31:
259:
267:
416:-themed hotel which had fallen into disrepair. She purchased the property for $ 55,000 in 1937 and proceeded to renovate it, hoping to provide another home for her now-overflowing art collection. Spreckels and Awl hit it off immediately and were married in 1939. Awl moved to San Francisco, but the hotel was not particularly successful and Spreckels sent him back to Santa Barbara to manage the business, but he was also unable to stem the losses. They decided to rid themselves of it, but could not find a buyer. Eventually, the hotel was swapped for a dairy farm in
207:. Legend holds that Aitken hired Alma de Bretteville Spreckels to model for the statue, but a 1902 article detailing the monument's construction stated that Aitken's model was Clara Petzold, who later became a noted photographer. Regardless, this statue was selected from a number of entries and only barely made the cut, thanks to the crucial vote of the chair of the Citizens' Committee, Adolph Spreckels. Although he was 24 years older than she was, he was smitten by Alma, and after a five-year courtship, they married on May 11, 1908. Because he was head of the
184:" of California. In contrast, Mathilde had enough ingenuity and business sense to open a combination Danish bakeryâlaundry serviceâmassage parlor which became the family's source of income. At age 14, Alma quit school to work full-time for the family business. Meanwhile, she had developed a love of art and enrolled in the
355:
In 1921, ground was broken for the Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum in
Lincoln Park, San Francisco. As Spreckels envisioned it, the building is an almost exact, full-scale replica of the French Pavilion from the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition, which in turn was a three-quarter-scale
368:
and H. Guillaume. At the close of the exposition, which was located just a few miles away in the current Marina district, the French government granted Adolph permission to construct a permanent replica of the French
Pavilion. The museum opened on November 11, 1924, six months after Adolph's death.
249:
published âThe
Sorcery Clubâ, a tall tale of the occult largely set in San Francisco. Alma makes an appearance in Chapter VI as âElla Crockford, the wife of the California Street Sugar Kingâ, and is blackmailed for various entertaining but disreputable actions.
192:. Now flush with cash, she became popular around town, and found herself intimately involved with a miner named Charlie Anderson. After their relationship deteriorated, she gained a bit of notoriety for having successfully sued him for "personal defloweration".
439:
ranch to the Army to use as a recreational facility. Near the end of the war, Spreckels discovered that Awl had been having an affair with her niece Ulla, and she quickly divorced him in 1943, while he was still stationed in
Central America.
325:-type fiber. She decided to have a permanent and exact replica of the building constructed so she could permanently contain her burgeoning art collection, but it would be another nine years before this dream could come to fruition.
969:
285:
and sculptor Earl
Cummings, there were a number of people who were disdainful of her earlier infamy and snubbed her invitations. This motivated her to gain some respectability for herself, which she did by going to
339:
After some persuading, Adolph eventually agreed to fund
Spreckels' museum project. To acquire more art and financial support, Spreckels returned to Europe. The French government agreed to supply some, and
238:). In the meantime, son Adolph Bernard Jr. was born in 1911, followed by another daughter, Dorothy Constance, in 1913. It was after Dorothy's birth that Spreckels learned her husband had contracted
432:
460:
was the main exhibit. However, she had had a feud with museum founding director Karl Kortum and as a result, did not receive much recognition for her role in that museum's establishment.
140:. She was known both as "Big Alma" (she was 6 feet (1.8 m) tall) and "The Great Grandmother of San Francisco". Among her many accomplishments, she persuaded her first husband,
393:
to operate. She also continued her devotion to the arts, obtaining more and more works for her museum as well as coordinating and partially funding the development of the
30:
262:
Goddess of
Victory atop the Dewey Monument. Legend holds that Aitken hired Alma de Bretteville Spreckels to model for the statue, but Aitken's model was Clara Petzold.
281:
After the mansion was completed, Spreckels began throwing opulent parties befitting a woman of her status. Although attended by local celebrities such as author
514:
246:
635:
600:
328:
In the intervening time, she busied herself with charity auctions, raising money for war-torn France, Belgium, and
Romania. For one such event at the
309:. It was there that Spreckels fell in love with the French Pavilion, which was a temporary building constructed only of a wood frame covered with
463:
After her son Adolph's death in 1961, she lived mostly in seclusion, visiting only with her daughters and grandchildren. She died in 1968 of
332:, she was able to obtain donations from U.S. presidents and other renowned individuals. Her own collection was not spared: her prized Rodin
1028:
1023:
778:
306:
1033:
888:
834:
223:
161:
915:
298:. With Fuller's encouragement and contacts, Alma Spreckels eventually became one of the more influential art collectors in the U.S.
1008:
369:
During the dedication ceremony, the
Counsellor of State of France announced that Spreckels had been awarded the Grand Cross of the
149:
44:
137:
974:
457:
357:
1003:
242:
before their marriage, as he began showing symptoms of the disease. Fortunately for her, she never caught it from him.
694:
560:
490:
428:
349:
227:
993:
752:
169:
661:
626:
449:
185:
681:
Wild Women: Crusaders, Curmudgeons, and
Completely Corsetless Ladies in the Otherwise Virtuous Victorian Era
998:
711:
305:. Having purchased a number of Rodin's works directly from the artist, she had them displayed at the 1915
180:'s generals was his uncle) and used that as an excuse to avoid working while simultaneously deriding the "
803:
329:
204:
39:. In the painting, Spreckels sits in a chair originally designed (and at least partly created) by Queen
865:
655:
620:
436:
409:
310:
88:
70:
258:
417:
271:
737:
266:
231:
208:
200:
552:
43:
as an audience chair for herself. Spreckels obtained the chair in 1922 for an exhibition at the
394:
341:
222:, where their first daughter, Alma Emma, was born in 1909, but he soon purchased a property in
48:
36:
782:
686:
515:"Rebel Girls From Bay Area History: Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, Philanthropist Firecracker"
370:
860:
838:
219:
892:
1018:
1013:
398:
348:
requested her help in compiling a report on post-war working conditions for women for the
8:
940:
344:
donated a replica of her Byzantine Golden Room. While Spreckels was in Europe, President
145:
117:
811:
545:
390:
226:
where, after the existing homes on it were relocated, Adolph built a new mansion, the
164:
of San Francisco, the fifth of six children of Viggo and Mathilde de Bretteville, two
690:
679:
556:
486:
479:
365:
345:
173:
431:, was called to active duty. While he was away, Spreckels formed a new charity, the
382:
195:
Alma de Bretteville met her future husband thanks to the rumor she modeled for the
165:
40:
804:"Mrs. A.B. Spreckels to Study Women Workers In Europe as America's Special Agent"
235:
196:
133:
107:
987:
295:
275:
181:
168:. The family was very poor during her early childhood. Viggo descended from
978:
435:, which gathered supplies for the Army and Navy. She even donated her vast
424:
212:
177:
412:
rancher and businessman, during her inquiries into the Samarkand Hotel, a
540:
402:
386:
302:
291:
282:
189:
756:
453:
413:
464:
129:
160:
She was born Alma Charlotte Corday le Normand de Bretteville in the
239:
234:
style, completed in c.1912 (it is most recently the home of author
318:
837:. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. 2011-06-28. Archived from
703:
47:; she eventually donated both the chair and the painting to the
322:
270:
The Adolph B. and Alma de Bretteville Spreckels Gallery at the
361:
287:
141:
916:"Karl Kortum, 79, Who Founded San Francisco Maritime Museum"
188:
to study painting. While there, she earned money by being a
735:
Staff (January 24, 1902) "Graceful Figure Modeled in Clay"
861:"Short Trips: Remote museum houses an eclectic collection"
448:
Spreckels' last major project was the construction of the
381:
Spreckels continued her charity rummage sales during the
35:
Alma de Bretteville Spreckels painted in 1924 by artist
933:
835:"History of California Palace of the Legion of Honor"
301:
She returned from Paris right after the beginning of
352:'s Women's Bureau, which she dutifully carried out.
636:"Part 2: Spreckels (née de Bretteville), Alma Emma"
601:"Part 1: Spreckels (née de Bretteville), Alma Emma"
678:
544:
478:
642:. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007
607:. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007
172:through his grandfather who emigrated during the
985:
294:and through Fuller, other artists, most notably
253:
128:(March 24, 1881 â August 7, 1968) was a wealthy
547:The Dream Endures: California Enters the 1940s
452:. When it opened in 1951, her collection of
211:, she often referred to her husband as her "
51:, which she played a major role in founding.
218:Initially, they lived in Adolph's house in
29:
914:Fisher, Lawrence M. (15 September 1996).
476:
716:Perry County Lutheran Historical Society
676:
592:
481:Big Alma: San Francisco's Alma Spreckels
456:that had been on display at the 1939â40
265:
257:
150:California Palace of the Legion of Honor
45:California Palace of the Legion of Honor
753:"Sugar Daddy & the de Brettevilles"
750:
709:
590:
588:
586:
584:
582:
580:
578:
576:
574:
572:
307:PanamaâPacific International Exposition
986:
913:
858:
779:"Tour San Francisco: Pacific Heights"
751:Potocki, Joseph (November 17, 2009).
539:
886:
569:
551:. Oxford University Press. pp.
533:
458:Golden Gate International Exposition
1029:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
1024:Deaths from pneumonia in California
755:. Bay Time Reporter. Archived from
433:San Francisco League for Servicemen
16:American philanthropist (1881â1968)
13:
859:Larsen, Jeff (September 5, 2002).
712:"A Petzoldt Harnesses Los Angeles"
470:
14:
1045:
1034:American people of Danish descent
962:
633:
598:
429:United States Coast Guard Reserve
389:, which were eventually given to
401:, after the death of her friend
336:also went on the auction block.
1009:Philanthropists from California
907:
880:
852:
827:
710:Schmidt, Warren (21 May 2017).
796:
781:. iNetours.com. Archived from
771:
744:
729:
670:
507:
152:to the city of San Francisco.
1:
975:Alma de Bretteville Spreckels
640:Encyclopedia of San Francisco
605:Encyclopedia of San Francisco
500:
450:San Francisco Maritime Museum
443:
423:When the U.S. was drawn into
376:
358:Palais de la LĂ©gion d'Honneur
317:stone made from a mixture of
290:. There, she met entertainer
254:Palace of the Legion of Honor
186:Mark Hopkins Institute of Art
155:
126:Alma de Bretteville Spreckels
23:Alma de Bretteville Spreckels
7:
477:Scharlach, Bernice (1990).
408:Spreckels met Elmer Awl, a
10:
1050:
889:"History of The Samarkand"
866:Seattle Post-Intelligencer
427:, Awl, as a member of the
1004:People from San Francisco
677:Stephens, Autumn (1992).
660:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
625:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
274:showcasing sculptures of
138:San Francisco, California
113:
103:
95:
89:San Francisco, California
77:
71:San Francisco, California
56:
28:
21:
685:. Conari Press. p.
485:. Scottwall Associates.
385:, this time expanded to
203:, which can be found in
994:American art collectors
738:San Francisco Chronicle
209:Spreckels Sugar Company
395:Maryhill Museum of Art
342:Queen Marie of Romania
278:
263:
170:Franco-Danish nobility
49:Maryhill Museum of Art
269:
261:
634:Craig, Christopher.
599:Craig, Christopher.
399:Maryhill, Washington
999:American socialites
971:on Pierfit geneanet
350:Department of Labor
146:Adolph B. Spreckels
118:Adolph B. Spreckels
920:The New York Times
812:The New York Times
391:The Salvation Army
279:
264:
895:on April 13, 2007
887:Williams, Scott.
656:cite encyclopedia
621:cite encyclopedia
366:George Applegarth
346:Warren G. Harding
334:The Genius of War
228:Spreckels Mansion
174:French Revolution
166:Danish immigrants
123:
122:
1041:
956:
955:
953:
951:
941:"Alma Spreckels"
937:
931:
930:
928:
926:
911:
905:
904:
902:
900:
891:. Archived from
884:
878:
877:
875:
873:
856:
850:
849:
847:
846:
831:
825:
824:
822:
820:
808:
800:
794:
793:
791:
790:
775:
769:
768:
766:
764:
748:
742:
733:
727:
726:
724:
722:
707:
701:
700:
684:
674:
668:
665:
659:
651:
649:
647:
630:
624:
616:
614:
612:
594:
567:
566:
550:
537:
531:
530:
528:
526:
521:. March 30, 2018
511:
496:
484:
420:worth $ 80,000.
383:Great Depression
371:LĂ©gion d'honneur
148:, to donate the
84:
66:
64:
41:Marie of Romania
33:
19:
18:
1049:
1048:
1044:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1038:
984:
983:
965:
960:
959:
949:
947:
939:
938:
934:
924:
922:
912:
908:
898:
896:
885:
881:
871:
869:
857:
853:
844:
842:
833:
832:
828:
818:
816:
815:. July 12, 1922
806:
802:
801:
797:
788:
786:
777:
776:
772:
762:
760:
759:on May 17, 2013
749:
745:
734:
730:
720:
718:
708:
704:
697:
675:
671:
653:
652:
645:
643:
618:
617:
610:
608:
595:
570:
563:
538:
534:
524:
522:
513:
512:
508:
503:
493:
473:
471:Further reading
446:
379:
356:version of the
272:Legion of Honor
256:
247:Eliot OâDonnell
224:Pacific Heights
162:Sunset District
158:
91:
86:
82:
73:
68:
62:
60:
52:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1047:
1037:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
982:
981:
972:
964:
963:External links
961:
958:
957:
932:
906:
879:
851:
826:
795:
770:
743:
728:
702:
695:
669:
667:
666:
631:
568:
561:
532:
505:
504:
502:
499:
498:
497:
491:
472:
469:
445:
442:
378:
375:
255:
252:
236:Danielle Steel
197:Dewey Monument
157:
154:
134:philanthropist
121:
120:
115:
111:
110:
108:philanthropist
105:
101:
100:
97:
93:
92:
87:
85:(aged 87)
79:
75:
74:
69:
58:
54:
53:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1046:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
991:
989:
980:
976:
973:
970:
967:
966:
946:
942:
936:
921:
917:
910:
894:
890:
883:
868:
867:
862:
855:
841:on 2013-09-12
840:
836:
830:
814:
813:
805:
799:
785:on 2007-10-25
784:
780:
774:
758:
754:
747:
740:
739:
732:
717:
713:
706:
698:
696:0-943233-36-4
692:
688:
683:
682:
673:
663:
657:
641:
637:
632:
628:
622:
606:
602:
597:
596:
593:
591:
589:
587:
585:
583:
581:
579:
577:
575:
573:
564:
562:0-19-510079-4
558:
554:
549:
548:
542:
536:
520:
516:
510:
506:
494:
492:0-942087-11-9
488:
483:
482:
475:
474:
468:
466:
461:
459:
455:
451:
441:
438:
437:Sonoma County
434:
430:
426:
421:
419:
415:
411:
410:Santa Barbara
406:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
374:
372:
367:
363:
359:
353:
351:
347:
343:
337:
335:
331:
326:
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
299:
297:
296:Auguste Rodin
293:
289:
284:
277:
276:Auguste Rodin
273:
268:
260:
251:
248:
243:
241:
237:
233:
229:
225:
221:
216:
214:
210:
206:
202:
201:Robert Aitken
198:
193:
191:
187:
183:
182:nouveau riche
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
153:
151:
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
119:
116:
112:
109:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
81:7 August 1968
80:
76:
72:
67:24 March 1881
59:
55:
50:
46:
42:
38:
37:Richard Hall
32:
27:
20:
979:Find a Grave
948:. Retrieved
944:
935:
923:. Retrieved
919:
909:
897:. Retrieved
893:the original
882:
870:. Retrieved
864:
854:
843:. Retrieved
839:the original
829:
817:. Retrieved
810:
798:
787:. Retrieved
783:the original
773:
761:. Retrieved
757:the original
746:
736:
731:
719:. Retrieved
715:
705:
680:
672:
644:. Retrieved
639:
609:. Retrieved
604:
546:
541:Starr, Kevin
535:
523:. Retrieved
518:
509:
480:
462:
447:
425:World War II
422:
418:Marin County
407:
387:thrift shops
380:
364:designed by
354:
338:
333:
330:Palace Hotel
327:
314:
313:, a kind of
300:
280:
244:
217:
205:Union Square
194:
178:Napoleon III
159:
125:
124:
83:(1968-08-07)
1019:1968 deaths
1014:1881 births
899:October 28,
872:January 10,
819:January 10,
467:at age 87.
454:model ships
403:Samuel Hill
303:World War I
292:Loie Fuller
283:Jack London
213:sugar daddy
96:Nationality
988:Categories
968:Genealogy
845:2014-08-13
789:2008-01-10
646:January 9,
611:January 9,
501:References
444:Later life
377:Remarriage
232:Beaux-Arts
190:nude model
156:Early life
104:Occupation
63:1881-03-24
950:2 January
925:2 January
763:August 9,
721:2 January
465:pneumonia
245:In 1912,
220:Sausalito
130:socialite
741:, p. 12.
543:(1997).
525:April 1,
240:syphilis
176:(one of
144:magnate
99:American
945:FoundSF
414:Persian
319:plaster
230:in the
693:
559:
489:
323:burlap
114:Spouse
807:(PDF)
555:â54.
362:Paris
311:staff
288:Paris
142:sugar
952:2023
927:2023
901:2016
874:2008
821:2008
765:2012
723:2023
691:ISBN
662:link
648:2008
627:link
613:2008
557:ISBN
527:2018
519:KQED
487:ISBN
321:and
315:faux
132:and
78:Died
57:Born
977:at
687:161
553:153
397:in
360:in
215:".
199:by
136:in
990::
943:.
918:.
863:.
809:.
714:.
689:.
658:}}
654:{{
638:.
623:}}
619:{{
603:.
571:^
517:.
405:.
373:.
954:.
929:.
903:.
876:.
848:.
823:.
792:.
767:.
725:.
699:.
664:)
650:.
629:)
615:.
565:.
529:.
495:.
65:)
61:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_01.jpg)