La Jolla Historical Society

(May 21, 2008) – The La Jolla Historical Society is proud to announce it has been named by the City of San Diego Historic Resources Board for a 2008 Historic Preservation Award in Cultural Diversity for its work on University House, along with the Kumeyaay and UC San Diego.

The ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 22, 2008 at the City Administration Building, 202 C Street.

William Lumpkins of Santa Fe, New Mexico, built the white Pueblo Revival-style mansion in La Jolla in 1949 for William Black and his wife. UC San Diego purchased the seven-acre site in 1967 as the primary residence of the Chancellor, known as University House. Condemned four years ago due to structural and engineering problems, the residence was declared unlivable. The University hoped to demolish University House and replace it with a larger home. The Kumeyaay, whose ancestors once lived on and remain buried in the area called Skeleton Hill, vigorously fought the University’s project. UC San Diego rescinded its plans to demolish the house in March 2008 but will pursue extensive renovation and rehabilitation of University House.

Thanks to the efforts of Don Schmidt of the La Jolla Historical Society’s Historicity Committee and Kumeyaay Tribal Attorney, Courtney Coyle, all three groups will be recipients of the Historic Preservation Award for their work to preserve the House and dignity of the burial grounds.

The La Jolla Historical Society itself was recently lauded by local Native American groups for scraping its proposed construction of a new archive underneath Wisteria Cottage after an archeological dig unearthed prehistoric items used by American Indians.

The mission of the Society to preserve and interpret La Jolla’s social, artistic, and cultural history by maintaining historic properties; collecting, exhibiting, and conserving artifacts and archival materials made, used, or associated with La Jolla by advocating the conservation and preservation of La Jolla’s natural and built environment.

La Jolla’s connection to its rich heritage, the La Jolla Historical Society's offices and archives are located at 7846 Eads Avenue, La Jolla. Open to the public Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (858) 459-5335. www.lajollahistory.org.