[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E717-E718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE CENTENNIAL OF THE DE YOUNG MEMORIAL MUSEUM
______
HON. NANCY PELOSI
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 28, 1995
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 100th
Anniversary of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum of San Francisco. This
great museum, founded at the close of the 19th Century, remains one of
San Francisco's landmarks and a leading institution for collections and
exhibitions in the United States.
It was in 1894 that newspaper publisher M.H. de Young, organized a
fair to showcase the strength and diversity of the California economy.
In record time, the California Midwinter International Exposition of
1894 was a dramatic success, so much so that de Young, the Director
General of the Exposition, convinced city leaders to retain the Fine
Arts Building from the exposition in Golden Gate Park. This building
became the centerpiece of de Young's drive to form a museum in memory
of the fair, to create a collection of ``treasures and curios for the
entertainment and instruction of the people of California.''
On March 21, 1895, the Memorial Museum was opened as, de Young put
it, ``to create a nucleus of what someday would be a great museum.'' In
a few short years, over half a million visitors a year passed through
its turnstiles. It survived the earthquake of 1906, and in 1915, de
Young had concluded that the growing collection and crowds at the
museum required a new structure. De Young commissioned an architect to
draw plans for a new building, and arranged the funding for the
building from private donors and his own savings. On April 15, 1917,
the cornerstone was laid for the new building, which, as the
invitations stated, was to be the ``New Memorial Museum.'' By the mid-
1920's, other sections, including the tower, were added to the museum,
and attendance was then said to equal the New York Metropolitan Museum
and surpassed that of the Smithsonian.
In 1924, the museum's board of trustees was incorporated into the San
Francisco City Charter by a vote of the people. The same vote saw M.H.
de Young recognized for his contributions to the museum by adding his
name to the formal title which stands today: The M.H. de Young Memorial
Museum.
Through the 1930's, the de Young developed its reputation as a museum
of international significance. Major exhibitions from Europe now
included San Francisco, and many began under the de Young's leadership.
Beginning in the 1930's, major exhibitions on American art in 1935 and
1939 presaged the museum's later emphasis on the field, including an
exhibition showcasing Bay Area photographers who became household
names: Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Imogen Cunningham.
In the 1960's, the de Young secured the rights to Avery Brundage's
magnificent collection of Asian Art, eventually helping to establish
the Asian Art Museum. The de Young also continued its aggressive
exhibition of young American artists, including some only just becoming
known, such as Wayne Thiebaud, Richard Diebenkorn, and Robert Arneson.
In 1972, the de Young Memorial Museum and the California Palace of
the Legion of Honor merged to operate as The Fine Arts Museum of San
Francisco, an operating structure still in place. Nevertheless, the de
Young Memorial Museum continues to hold its separate identity to the
art world, bringing breathtaking exhibitions of Van Gogh, the treasures
of King Tutankhamen, the murals of Teotihuacan, and the Impressionists
to the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. The de Young's reputation
for its American art continued with important retrospectives of
American giants such as Andrew Wyeth and Grant Wood.
Mr. Speaker, the de Young Memorial Museum is 100 years young, still
growing, but now a great museum which continues to be a nucleus of
great exhibitions. It will celebrate its Centennial with a landmark
showing of some of the last paintings of Claude Monet, entitled
``Monet: Late Paintings of Giverny from the Musee Marmottan.'' On
behalf of the Congress, let us salute all those who, for 100 years,
have contributed to the success--past, present, and future--of the de
Young Memorial Museum.
Key Chronology of de Young Memorial Museum
1894, San Francisco Civic Leaders organize 1894 California
Midwinter International Exposition. Midwinter chosen to
showcase the benign climate of the Bay Area. M.H. de Young is
the driving force behind the Exposition.
1895: De Young, convinced that a Museum located in a Park
was always popular (after touring Met in Central Park), leads
drive to have a ``memorial museum'' to commemorate the 1894
Fair in Golden Gate Park.
1895, MARCH 21: Memorial Museum is dedicated.
1915: De Young commissions Louis Mullgardt, architect of
the 1915 Panama-Pacific Fair, to design a new building to
replace Midwinter Fair buildings. De Young arranges financing
from donors and his own money.
1917: Cornerstone laid for what is now present day de Young
Memorial Museum.
1924: Museum now part of City Charter. Name changed in
Charter Amendment to ``M.H. de Young Memorial Museum.''
1932: Group f.64 show held at de Young, showcasing Ansel
Adams, Edward Weston, and Imogen Cunningham.
1933: Dr. Walter Heil becomes director of de Young. Remains
until 1960.
1935: First major exhibition of American painting at de
Young.
1939: Major exhibition on American art entitled ``Frontiers
of American Art.''
1949: Due to decay and danger, external ornaments of de
Young Museum structure are removed. They include allegorical
figures and symbols of California, including Spanish
conquistadors, Franciscan padres, pioneer man and woman,
science industry, and art.
ca late 1950's: negotiations begin for acquisition of Avery
Brundage collection of Asian art, led by Gwin Follis.
1961: Heil retires. Jack McGregor takes over, begins
construction of new wing for Asian art.
1969: Asian Art Museum ``splits off'' from de Young.
1969: Ian McKibbin White takes over as acting Director of
de Young for Van Gogh exhibition.
1972: de Young and Legion of Honor merge as The Fine Arts
Museums of San Francisco.
1973: Andrew Wyeth retrospective.
1976: Grant Wood retrospective.
[[Page E718]] 1979: ``Treasures'' of Tutankhamen brings 1.8
million visitors.
1981: ``Art of Louis Comfort Tiffany: exhibition.
1986: ``The New Painting: Impressionism'' exhibition.
1987: Harry S. Parker III becomes Director of The Fine Arts
Museums of San Francisco.
1995: Trustees decide on a $96 million plan to demolish
present building housing de Young Memorial Museum, build new
structure on site.
1995: Monet: Late Paintings at Giverny from the Musee
Marmottan'' opens in San Francisco.
____________________