean, Mrs. Gus Lavenson, Mrs. E. C. Hart and Miss Mary Crouch.
The association is not only self-supporting, but still continues to endow scholarships from its fund for that purpose. It recently awarded its thirty-seventh scholarship, and the pupils have well re- paid the association by the advancement made by them in art. Some of the "scholarship paintings" have even been placed in the salons of Paris, and many struggling geniuses have been enabled to realize their artistic ambitions to develop their talent. At present the as- sociation has on hand about $2000, with which, when it grows to a suitable amount through donations from lovers of art, or other sources, it proposes to purchase a painting of sufficient merit and donate it to the gallery. It is to be hoped that its efforts to encourage art culture will meet with the success they deserve.
CHAPTER XLI ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS SACRAMENTO PIONEERS
The pioneers of Sacramento early recognized the advisability of forming an association of the first comers to the coast. January 25, 1854, about seventy persons met at Jones' hotel on J street, between Front and Second, for the purpose of organizing a pioneer association in Sacramento. Joseph W. Winans was elected chairman, and Samuel Colville, secretary, of the meeting. A committee was appointed, con- sisting of R. P. Johnson, Samuel Colville, J. W. Winans and R. M. Folger, which reported on the 27th of January a constitution. It was adopted and, with some alterations made later, is the one which now governs the body. The association met February 6, 1854, for the purpose of electing officers, to serve until September 9, 1854. The following were elected: Joseph W. Winans, president; J. B. Starr, J. N. Nevett, D. J. Lisle, Richard Rust, J. B. Mitchell and William M. Carpenter, vice-presidents; Samuel Colville, recording secretary; N. A. H. Ball, corresponding secretary; B. F. Hastings, treasurer; H. E. Robinson, Volney Spalding, C. C. Sackett, R. P. Johnson, W. C. Waters, James Haworth and George Rowland, directors.
The charter members of the association were as follows, although a number of those at the first meeting signed their names later in the vear, but too late to be charter members, the roll having closed in January :
James Anthony, James Alexander, H. B. Bonnell, E. J. Barroll, Frank Bush, Jr., Gordon Backus, J. B. Blanchard, Charles H. Brad- ford, M. D. Corse, George Cadwalader, Edward Crowell, John H.
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Carroll, Samuel Colville, William Chesley, James H. Culver, John L. Craig, George Chedwick, Robert M. Folger, Gilbert Griswold, Justin Gates, Jr., John G. Hyer, James Haworth, J. L. Howard, C. W. Hoyt, W. P. Henry, H. W. Harkness, C. C. Hayden, James C. Hedenburg, Thomas H. Jackson, E. B. Kenyon, W. F. Kennedy, Edward McCarty, C. Morrill, James B. Mitchell, Jesse Moore, G. W. Mann, M. K. Murphy, Samuel J. May, David Oliver, H. H. O'Callahan, Gregory J. Phelan, Henry E. Robinson, S. B. Robbins, George Rowland, Charles Smith, Jacob S. Shaber, A. C. Sweetzer, Charles S. Sackett, Charles H. Shaw, James B. Starr, John Tingman, Joseph W. Winans, William Wolfersburger, John Wood, Jonathan Williams, J. C. Zabriskie, R. P. Johnson, N. A. H. Ball, B. F. Hastings, Volney Spalding, J. N. Nevett, D. J. Lisle, Richard Rust, J. H. Culver, A. C. Latson, A. C. Morse, J. F. Morse, Charles F. Swift.
The present officers are: Joseph Sims, president; directors, Joseph Sims, F. S. Hotchkiss, George P. Putnam, W. E. Norris, James G. Patterson, Mrs. Ida Taylor, Mrs. M. Witham; secretary, James G. Patterson; treasurer, People's Savings bank.
In order to explain this list, it will be necessary to recite the series of events which led to the adoption of a new constitution and the admission of a younger set of members. The original constitution had been amended a number of times, so that confusion as to its pro- visions arose. In the meantime the roll had been steadily growing less, as the members passed away. An association known as the Sons and Daughters of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers had been formed in 1891, the first officers being: William M. Sims, presi- dent; Leila J. Lindley, vice-president; Annie Luther, secretary; Matie Johnston, treasurer; P. C. Farnsworth, marshal; directors, Gnssie Carroll, Minnie Richardson, Leila J. Lindley, Florence McKune, W. E. Osborn, William M. Sims, C. E. Mack, Jr., W. A. Gett, Jr., and H. M. LaRue, Jr. The society incorporated July 28, 1891.
At this time the roll of the pioneers was steadily growing smaller, and by the end of the century the disposition to be made of the valu- able propery belonging to the association became an important ques- tion, and one involving much thought. The Sons and Daughters of Pioneers signified their willingness to make an arrangement through which they would ultimately take over the property when the last Pioneer had passed away. The idea met with favor in the eyes of some of the Pioneers, while others opposed it. Finally, January 30, 1909, when only ten of the Pioneers remained, they agreed to form a new organization, with a new constitution, and the present one was adopted. It provides for two classes, the first to consist of those whom the original society had declared eligible to become members, and the second to consist of the sons, daughters and lineal descendants of the members of the Pioneers' Association in good standing. Under
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this constitution the Sons and Daughters became members of the as- sociation of Pioneers April 25, 1909.
The Pioneers' membership has in the meantime dwindled to four: Joseph M. Sims, F. S. Hotchkiss, D. M. Burns and Jerome Madden. Up to February 8, 1912, Edward Twitchell was one of the remaining members, but he passed away on that date, at the age of eighty-three years. He came to California through Mexico in 1849, riding across that country on a mule. For many years he was connected with the surveyor-general's office, and made the first government survey of Lake Tahoe and the Colorado desert.
Following is a complete list of the presidents of the society and the respective dates of their time of service: Joseph W. Winans, 1854-56; A. C. Monson, 1856-57; John F. Morse, 1857-59; James Queen, 1859-60; A. C. Monson, 1860-61; John H. Carroll, 1861-62; N. L. Drew, 1862-63; Gregory J. Phelan, 1863-64; R. H. McDonald, 1864- 65; Justin Gates, 1865-66; William F. Knox, 1866-67; Isaac N. Hoag, 1867-68; James McClatchy, 1868-70; Charles N. Ross, 1870-71; Isaac Lohman, 1871-72; Albert Leonard, 1872-73; Edward F. Aiken, 1873-74; Asa P. Andrews, 1874-75; G. K. Van Heusen, 1875-76; N. D. Goodell, 1876-77; Homer P. Osborn, 1877-78; George A. Putnam, 1878-79; John S. Miller, 1879-80; W. C. Felch, 1880-81; James McGuire, 1881-82; A. H. Powers, 1882-83; J. H. McKune, 1883-84; George W. Chesley, 1884-87; Powell S. Lawson, 1887-90; H. M. LaRue, 1890-91; William Johnston, 1891-92; J. M. Stephenson, 1892-94; W. W. Light, 1894-95; William Turton, 1895-96; Joseph Sims, 1896-97; W. C. Farnsworth, 1897-98; E. Twitchell, 1898-99; A. C. Sweetser, 1899-1900; Felix Tracy, 1900-01; D. Megowan, 1901-02; F. Hotchkiss, 1902-03; W. R. Strong, 1903-04; H. M. LaRue, 1904-07; D. Megowan, 1907-08; Joseph Sims, 1908 till the present time.
The association meets in Pioneer hall, which building was erected by it in 1868, on Seventh street, between J and K, and later it pur- chased a building adjoining it on the south and fitted it up with a banquet hall and parlor. It also collected a museum of relies of the early days, which contained many interesting objects.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Chamber of Commerce is one of the live institutions of Sac- ramento and wields a widely extended influence, with a large member- ship in the towns of the valley as well as in the city. It was estab- lished July 12, 1895, and has been in existence ever since, doing much to promote the permanent upbuilding of the community. Like all similar associations, however, it has languished at times, owing to the indifference of members, but the organization has been maintained in spite of discouragements, and since 1907 it has taken a more active part in the promotion of the commercial interests of city and valley. Since 1910 its influence has been particularly noteworthy. The presi-
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dent, D. W. Carmichael, is a "live wire," and has made good as an expert in stirring up all measures for the local betterment. The de- velopment of the public interests along the right path has been a matter of intense interest to him. A tireless worker, indefatigable in endeavor and purposeful in results, his clear intellect and keen faculties are devoted to the welfare of the city. In his endeavors h6 has been seconded ably by Glenn S. Andrus, secretary-manager of the Chamber of Commerce, whose training has admirably qualified him for the work. The co-operation of the Home Products League, the Real Estate Board and other civic bodies has been secured, and the influence of the Chamber is felt throughout the valley along lines of permanent progress.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
The Sacramento Valley Development Association was formally organized at a meeting held at Woodland, Yolo county, January 15th and 16th, 1900. The suggestion of such an organization for the valley was evidently made by C. W. Thomas, an attorney of Woodland. He passed the suggestion on to Gen. Will S. Green with the request that the Colusa county board of trade call a meeting of delegates from the various counties and municipalities of the valley for the purpose of discussing the creation of such an organization. General Green, realizing the need, prevailed upon the Colusa county board of trade to issue such a call, and the meeting at Woodland was the result. The records show that six counties (Colusa, Yuba, Sacramento, Sutter, Glenn and Yolo) were represented by delegates at that meeting. The meeting was called to order by C. W. Thomas, and D. H. Arnold of Colusa and George Clark of Woodland were elected temporary chair- man and temporary secretary. Among those who took a prominent part in this first meeting were: C. W. Thomas, Gen. Will S. Green, Robert T. Devlin, George V. Martin, Marshall Diggs, Dr. D. P. Durst of Woodland, Frank Miller of Sacramento, Hon. F. D. Ryan of Sac- ramento, James M. O'Brien of Marysville, Hon. George W. Pierce of Davis, J. O. Coleman and Col. E. A. Forbes of Marysville. At this meeting Gen. Will S. Green of Colusa was elected president, and acted in that capacity until his death July 3, 1905. Soon after this mecting at Woodland the office of the association was moved to Colusa, and F. E. Wright of that place was elected secretary.
The call for the first meeting held in Woodland invited delegates to attend the meeting of the Sacramento Valley Irrigation Convention. The second meeting was held at Oroville, where permanent organiza- tion was finally perfected and the name changed to the Sacramento Valley Development Association.
The greatest difficulty confronting the organization in its early days existed in the raising of funds for its support. General Green personally visited the counties of the Sacramento valley and appealed
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to the several boards of supervisors for an appropriation of fifty dollars each. The delegates from each county paid their own ex- penses for several years, and the lack of funds made it practically impossible for the association to accomplish any work which required the expenditure of any sums of money. Its moral influence, however, was great, and its first efforts were directed towards an educational campaign in the Sacramento valley so that those already living here might know the opportunities and advantages that this district pos- sessed in comparison with other sections of the world. One of the first undertakings of the association was to confer with the owners of the Glenn ranch in Glenn county and induce its subdivision into small farm tracts. Efforts were directed to securing reports from the United States department of agriculture upon the various lands of the valley and the possibilities for irrigating the same. The Geological Survey was induced to send experts here for the purpose of mapping the sites for storage reservoirs, and thus was started the study of the water control problems of the Sacramento valley.
As the organization grew the need of additional funds was ap- parent, and a custom was inaugurated which exists at the present time, that each county should contribute to the support of the organization a fund equivalent to one-half cent on each one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.
In 1909 the need of extensively advertising the Sacramento valley was evident, and the association undertook to raise an advertising fund of fifty thousand dollars a year for five years, or a total of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This fund was secured and has been continued, and is now in its third year. The organization has grown to be recognized as one of the largest factors of public im- provement on the Pacific coast. Its work is extensive, consisting of the installation and maintenance of exhibits at various points through- out the American continent, issuance of literature, advertising in publications throughout the United States and various other lines of activity.
Soon after the death of General Green, Hon. Marshall Diggs, who had been closely identified with the enterprise since its inception, was elected president, and still holds that office. In August, 1903, the office was moved to Sacramento, and W. A. Beard of Oroville elected secretary. He continued in office until September, 1906, and was suc- ceeded by O. H. Miller of Marysville, who has since held this office. The present officers of the association are: President, M. Diggs; first vice-president, Newton Cleaveland; second vice-president, E. Frank- lin ; secretary, O. H. Miller; treasurer, C. F. Dillman; directors, B. Cussick, J. W. Kaerth, C. H. Dunton, I. J. Proulx, E. Franklin, Mor- ris Brooks, W. D. Egilbert, B. F. Bush, Louis Tarke, A. L. Conard, T. B. Gibson and H. H. Dunning. The organization embraces the
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following twelve counties: Butte, Colusa, Eldorado, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, Shasta, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba.
THE SATURDAY CLUB
No list of representative institutions of Sacramento would be complete unless it contained a history of the inception and progress of a club that by its enterprise and executive management has made its name and that of Sacramento known to the whole United States and, as a matter of fact, to many lovers of music in Europe.
The musical life of Sacramento is represented by the Saturday Club, a magnificent organization of women, formed for the stimula- tion of musical interest in the community. From a charter member- ship of sixty it has swelled to a membership of thirteen hundred, and its further rapid growth has been limited only by the present ac- commodations for its recitals. It is said to be one of the best man- aged women's clubs in the United States. The club was organized through the efforts of Mrs. Irving Bentley, now of San Francisco, and Miss Emily Thompson, now the wife of Dr. James Pond of Oakland. A charter membership of forty active and twenty associate members was enrolled, with Mrs. Frank Miller as president; Mrs. Charles McCreary, vice-president, and Miss Emily Thompson, secre- tary and treasurer. These officers, with Mesdames George E. Pratt, R. I. Bentley, B. F. Howard, Charles Neale and Miss Minnie Clarke, composed the first executive board. Of the sixty charter members, only two, Mrs. Albert Elkus and Mrs. Robert Hawley, have retained their active membership during the twenty years, and only five of the associate members, Mesdames G. L. Simmons, Sparrow Smith, H. G. May, and Misses Minnie Richardson and Lizzie Griffin. The latter has since given eleven years of service as an active member.
The social side dominated during the first two years of the club's life, the associate membership being limited, and the meetings being held at the homes of the members, the first one being at Mrs. McCreary's December 9, 1893. At the beginning of the third year, the by-laws were changed, and the meetings were held in public halls, a more democratic spirit supplanting the exclusive feature formerly prevailing. Membership tickets were made transferable and people of all callings were made eligible to enjoy the programmes. Since then the club has been steadily increasing in power and strength, broaden- ing its field of work and widening its influence. It has outgrown every available meeting place in the city, so that it has several times been forced to close its membership roll. A few months ago it was re- opened, the Diepenbrock theater offering more spacious accommoda- tions.
The membership of the club consisted originally of two classes- active and associate, but four years after its organization a student class was added, limited to fifty, who must be studying with a teacher
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of good repute. The standard set for these pupils is very high, and the Club has educated several hundred girls in this way. The list is always full and often there are as many as forty waiting to get in at the end of the season.
The club is purely an organization of women, and until six years ago no names of men appeared on the prospectus except as par- ticipants in the programmes. Since that time a limited number of men have been admitted to associate membership, and a Men's Auxiliary was also formed, made up of local musicians who had given and were still giving valuable assistance to the club. During the first six years of its existence, the programmes were given almost entirely by its active members, but since that time a series of artists' recitals has been given each season. As many as twelve artists' recitals are often given, which, with the nine Home Days given by members of the club, make an interesting season. It is the only club in the United States that gives its members the privilege of hearing the great artists without assessments. In the Saturday club the membership tickets admit to all recitals. The club has also a study course for its mem- bers, conducted by prominent musicians of this coast. In 1911 Albert I. Elkus gave a course of twelve lectures on music, with musical illustrations.
Among the most famous artists of the world who have appeared under the patronage of the club are: Moriz Rosenthal, Mme. Bloom- field Zeisler, Camilla Urso, Katherine Ruth Heyman (a Sacra- mentan), Edward McDowell, Mlle. de Lussan, Madame Schumann- Heink, Josef Hofmann, Wilhelm Heinrich, Nordica and the Russ Orchestra, David Bispham, the Kneisel Quartette, Mary Louise Clary, Denis O'Sullivan, the Westminster Choir, Jan Kubelik, Clande Cun- ningham, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, Johanna Gadski, Herbert Witherspoon, Bruce Gordon Kingsley, Teresa Careno, Fritz Kreisler, Emilio de Gorgoza, Josef Lhevinne, Antonio de Grassi, the Flonzaley Quar- tette, Antonio Scotti, Jaroslav Kocian, Rheinhold Von Warlich, the Russian Symphony, and Tettrazzini, the last receiving an ovation seldom offered to artists when she appeared here in March, 1912.
The Artist Recitals are always looked forward to with great an- ticipation by the entire membership, being both delightful and profit- able, and an incentive to the active and student membership, but it is the Home Days that keep the club spirit alive, the programme being by the active membership, each one appearing twice during the season, and a programme analysis being given by one of the literary mem- bers. The club has always paid the artist talent all that the treasury would allow, and when a famous Californian revisits the coast, invites him or her to make application for a date. It has undoubtedly done more for the musical life of Sacramento than any other influence. Before its inception, it is difficult to appreciate the musical apathy that prevailed in the city. Famous artists came here a few times, and met
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with disappointment. De Pachmann twenty-two years ago played to an audience of thirty people.
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