[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

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                           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.
     

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