A Gift from Julia Morgan
Telechron 'Globetrotter" World Time Clock 1937-39As we were going through her things, my husband stumbled upon this clock. I hadn't remembered seeing it before. It was certainly handsome, with a wonderful Art Deco look. I turned the clock around, and Bannie had written and attached this note (below) on the back. It was given to my great grandfather (her father) from renown architect Julia Morgan. My great grandfather, Sam Berger, a woodcarver from Romania, collaborated with Julia Morgan on Hearst Castle in San Simeon. In fact, he used to spend entire summers working there. I have fond memories of him. He died when I was 10.
Needless to say, I was in awe thinking that this clock, dating to 1937-39, stayed in the family for all of these years. And, a gift from the late, great Julia Morgan. It was wonderful going through certain items and seeing notes that my grandmother had left. It's as if she was talking to us, telling us what everything was, and where or whom they were from.
A real treasure was this carved table and mirror, given to my grandparents as a wedding gift from my great-grandparents. Entirely hand-carved by my great-grandfather, Sam Berger. I have always admired it since childhood.
Berger as a young man (on right) in his workshop in San Francisco
He carved for California's most beautiful public and private buildings. His works can be found in many churches in San Francisco including, Grace Cathedral, Basilica of Mission Dolores, St. Peter and Paul's, Star of the Sea, St. Cecilia's and St. Brigid's, to name of few.
The table and mirror were one of few items he carved for family and not commercial projects.
This was the first thing you saw when you entered my grandparent's home. Left to me, it's the first thing you see upon entering my house now. When it first arrived I was weeping like a baby. All I could think of is, This shouldn't be here. It's my grandmother's. But, now as I stare at it and touch it, I have fond memories of my grandparents and great-grandparents. Its beautiful detailed carving tells stories of past generations, and I'm honored to have it and will cherish it.I hope you don't mind me sharing a bit of my family history with you. I miss my grandmother terribly, and hoping that going through these pieces and reading her notes will be comforting.
Comments
Reading the bit about Julia Morgan I recalled seeing recently her photograph alongside Hearst - so fragile but brave and business-like.
Here's what I found googling:
Julia fishing after the disastrous mastoid surgery that caused the right side of her face to sag.
While Morgan never married, she treated her employees and their families as her own extended family. According to Lynn Forney McMurray, everyone that worked for her was appreciated and she always made sure their families were well and happy. However, she never played favorites. Everyone in her office had the same expectations placed on them, and her employees would know they were appreciated if they were still employed. She would fire someone for asking for a raise. She always sent Christmas presents to the children of her employees. Morgan even became the godmother of some of her employees' children. If an employee was in financial trouble, Morgan would help where she could (McMurray). She was a modest person, preferring to thumb through a book than take part in chitchat at family gatherings (Wadsworth, 50), but was always friendly and accommodating with staff, family, and clients alike. After a disastrous mastoid surgery in the early 1930s, her face was left sagging on the right side as the result of an accidentally severed facial muscle. This made her even less inclined to take part in gatherings and social events. When she was working on Hearst's castle, she would never eat in the dining room with Hearst and his guests, preferring instead to stay in her room, have her meal brought to her, and continue working. "For an architect," she said, "it is more or
XO's
It should end:
"For an architect," she said, "it is more or less embarassing [sic] to present so unsymmetrical appearance"