The exact date when the La Jolla Art Association was formed is not certain. In her history of the group, Eleanor B. Parkes describes the occasion as April, 1918:
"It was early in the spring of 1918 that a group of artists used to meet in La Jolla, spending their time making sketches, picnicking together and finally closing the day by a visit to the home of Miss Ellen Scripps who was very much interested in their art and what they were doing, and would serve a cup of tea. On one of these occasions in April, 1918, Mrs. Eleanor Parkes conceived the idea of having an art organization in La Jolla for both artists and laymen. Much enthusiasm was expressed among the group at this time and it was decided to form such an organization and Mrs. Parkes was selected as its President.
In her report to the La Jolla Library Association on June 2, 1942, Mrs. Parkes' story is somewhat different:
It is pleasant to recall the early beginning of the La Jolla Art Association, which came about through and [sic] invitation to afternoon Tea at Miss Ellen Scripps home October 18, 1918 on her 82nd birthdate, when a small group of friends either artists themselves or lovers of Art were her guests. These artists were A. R. Valentine [sic], Chas. Fries, Maurice Braun, Alfred Mitchel [sic] from San Diego and Nora Landers, Helen DeLange, Martha Bintliff, and Jene Bell of La Jolla.The conversation naturally turned to Art, as Mr. Valentine had just completed the final book for Miss Scripps of his matchless California floral studies done in watercolor.
It was at this time the suggested idea of forming an Art Colony in La Jolla met with favor from all present, and by 1919 our new La Jolla Art Association had its first showing in the Woman's Club.
An article in the La Jolla Journal announced that the association was formed in October, 1920, a much later date:
A new Community Birth has occurred in La Jolla this week, one that promises to add much to the pleasure and culture of our village, the name being the La Jolla Art Association. Facts given, disclose visions of a small colony of artists working together in La Jolla 10 or 12 years ago, dreaming of possibilities that might be developed here as an art center, for those who dwell within our gates, and the privilege of enjoying the abilities of those whose canvases are loaned from time to time.With the building of our new library, a suitable room to properly house these treasures makes this a reality.
It looks now as if, among the many attractions La Jolla already has to her credit, this latest will be the greatest one of her crowning features for culture.
The charter membership contains such eminent names as:
Messrs. Maurice Braun, Valentine, Fries, W. Templeton Johnson, Miss Alice Klauber, Miss Virginia Scripps, Mrs. Fred Scripps, Mrs. June Bell, Mrs. Martha H. Bintliff, Mrs. Baxter, Miss Helen DeLange, Miss Fenn, Miss Landers, Mrs. St. John, Mrs. Braun, Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Elenora [sic] B. Parkes.
The officers elected were: Mrs. Elenora B. Parkes, president; Mrs. Maurice Braun, vice president; Mrs. Martha H. Bintliff, secretary-treasurer. Jury: Mrs. Maurice Braun, Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Fries, Miss Klauber, Miss Fenn, Miss DeLange, Mrs. Martha B. Bintliff. Publicity: Mrs. Maurice Braun.
We hope to have a very large associate membership and all those interested in this work will be invited to join the association in the near future.
In 1964, a similar picture of the history was painted in a report presented by Jean (Eugenia) Martin, who was President of LJAA 1961-1964:
Thirteen artists used to paint together on the shores of La Jolla and at the end of the day Miss Ellen or Miss Virginia Scripps would invite them up to their homes for tea and art discussions from 1918 to 1922.
There was a meeting held at the residence of Miss Ellen Scripps on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1920, to organize the La Jolla Art Association. There were twelve charter members present. Mrs. Elinor [sic] Parkes was elected acting chairman. They held the charter membership open and took in several more artists: 53 Charter members - First year, 19 Exhibiting members.
Mr. Mitchell and Miss Lita Klauber are the only living charter members and Mr. Mitchell is the longest exhibiting member we have. The dues were $2.00 each for charter, active, exhibiting, or associate membership.
Since the La Jolla Art Association has occupied gallery space as a group subordinate to the Library Association of La Jolla, its fate has been closely tied to that of the Library Association. This history therefore touches on the affairs of the Library Association that affect its actions with regard to LJAA.
The expansion of the La Jolla Art Association was enabled by the development of the Library Association of La Jolla. Marjorie F. Hutchinson, President of the Library Association in 1955, wrote an article at that time describing its history.
In 1894 "The Reading Club" was formed in La Jolla....
In 1895 Miss Florence Sawyer was a guest at The La Jolla Park Hotel, which stood about where the Stuard's Ladies Shop is now. Miss Sawyer was evidently charmed by the village, or artist's colony as it was called by many visitors and residents. She was to become one of La Jolla's benefactors, for she purchased a lot on the corner of Girard and Wall Streets in 1898 for the express purpose of building a "Reading Room" for La Jolla. "The Reading Club" met in this building for some years thereafter....
In 1897 it was decided that "The Reading Club" should become "The La Jolla Literary Club", and join the County Federation, which it did. Thereafter this group met at Miss Scripps' home, and later became "The La Jolla Woman's Club."
Miss Florence Sawyer, who was a companion to Mrs. Catherine Howard Spear, an invalid, was most anxious to see "The Reading Club" re-organized, as such. This desire was the impetus needed to bring about the organization of The Library Association of La Jolla, which thereafter was to supervise the operation of "The Reading Room".
Mrs. Spear died on March 20, 1899, and Miss Sawyer decided to present the newly formed association with a deed to the property. The name "Reading Room" was changed to "The Spear Memorial Library", which it kept until 1920 when the building was moved to Draper Street, at the end of Silver Street, where it now stands and is used as a residence....
On May 26, 1899, Miss Sawyer became Mrs. John Ransome Bransby [subsequently referred to as Mrs. Florence Bransby]. On June 18, 1899, "The Library Association of La Jolla" was incorporated by Miss Ellen Browning Scripps, Mrs. Olivia Mudgett, C. S. Dearborn and Anson P. Mills.
During those early days of the association members took turns acting as librarians, caretakers, etc. Everything was still quite informal. However, as the village grew, as more books were added to the shelves either as gifts or purchased from association funds, as new demand [sic] were made upon the librarian, etc., it was decided to employ a librarian. Mr. Mills consented to take the job, and was paid the salary of three dollars a month. This happened in January of 1900.
Miss Josephine Chase, a trained librarian, was hired by the association sometime during the following year, and served until October 28, 1905. Miss Nina Waddell, also a trained librarian, succeeded her, and is lovingly remembered by many old timers. She served as librarian for almost sixteen years. It was during her years of service that the present library building was envisioned and built. However, she did not live to work in the new building, nor to see it dedicated. She died in June of 1921.
Miss Ellen Browning Scripps was a benefactress for many organizations in La Jolla. The photo in Figure 2 appears with the biography of her found on the San Diego Historical Society web site.
A paper in the LJAA scrapbook titled "The Library and The Art Gallery," dated 1951 and possibly by Mrs. Eleanor B. Parkes, describes the impetus for building a new library in La Jolla:
Shortly after the first world war public spirited citizens headed by Miss Ellen Scripps conceived the idea of a memorial to the men of the Armed Services who had fought in the war. The memorial was to take the form of a Library Building to be erected on the property given to the Library Board by Mrs. Florence Bransby in 1899. This property consisted of a plot 60 x 60 feet located at the corner of Girard and Wall Streets. The money to pay for the new Library was to be raised by public conscription and by additional funds furnished by Miss Scripps. The public subscription amounted to approximately $10,000. a sum not nearly sufficient for the projected Memorial.The Art Association, formed in 1918 and headed by Mrs. Eleanor B. Parkes, decided that in connection with the Library there should be an Art Gallery. This Gallery would be an integral part of the new building. To secure additional land the Art Association and Miss Scripps arranged for the acquisition of a plot of ground adjacent to the corner property of the Library Board. The house on this land was occupied by Dr. Truman Parker. Dr. Parker was persuaded through the efforts of the Art Association and Miss Scripps to vacate his property and the owner to sell it for the purpose of providing land for the Art Gallery extension to the proposed Library. The question of ample land having been settled Miss Scripps agreed to furnish the additional funds for this purpose above those required for the Library itself.
Marjorie F. Hutchinson's account of the events is fairly consistent:
A word might be said here about the room in the library building known as "The Art Gallery". During the construction of the present building in 1921, Miss Waddell and Mrs. Eleanor B. Parkes, a local artist and a member of The Library Association, approached Miss Scripps with the idea of adding another room to the building under construction, to be used by the association as a museum and art gallery. Miss Scripps, with her usual generosity, agreed that this would be a fine thing, and said that she would purchase the lot immediately adjoining the library property on Girard Avenue for that purpose and the lot immediately adjoining the property on Wall Street for further expansion. This she did and presented both of these lots to the library association.
The Library and The Art Gallery paper identifies the architect and contractor for the Library and the Art Gallery:
The services of Wm. Templeton Johnson [a founding member of the LJAA] as architect were secured and the layout of the present building was decided upon. Contractor for the erection was J. H. Nicholson.
Mr. Nicholson states that the extension to be utilized as the Art Gallery involved many structural details, especially electric wiring and arrangements and types of lighting fixtures and mountings that would be entirely unnecessary for a library but essential for proper showings of works of art.
The astute observer of the Art Gallery extension would also notice that, unlike the rest of the library, the space has no windows. The use of artificial lighting enables the control of light, especially for watercolors, which are sensitive to fading. Mr. Valentien and other artists in LJAA were noted for their watercolor paintings.
In 1951, Mr. Nicholson signed a paper in front of witnesses to verify the special features used in the Art Gallery:
Mr. Nicholson was interviewed and stated facts regarding the design and construction of the Art Gallery wing of the Library Building.
Mr. Nicholson stated that the original contract called for the Library proper only.
Later, about three months, Miss Scripps and her attorney Mr. Harper consulted with Mr. Johnson, the architect and Mr. Nicholson, the contractor regarding an extension. This extension was stated by Miss Scripps to be for the sole purpose of an Art Gallery.
Mr. Nicholson stated that the plans for the Library were altered to permit the addition. Special features of lighting and heating were included in the design of the Art Gallery addition. These features consisted of recessed heating appliances and special and specially located lighting fixtures and illumination. All these were for the purpose of protection and exhibition of the works of art which would be placed in the Gallery.
Mr. Nicholson as result of conversations with Miss Scripps is definitely of the opinion that the Gallery addition was to be specifically and solely for that purpose.
The history written by Mrs. Eleanor B. Parkes in 1949 describes other details about developing the new Library property:
So the plans went into effect and Wm. Templeton Johnson was engaged to add the Art Gallery to the Library building as a separate unit and the grounds of the patio were beautified on the Art Gallery ground. Mr. Merrill Gage was engaged to build the fountain in the patio.
A series of articles about the new library appeared in the La Jolla Journal in 1921. The second article, "Our Library (Number Two)," summarized the development and the results:
...Our Library waxed strong and lusty. The site of 60 square feet, which had been ample in the beginning, now seemed too small, and it was realized that, if other buildings should be erected next it, it would be sadly cramped for light and air, so an additional 22 feet on Girard Street and 80 on Wall Street were purchased by Miss Scripps and donated to it, thus making a fine site, with room for cultivated grounds around the building.
Finally, however, it was felt that the old building was hopelessly outgrown, and in the Winter of 1919-1920 the idea of a new one was agitated. Contributions were solicited by public spirited citizens, and the result is the beautiful building of which we are all proud. We, the people of La Jolla, gave about $11,000 toward it and our fairy godmother (we all know her quiet and unassuming way of making generous gifts) supplied the balance, and the result is something that not only we, but the generations coming after us, may well feel proud of.
The new building satisfies both aesthetic and practical needs. There is a large entrance room, where books will be received and issued, and a fine stack room which will not only hold all our present books but give us plenty of room for future supplies. At the right is a bright, cheery reading room and library for the children; at the left a reference reading room for grown-ups. Also, there is an open court, which is to be fitted up as an outdoor reading room. Isn't that a delightful idea?
In addition to all this, there is an art gallery, which will be under the charge of the La Jolla Art Association, where exhibitions of pictures may be hoped for several times a year, and which will prove a great attraction to residents and strangers alike.
Mrs. Eleanor B. Parkes described occupying the new Art Gallery:
The drive for members to the Art Association was successfully carried out and in October, 1921, when the Library opened its doors to the public the members of the Art Association contributed their very colorful and lovely canvases in a joint affair in their new gallery.
The dedication of the Library and the Art Gallery were described in the La Jolla Journal in "Our Library, No. 6." The article led into an essay about art that showed the importance of art in making us more aware of beauty:
...Were you at the opening of Our Library last Monday evening? If you were, didn't it all go beyond your expectations? ...
The Art Gallery has a fine exhibit though it always seems to me that pictures never really reveal themselves to one by artificial light, or when a crowd is about....
The Art Gallery will open with the second Exhibition of the La Jolla Art Association, and its exhibit will remain open every afternoon (except Sundays) from 3 to 5, for one month. If you went to its first exhibition at the Woman's Club last spring, you will know there is a treat in store for us, my brothers. This Association means a great deal to La Jolla. It started only about a year ago, and now has a membership of fifty charter members, twenty-one of which are exhibitors.
Of course, we all know how blessed we are with beautiful scenery in our immediate vicinity, but an odd thing is that we can often realize its beauty far more when we have first seen it portrayed as it looked through an artist's eyes. It is like the old story of Whistler, to whom a friend remarked on a mystic twilight evening, "It is like one of your pictures!" "Oh, yes," was the answer, "Nature is catching up!" The point is that probably his friend would not have noticed the wistful beauty of the twilight had he not first seen it through Whistler's eyes in his portrayal of it....
The exteriors of the Library building and the Art Gallery wing have been well-preserved and retain essentially the same appearance as they had when they were erected.
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