Guest post by David Dominguez Delgadillo.
The San Diego Association of Camera Clubs saw its 66th anniversary in 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 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” 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.”
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.
- There was discussion of a name change to better reflect the organization’s membership and goals.
- There was discussion of a first draft of a Constitution which developed into the first Constitution for the Southern California Association of Camera Clubs.
- 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.”
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.”
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
