Literary and Cultural Force to Be Cited in Centennial Celebrations

An array of events, including exhibits, lectures and a symposium, will mark the 100th anniversary of Charles F. Lummis’ arrival in Los Angeles.

Lummis came here Feb. 1, 1885, to become city editor of The Times, and later he would be a literary and cultural force in the community, champion of Indian and Latino ethnicity and founder of the Southwest Museum, which will sponsor several of the events in conjunction with the Historical Society of Southern California and the Los Angeles Public Library.

A Lummis Centennial Symposium on Saturday in the Southwest Museum Auditorium will feature Lawrence Clark Powell, professor in residence emeritus, University of Arizona, Tucson, as keynote speaker, and will continue with a variety of programs. They will focus on Lummis’ view of America as he walked from Cincinnati to Los Angeles, his work at the Los Angeles Public Library, his interest in Latino and Indian heritage, historical preservation and his careers as a writer, editor and photographer.

At 2:20 p.m. Doyce B. Nunis Jr., professor of history at USC and editor of the Southern California Quarterly, will offer a commentary, and a panel discussion moderated by Bernard Fontana, field historian at the University of Arizona, will follow.

A reception from 4 to 6 at El Alisal, Lummis’ home, will include reminiscences of his father by Keith Lummis, Charles Lummis’ youngest son. Hiker Rod Hutchinson will speak on his re-enactment of a portion of Lummis’ walk from Denver to Los Angeles.

Exhibits in Lummis’ honor will include “Charles F. Lummis: The Centennial Exhibition” Friday to May 19 at Southwest Museum, and “Charles F. Lummis: The Man and the Books” Friday to March 23 at the Central Library.

The Southwest Museum will offer a Lummis Centennial Lecture Series on Feb. 21, March 14 and April 18 in its auditorium, with topics including Lummis’ aspects as a pioneer ethnographer, cultural crusader and romantic folklorist.

An open house March 2 and 3 will include an audio-visual program on Lummis’ life, a demonstration of early photo printing, early California dance and music and a portrayal of people who influenced and were influenced by Lummis. Sites of the open house will include Southwest Museum, Casa de Adobe and El Alisal, now the headquarters of the Historical Society of Southern California.

Information on the symposium is available from Romaine Ahlstrom at 626-7555, Ext. 207. Program information on other events is available from the Southwest Museum at 221-2164.