Athenaeum Timeline

“The city of Athens is founded in honor of the goddess Athena and becomes a center of learning.”

“Ben Franklin founds the first membership library in the United States, the Library Company of Philadelphia.
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“Six La Jolla women form the La Jolla Reading Club and begin meeting at the La Jolla Park Hotel.”

“Florence Sawyer, a frequent visitor to La Jolla, donates land and a small cottage at the corner of Wall Street and Girard Avenue as well as $1,000 worth of books and a piano. The Reading Club is incorporated as a membership library, with the name Library Association of La Jolla, and takes up residence in the Reading Room; local philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps is the first president of the Association.
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“The Reading Room is expanded for the first time to keep up with its growing needs.”

“Ellen Browning Scripps matches money donated by the membership to build the William Templeton Johnson Building at the same site as the Reading Room. Renowned horticulturist Kate Sessions is hired to plant a garden for a “reading court.” The building is dedicated to soldiers who fought in WWI.
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“Plaques are unveiled to honor founder, patron, donor, and life members.”

“The children of La Jolla resident Eda Hurd Lord donate her book and music collection, which includes the rare and valuable Bach Gesellschaft Werke.
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“William Templeton Johnson is asked to expand the building into the former Kate Sessions garden.
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“The San Diego Public Library begins renting space from the Library Association, and much of the Association’s collection is donated to the public library, leaving only art and music materials; the Association adopts the name Athenaeum Music & Arts Library.”

“William Lumpkins is hired to design a building to house the art and music collection; the new portion includes the now iconic Rotunda.
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“The Parker Building on Girard Avenue (attributed to Thomas Shepherd), adjacent to the Johnson Building on Wall Street, is acquired by the Athenaeum and leased to tenants.
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“A second story, designed by Robert Mosher, is built for the Johnson Building.”

“A piano is donated to the Athenaeum, and Glenna Hazleton initiates a series of lunchtime Mini-Concerts in La Jolla.
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“Glenna Hazleton begins a second series of Mini-Concerts in downtown San Diego, under separate administration. ”

“The Athenaeum’s School of the Arts is founded.
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“The Music Outreach program with Joe Parker begins.”

“All three buildings receive historical designation.”

“Erika Torri is hired and becomes the organization’s library director and later, Executive Director; the public library moves to Draper Avenue; the Jazz at the Athenaeum concert series is started; the Dialogues in Art & Architecture lecture series begins; plans for a major expansion into part of the Johnson Building are undertaken; and David Raphael Singer is chosen as the architect.
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“The first smaller expansion into the Johnson building is completed. The expansion project culminates with Celebration Week; the Chamber Concert Series is initiated; the Endowment Fund is started; the first gala is held; and the Permanent Art Collection is begun. From 1990 until 2005 the Athenaeum has three tenants: The Silver Store (until 2002), T-Shirt Shop (until 2004), La Jolla Art Association (until 2005).
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“The Artists’ Books Collection is begun; art exhibitions take on an expanded role; the Annual Appeal is initiated; the first Annual Juried Exhibiton is presented; the Art & Architecture lecture series becomes the Joyce Cutler-Shaw Dialogues in Art & Architecture; and Erika Torri becomes one of the founding members of the national Membership Libraries Group.
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“The tradition of a limited edition Patron gift designed by an artist is initiated to thank Patron members; the Order of the Olive is initiated to recognize members who give at an elevated level for five consecutive years; and a deferred giving plan is put in place. The Athenaeum hosts the fifth Membership Libraries Goup meeting.”

“Noise at the Library begins, and an important donation of more than 200 conceptual artists’ books is received (the RSM collection).”

“The Jazz at the Neurosciences Institute (later renamed The Scripps Research Institute; now known as Scripps Research) Series is added to keep up with demand for jazz presentations; Friends of Jazz is organized to help support programming; a second School of the Arts studio is opened downtown (New School of Architecture, Naval Training Center [now Liberty Station], Park Boulevard); collaboration with San Diego New Music begins; and employee health and pension benefits are implemented.
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“The Athenaeum celebrates its 100th Anniversary with 100 events in 100 days (including signature events by Gustavo Romero [music] and Philippe de Montebello [art]), receiving proclamations from President Bill Clinton, Governor Gray Davis, and Mayor Susan Golding; pianist Gustavo Romero’s presentation becomes the First Summer Festival.
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“The downtown School of the Arts studio relocates to Park Boulevard in University Heights, and a new jazz series, Jazz at the Studio, is inaugurated there.
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“The practice of annually inviting artists to design concert program covers is initiated (with a first cover by Raul Guerrero) and exhibitions begin taking place in the Rotunda.”

“The organization’s first CD, Live at the Athenaeum: Jazz with Mike Wofford, is recorded; the Campaign to Reclaim, the largest fundraising initiative in the organization’s history, is undertaken with an initial goal of $3 million, and $1 million is received from a single donor.
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“The Palladian Society lecture series and the downtown Mini-Concerts series come under the Athenaeum’s auspices.”

“A new membership group, The A List (later renamed The Night Owls), is initiated as an opportunity for younger generations to become involved at the Athenaeum.”

“February 6: Groundbreaking takes place on the most ambitious remodel and renovation of the buildings ever; all three historic buildings will be connected and be used for Athenaeum purposes.”

“The success of the Campaign to Reclaim, its revised goal of $5 million, is fully realized with a three-day celebration of the Athenaeum’s renovation and expansion. Exhibitions of the Athenaeum’s Artists’ Books Collection begin in the North Reading Room, and the Art Outreach program is added. The Athenaeum’s second CD, Live at the Athenaeum: Jazz, volume 2, with Holly Hofmann and Mike Wofford, is recorded. Oak Knoll Press, representing 16 of the remaining membership libraries in the United States, including the Athenaeum, publishes America’s Membership Libraries. The Athenaeum hosts the 18th Membership Libraries Group meeting.
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“Flicks on the Bricks begins. The library automates the catalogue.
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“The booklet 20 Meetings of the Membership Libraries is published by the Athenaeum.”

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The Athenaeum receives the first San Diego Art Prize as best gallery exhibition of the year with the installation John Henry by David Adey. The first booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, Ed Ruscha: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published. 20 years of exhibitions are celebrated with an exhibition and Secret Sale: It All Adds Up.
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“Online ticketing is introduced. Two major gifts totaling more than $1 million are received. The second booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, Ida Applebroog: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published. The School of the Arts celebrates its 25th anniversary.
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The first catalogue on the Athenaeum’s Permanent Art Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library: Selections from the Permanent Collection, 1990–2010, is published. The third booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, Allen Ruppersberg: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published.
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“The fourth booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, John Baldessari: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published. The fifth booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, Bruce Nauman: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published. The Athenaeum celebrates 25 years of Athenaeum Jazz and 25 years of Art & Architecture lectures.”

“The Athenaeum becomes the Administrative Organization for the Murals of La Jolla Project. The 25th gala is celebrated, as well as 25 years of the Chamber Series and the Permanent Art Collection.”

“The Athenaeum hosts the 25th Meeting of the Membership Libraries Group and publishes a new booklet on 25 Meetings of the Membership Libraries Group. Work begins on moving the Athenaeum’s Park Blvd. branch of the School of the Arts to Logan Heights. It is renamed the Athenaeum Art Center. The sixth booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, Allan Kaprow: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published. The Athenaeum is invited for the first time to show its collection of artists’ books by local artists at a different institution (Central Library, San Diego).”

“A satellite branch in Logan Heights, the Athenaeum Art Center, is opened, and includes an art studio, a print studio, and an event space. Three 20th anniversaries are celebrated: Athenaeum Jazz at TSRI; the second School of the Arts studio; and collaboration with San Diego New Music. The booklet Twenty-six Meetings of the Membership Libraries Group is published. The Athenaeum’s first original composition is commissioned, a composition by Matthew Burtner, and it is premiered at the 2017 San Diego New Music’s annual soundON Festival. The second Secret Sale is a huge success.
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“PEEC Youth Arts (an in-reach arts program for teenagers) is established. 10th anniversary of the soundON Festival is celebrated. 30th anniversary of music outreach for K-12 students throughout San Diego County. The eighth booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, Roberta Allen: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published.
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Erika is invited to particpate in a symposium on artists’ books at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The 20th anniversary of the Summer Festival with Gustavo Romero is celebrated. Erika is the cultural marshal of La Jolla for the second time. Daniel Atkinson is recognized as a 2018 Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA).
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Several 30th anniversaries are celebrated: Athenaeum Jazz concerts, Chamber series, expanded exhibitions program, and the Art & Architecture Lecture series. The 30th Annual Gala is presented on September 6. The 50th season of free Mini-Concerts at the Athenaeum is presented. A new concert series, Fusion: Classical Meets Jazz, is added. The seventh booklet on artists’ books in the Athenaeum collection, Mel Bochner: Artists’ Books Collection, Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, is published. ”

“The Athenaeum survives its second global pandemic (the first was the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic). Though closed to in-person visitors for several months, all lectures, concerts, meetings, and celebrations are moved online. 121st Annual Meeting is cancelled. The Annual Juried Exhibition is presented online. Zandra Rhodes has a successful exhibition in the Clayes Gallery.”

“The Athenaeum reopens in March. Prebys Grant of $250,000 is awarded and a portion is used to renovate the Parker Building. The Athenaeum begins a new outreach and marketing program with a booth at the La Jolla Open Aire Market.”