It's still February 14th, just, but I can still send you my love for Valentine's Day. As this project continues to be a labor of love, it's appropriate that I do February's post on this special day. I do hope that most of you have spent some quality time with your loved ones. No romantic dinners for me, or champagne, or roses, it's nose to the grindstone and a couple more hours of work until I call it a day.
What some of you may not know is that I as well as being an author, feature journalist and biographer, I am also a seasoned and sought after public speaker. Over the past few years I have had the privilege to present several programs to many organizations in San Diego County. Here is a list of some of my past public speaking engagements:
San Diego Archaeological Center
Ladies Golf Tournament, RSF
City of Solana Beach
Art Forum, RSF
Independent Women In Architecture
Torrey Pines Rotary Club
RSF Book Club
OSHA, UCSD Extension
La Jolla Riford Library
Solana Beach Library
The Westerners
San Dieguito Heritage Museum
Museum of San Diego History
Casa de Manana, La Jolla
RSF Senior Center
RSF Association Retreat
RSF History in the Garden
Colonial Dames of America
Friends of Lilian Rice
La Jolla Historical Society
RSF Business & Professional Women's Network
Save Our Heritage Foundation
San Dieguito Women’s Group
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Solana Beach Optimist Club
Ladies USGA luncheon, RSF
If you know of an organization that would like a presentation, contact me through this blog. I book ahead and have dates set for 2012 already, and have about two engagements scheduled each month this year. As they come up I'll be sure to let you know. But if you have an interest come down to Balboa Park, in the Balboa Park Club Ballroom, across from the Aerospace Museum, on March 5th where I'll have a table set up of books, and photos, and other bits and bobs as part of the celebration of the history of women in San Diego, organized by the Congress of History. It's an exciting weekend of lectures and walking tours, devoted to our local unsung female historic figures. I'll be there with Paul as a representative of Friends of Lilian J. Rice. Anyone may register for the weekend of lectures, although we will be there on Saturday, only. Visit the link above to find out more.
Hazel Waterman will be one of the women recognized over the weekend. She was San Diego's first female architect, and as was commissioned to do a major restoration of the Casa De Estudillo in Old Town San Diego, known and marketed in its day, 1910, as the marriage place of Ramona the heroine in Helen Hunt Jackson 's novel of the same name. Lilian Rice worked with Waterman as a draftswoman, and would have been a senior at UC Berkeley when Waterman was working on the restoration. It is very possible that Lilian observed and had an interest in this project, although there is no written documentation to prove it. Hazel had a daughter, Helen, who was two years Lilian's junior. Helen also attended UC Berkeley studying art and architecture. The two joined the ZLAC Rowing Club in 1910, and were both on Crew IV. So as such a close friend of Helen's it is hard to imagine that Lilian would not have been informed, aware and even involved with Hazel's project. Harriet Wimmer, a landscape architect is also the subject of a lecture during the weekend. She worked on several of Lilian Rice's project most notable being the Wohlford House in Eureka Ranch in Escondido. This home, which won Rice an award in House Beautiful in 1932, was demolished in 2005 for a housing development.
With more awareness and care, perhaps Lilian Rice's homes may be saved from the wrecking ball in the future.
More coming next month, friends. Thanks for stopping by!
