The San Diego Association of Camera Clubs will see
its 66th anniversary this coming February 2016. Imagine, Sixty-six years in
Balboa Park, the gem of San Diego. Sixty-six years of teaching, learning, competitions,
friendships. Sixty-six years of bringing photography to the community of San
Diego.
The Photographic Arts Society (PAS) of San Diego
filed as an Articles of Incorporation in the State of California on September
1, 1937. There was a boom in photography after World War II and by the closing years
of the 1940s there were twelve member camera clubs under the responsibility of
the Photographic Arts Society.
Dr. Watson referred to the
member clubs of the Photographic Arts Society as the “associated camera clubs”[1] as
early as February 1947. By November 1949 Carl F. Reupsch, Photographic Arts
Society President sent letters to all member clubs which included the following,
“…the name of the
organization should possibly be changed to, “The Southern California
Association of Camera Clubs”, which better expresses the intent and purpose of
the organization. Any name, in fact, would be satisfactory which designates
this society as a group of camera clubs rather than an organization composed of
individual members.” [2]
This was also a time of great and
tumultuous changes for the Photographic Arts Society (September 1949 – February
1950):
·
Their long term president, Dr. Scott Watson died on
September 30, 1949.[3]
·
There was discussion of a name change to better reflect
the organization’s membership and goals.[4]
·
There was discussion of a first draft of a Constitution
which developed into the first Constitution for the Southern California
Association of Camera Clubs.[5]
·
There were financial concerns with regards to their lease
of the Photographic Arts Building. This lead to discussions of severing ties
with San Diego City and relocating to “a more centrally located meeting place.”
[6]
I then I discovered a gem in
the January 31, 1950 minutes of the San Diego City Council. It will be best to
simply quote the short entry,
“Communication from
the Park and Recreation Director, addressed to the City Manager, and
transmitted to the Council with the Acting City Manager's approval,
recommending cancellation of the Photographic Arts Society lease of the
building situated in Balboa Park commonly known as the "Photographic Arts
Building", as of February 1, 1950, due to financial difficulties of the
lessee, was presented.”
“RESOLUTION NO.
96704, recorded on Microfilm Roll No. 25, granting request of the Photographic
Arts Society, Inc., as lessee, for cancellation of lease in the
"Photographic Arts Building" in Balboa Park as of February 1, 1950,
was on motion of Councilman Schneider, seconded by Councilman Dail, adopted.” [7]
There is much information and history packed behind those
two paragraphs. Oh, to have been the proverbial fly on the wall.
I believe it did allow for the Photographic Arts Society,
Inc. to legally change its name to the Southern California Association of
Camera Clubs (SCACC). I also believe that we may have the founding date for
SCACC—February 1, 1950.
SCACC
I raise my glass to you
Huzzah on your Sixty-Sixth
And wish you another Sixty-Six
[1] Watson, Scott E. “Advisement of a
Meeting.” Letter to the representatives of the associated camera clubs. 8
February 1947. Archives of the Southern California Association of Camera Clubs.
Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.
[2] Reupsch, Carl F.
“Constitution and Bylaws for the Photographic Arts Society.” Letters to
Officers of the various camera clubs. 17 Nov. 1949. Archives of the Southern
California Association of Camera Clubs. Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.
[3] "California Death Index,
1940-1997," database, FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP8X-6HV : accessed 24 November 2015),
Scott Emery Watson, 30 Sep 1949; Department of Public Health Services,
Sacramento
[4] Taylor, Harold
A. "Response to Constitution and Bylaws for the Photographic Arts Society."
Letter to Carl F. Reupsch. 17 Nov. 1949. Archives of the Southern California
Association of Camera Clubs. Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.
“Article VII,
Section 3 – I feel is unnecessary but I have no objection to its being there if
you think it advisable, changing the name to whatever the Society goes by.”
[5] Reupsch, Carl F. “Constitution
and Bylaws for the Photographic Arts Society.” Letters to Officers of the
various camera clubs. 17 Nov. 1949. Archives of the Southern California
Association of Camera Clubs. Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Minutes of Common Council, Minutes for the Regular Meeting of the
Chamber of the Council of the City of San Diego,
January 31, 1950 (http://www.sandiego.gov/digitalarchives/pdf/historicalocd/minutes/MinutesofCommonCouncil71.pdf : accessed November
2015); Book 71, page 35.
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