“Lifting As We Climb” celebration marks Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary with tribute to a philanthropic Black women’s organization
SANTA MONICA, CA – The Santa Monica Conservancy, Quinn Research Center, and 18th Street Arts Center will host “Lifting As We Climb: Celebrating the Philomathean Charity Literary and Art Club” on Tuesday, December 9, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The event will begin with a landmark plaque unveiling at 1802 Broadway, followed by a celebration at 18th Street Arts Center at 1639 18th Street.
Image: The Founding Philomatheans Courtesy of The Quinn Research Center. RSVP at tinyurl.com/dec9-philomathean for Lifting As We Climb: Celebrating the Philomathean Charity Literary & Art Club.
The Philomathean Charity Literary and Art Club was founded in 1921 by a group of women, mostly domestic workers, who pooled money together and diligently hosted fundraisers to achieve their mission. It is their persistence and hard work that created a thriving community asset that provided tangible support to Black community members who were barred historically from opportunities due to racism. In 1958, the Philomatheans bought land at 1810 Broadway to build a meeting hall and host retail spaces, allowing them to serve their community and pay their mortgage. By 1970, the mortgage was paid off. The land is still owned by the Philomatheans today with retail spaces that hosts a Black-owned barbershop as well as an early childhood center, The First School. Rental income is utilized by the Philomatheans to offer scholarships for high school students in the neighborhood to support their college expenses for four years. The landmark was designated through a Community Development Grant from the City of Santa Monica.
Learn more about the Philomathean Club in our 3-Minute History series:
“Philomathean Hall is the first building on Historic Broadway to receive landmark status. This was a ten-year group effort in partnership with the Santa Monica Conservancy, 18th Street Arts Center, and the Quinn Research Center”, said Carolyne Edwards, founder of the Quinn Research Center and historian and business manager of the Philomathean Club.
The landmark plaque unveiling ceremony at 1802 Broadway will feature remarks from current members of the Philomathean Board.
Following the unveiling, attendees are invited to continue the celebration at 18th Street Arts Center, to enjoy refreshments and a performance by musician Rasheed Ali.
Lifting As We Climb is supported by City of Santa Monica Microgrant in honor of Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary. The event is free and open to the public. Register at tinyurl.com/dec9-philomathean.
Ken Bernstein is a Principal City Planner for the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, where he serves as Manager of the City’s Office of Historic Resources and directs Los Angeles’ historic preservation policies. As lead staff member for the City’s Cultural Heritage Commission, he has overseen the completion of SurveyLA, a multi-year citywide survey of historic resources, and has led the creation of a comprehensive historic preservation program for Los Angeles. He previously served for eight years as Director of Preservation Issues for the Los Angeles Conservancy. Ken is currently an Adjunct Professor in urban planning for the USC Price School of Public Policy and serves as a Senior Fellow for UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. He holds a Master’s Degree from Princeton University and a B.A. from Yale University. He is the author of Preserving Los Angeles: How Historic Places Can Transform America’s Cities.
Barbara Tejada is the Cultural Resources Program Manager for the Angeles District of California State Parks. In this role, Barbara oversees historic structures and landscapes, museum collections, archaeological resources, and collections, and acts as the district tribal liaison. Barbara has over 25 years’ experience in cultural heritage in Southern California, working for the Getty Museum, Caltrans, cultural resource consulting firms, and State Parks, with expertise in pre-contact and historical archaeology. She has participated in several archaeological projects throughout the region. Barbara has contributed to the preservation and interpretation of California’s diverse cultural heritage. Barbara also sits as board chair for the Oakbrook Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks, where she works to promote understanding of Indigenous history and culture.
Randy Young is a local historian, author, and activist who has lived in the Rustic Canyon neighborhood of Pacific Palisades since 1953. After graduating from Pacific Palisades High School, Randy went on to become president of the Thomas Young Photo Studio from 1980 to 1995, and since 1974, chairman of the Casa Vieja Press. There, he authored or coauthored several books on local history, including “Rustic Canyon and the Story of the Uplifters” and “Santa Monica Canyon and Other Tales.” As a longtime community advocate, Randy’s associations have included the Pacific Palisades Community Council, Will Rogers Cooperative Association, Southern California Environment and History Conference, Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission, Los Liones State Park, and the Brentwood-Palisades Community Plan.
