Carla Hayden and Huntington President Karen Lawrence

Office of the President

Welcome

April 7, 2023 - The Huntington as a Gathering Place

President Karen Lawrence

This spring, with the bursting forth of wisteria, puyas, and then roses, among other eye-popping delights, we also welcome the reopening of our iconic and beloved Rose Garden Tea Room, shuttered by COVID in March 2020 and then kept offline for three years as it underwent a major renovation project.

The results are stunning, and we look forward to sharing them with you (the Tea Room officially opens for dining on May 24; reservations can be made on OpenTable beginning May 10).

The Tea Room—renowned as a special spot for birthdays, bridal and baby showers, and other milestone celebrations—has, in fact, been a gathering place for its entire existence, as it once served as Henry E. Huntington’s billiard room and bowling alley. While exterior photographs from the period exist, sadly, no pictures of the interior remain. But we know from various records and from the physical shape of the building that the billiards and card room occupied the large space with the fireplace at the front of the building, where the tearoom is situated. The two-lane bowling alley occupied the back of the building, where the long, galley-style kitchen now sits.

When we began to dismantle the building for renovation, we had hoped to preserve the original bowling alley floor, but after serving as a very busy kitchen space for nearly 100 years, the original flooring was simply not salvageable. We did find, however, in opening up the walls, a trove of old playing cards along with a bridge scorepad dating back many decades. Intriguing messages from the past.

game score cards

It is said that back in the 1920s, Henry E. Huntington played cards with his neighbor, George Patton (father of the decorated World War II general), and in friendly bets, would routinely lose, and then win back, a portion of The Huntington grounds on the estate’s west side, bordering the Patton property. This appears to be a bit of Huntington lore, but the part about card playing is not: Friendly card games have been a part of The Huntington’s culture among both scholars and staff since the institution was established, and many of those games were played in the building that became the Tea Room (as well as the staff lunchroom) after Huntington’s death in 1927.

Today, staff can still be found playing bridge at 1919 Cafe at lunchtime.

When COVID hit and The Huntington closed to the public, people pleaded with us via email, calls, and social media to open the grounds, and we did so as soon as we could. Clearly, folks were eager to be outside, and they were longing for safe places to come together. As we planned the renovation of the Tea Room, we were particularly struck by this need and intentionally worked to create more dining space in the open air. Today, the Tea Room includes beautiful exterior dining options adjacent to the Shakespeare and Herb gardens.

Gathering is an age-old ritual—a social and spiritual practice meant to nurture a sense of belonging and community. We are proud that The Huntington serves as a gathering place for so many. Whether for tea, group birdwatching, a lunchtime card game, an exhibition, or a multitude of other reasons, people convene here. The Huntington has been called a place of renewal and restoration, but that’s often in the context of the individual. So, to that, I’d add another apt descriptor: a place to reconnect.

Karen R. Lawrence, President


guest speakers on stage

Highlights from Stories We Tell: Founders’ Day At The Huntington 2023

In honor of Founders’ Day 2023, The Huntington and The Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West presented a mix of serious and quirky stories—inspired by Eve Babitz’s archive, The Huntington’s Montezuma cypress, portraits by Laura Aguilar, the Horatio Nelson Rust collection, and glass plate photographs of 1890s and 1900s Chinatown—demonstrating the broad range of The Huntington’s collections and the rich history of the institution’s location in the San Gabriel Valley.

Billie Tsien and Erin Chase

The Soul of a Building: In the Archives with Billie Tsien

Architect Billie Tsien joins Erin Chase, assistant curator of architecture at The Huntington, for a behind-the-scenes visit to see some of the architectural materials in the library archives. This video was produced as part of the Why It Matters program, sponsored by the Office of the President.

Karen R. Lawrence and Billie Tsien in conversation on a stage.

Why It Matters: Billie Tsien in Conversation with Karen R. Lawrence

Nov. 7, 2022 - Architect and educator Billie Tsien joins Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence to discuss how the built environment shapes individual and communal experiences, the interplay between design and purpose, and how architecture can empower future generations. Read Making a Better World through Architecture, or watch the recorded event.

Huntington president Karen R. Lawrence in front of Octavia E. Butler image

Octavia E. Butler inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame

Hear President Karen R. Lawrence speak about Butler's literary collection at The Huntington in this clip from the recorded ceremony. Additional inductees honored this year include Judy Chicago, Rebecca Halstead, Joy Harjo, Emily Howland, Katherine Johnson, Indra Nooyi, and Michelle Obama. View the full program.

closeup of book page

President Karen Lawrence Joins U22 The Centenary Ulysses Podcast

In the first episode of U22 The Centenary Ulysses Podcast, we talk about how Ulysses begins. We’re joined by Karen Lawrence, President of the Huntington Library, John Higgins of the University of Cape Town, and Jamie Salomon, leader of the Bloomsday Ulysses Reading Group for the Montreal Literary Festival. We hear their thoughts on everything from style to playing amateur archeologists.

The Huntington Senior Staff

President Karen Lawrence (center) with The Huntington's senior leadership team. (L-R): Susan Turner-Lowe, Heather Hart, Janet Alberti, Sandra Brooke Gordon, Randy Shulman, Nicole Cavender, Elee Wood, Thomas Polansky, Christina Nielsen, Misty Bennett, Susan Juster.

President Karen Lawrence (far right) with participants in Octavia Butler’s Parables: A Music Talk with Toshi Reagon. (L-R): Sophie Kim, Phil Allen, Shelley De Leon, Juliette Jones, Toshi Reagon, Claudia L. Peña, Melodie Yashar, and Tamisha A. Tyler.

President Karen Lawrence (far right) with participants in Octavia Butler's Parables: A Music Talk with Toshi Reagon. (L-R): Sophie Kim, Phil Allen, Shelley De Leon, Juliette Jones, Toshi Reagon, Claudia L. Peña, Melodie Yashar, and Tamisha A. Tyler.

Huntington staff celebrating The Huntington’s Centennial in August 2019

Huntington staff celebrating The Huntington's Centennial in August 2019.

President Karen Lawrence (center left) with The Huntington's Board of Trustees: (L-R) Wendy Munger, J. Mario Molina, M.D., Gregory A. Pieschala (Chair), Andrew F. Barth, Mei-Lee Ney, Simon K.C. Li, Christine W. Bender

President Karen Lawrence (center left) with The Huntington's Board of Trustees: (L-R) Wendy Munger, J. Mario Molina, M.D., Gregory A. Pieschala (Chair), Andrew F. Barth, Mei-Lee Ney, Simon K.C. Li, Christine W. Bender.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about the importance of libraries and archives.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about the importance of libraries and archives.

The Huntington's 2020 Rose Parade® Float on the theme of "Cultivating Curiosity," winner of the Golden State Award

The Huntington's 2020 Rose Parade® Float on the theme of "Cultivating Curiosity," winner of the Golden State Award.

President Karen Lawrence and Dr. Peter Lawrence with Chinese Cultural Consul Wang and Consul Gu and performers at The Huntington's 2019 Chinese New Year Festival

President Karen Lawrence and Dr. Peter Lawrence with Chinese Cultural Consul Wang and Consul Gu and performers at The Huntington's 2019 Chinese New Year Festival.

	Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and Huntington Governor Robert C. Davidson Jr. with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about why museums and collecting institutions matter.

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and Huntington Governor Robert C. Davidson Jr. with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about why museums and collecting institutions matter.

Architect Billie Tsien with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about architecture and community

​​​​​Architect Billie Tsien with President Karen Lawrence in conversation about architecture and community.