Felix Cherniavsky - Alice Millard

Added 18th Mar 2022 by Beth Dobson (Archives and Programming Assistant, DCD) / Last update 18th Mar 2022

Maud Allan 795 51 2008-1-44.jpg
Maud Allan 795 51 2008-1-44.jpg
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Felix Cherniavsky - Alice Millard

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Maud Allan Research Collection
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51.2008-1-44
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MILLARD , Mrs. Alice Parsons . 2 . o LA MINIATURA USED FOR YOUNG ARTISTS By ROBERT 0. SCHAD Curator Huntington Library . In Pasadena is a house of special distinction and beauty . Until yes terday , La Miniatura was the home of Mrs. George Madison Millard . Today it remains as a tribute to her life's work and as a reflection of her rare personality . In it she found expression for her ideals of blending the best of the past with the best of the present in art and craftsmanship , and of sharing the joy she found in these . As a girl Alice Parsons had fallen under the spell of William Morris , whom she admired as poet , as crafts man , and as social reformer . " Morris ' philosophy she found an ideal of life from which she never departed . It was through this in terest that she met her husband , George Madison Millard , the noted American book man , who also was a friend of William Morris Marriage Ideal Alice Millard's marriage was an ideal romance , Was daughter . Roxanna , and until she was incapacitated by illness , life was indeed an " Earthly Paradise . " After Mr. Millard's death in 1918 , his widow continued his rare - book business in California . Entering a field virtually unknown to women she soon had launched an enviable career Her everlasting quest for the choicest of the choice and her painstaking scrutiny of every item that passed through her hands soon aroused the admiration and respect of both collectors and dealers . Her efforts contributed to the building of some of America's greatest collections . She gradually enlarged her sphere to include objects of art , for which field she was peculiarly qualified Builds House of Beauty Mrs. Millard's first home in High and Park . 111. had been designed by a young architect , Frank Lloyd Wright . When she decided to build house in . Pasadena in 1923. the one turned to Mr. Wright again . 220 gether they found a piece of prop . erty with a small ravine running through it . " Practical ” people cons sidered it unfit for building pur poses , but the two visionaries saw in it an ideal location for a house that should be free from the conventions of ordinary buildings , that should achieve detachment from its sur . roundings , and that would supply harmonious setting for the books , paintings and furniture that had be . come so large a part of Alice Mi lard's life . As the house material . ized it was recognized as one of Mr. Wright's masterpieces . It is re ferred to at length in his Autobiog . raphy and has been frequently pho tographed . La Miniatura's influence grew un . til it became thoroughly interwoven with Mrs. Millard's life interests . People wanted to see it . Virtually none were denied . Inevitably the building took on the atmosphere of a museum and its owner be came a tireless custodian . Never did Mrs. Millard lose sight of the human values of her work . She never missed an opportunity bring within the reach of a young or impecunious collector an inex pensive item . There was something in Alice Millard's nature that refused to compromise with selfishness . her house and the things she had collected assumed more importance , she determined to share them with others , particularly with young stu . rents . Accordingly , she subse quently added a small museum wing to her house in which she held fre .. quent exhibitions that were among the most notable events of their kind in this region . In this way she hon . ored the memories of William Blake . of Morris , and of T. J. Cobden - San . derson , When students came to her exhi bition she felt that she ought abandon all other activities and de vote her whole thought to such service : Unfortunately this was not possible . Not a tew , however , who have already made their mark in the world gratefully trace their inspiras tion to Mrs. Millard and this num ber will doubtless swell as many now in college who have know her and La Miniature go out to the world . Thus will her influence en . | dure . O Star News Millard July 16 , 1938

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