Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-12
THE MARGUERITE HGME-ANOBLE
BENRFACTT0N.
EEL ConserTat0ry-Mrs. Croker and
Her Gifts to Sacramento.
HISTORY OF THE GIFT OF THE
ART GALLERY.
sgounding OF the observation-disclosures
3 OF the School OF Dsslgn-Home
! Cor Old Ladies' - The
Floral Festival.

Ne present herewith admirable views of
Ne E. B. Croker art Gallery, the residence
II Mrs. E. B. Croker, the Marguerite Home
1n5 the Bell Conservatory and fine por-
trait of Mrs. Croker. For the ex-
selence Of the larger views and the por-
izait we have to thank skilled engravers
Q1 Sacramento. The view of the Art Gal
cry Is from the graver OF C. II. Holmes,
and we submit that : is a work that emit
.les him to rank with 4. e best Of his craft.
That Of the portrait Of Mrs. Crocker is
Efom tne graver of NJ. McKeon, also of
mis- city. It will lie admitted that the por-
s.ait entities him to be classified also with
.:le best of workmen. The other engrav-
sngs, except that Of the Conse -vatory, were
done under Mir McBeon's supervision.
The Art Gallery design WIS originally
made by W. f. Jackson, and c. ;. Carlson
also rendered assistance, but the mass of
Ee,ails and finish of the work are due to
The pencil of Mr.. Holmes,
Our splendid view of the Art Gallery is
hat of building which has phenomenal
history, and than which no other possession
At the municipality OF Sacramento i of as
E-eat value, or is so highly priced One of
sae pioneer citizens Of Sacramento vas
JUDGE Z. B. CRocKER,
Who filed an eminent position upon the
Supreme bench of California. Amusing
liberal wealth, this generous gentleman
conceived the idea of founding in the city
Ct his choice great art collection. For
this purpose he visited Europe and the
Saat, and purchased personally and through
agents at all art centeTs some of the choicest
e-2upies OF painting TO be procured. 1t
nay not be said that in all respects his
selections were of the best that could have
been made, for while Judge Crocker had
lue artistic instincts aud good taste, he had
1ot at command always the opportunity
20 select such works as the most critical
art Judgment would choose. Bat he pleased
bis own tastes, while according much to
-Ge Judgment of others. 1t is to be said
5hat he selected nothing poor there is in
the collection no work that might not grace
any American gallery, while the great mass
eminent in art and to a
VAST NUMBER OF THE PICTURES,
0Eer 700 in all, there attaches the sanctity
OF sge aud the value that the works ofsome
Of the best masters Of all time have given
20 art. Some fifteen years ago t157l) the
Judge began the erection Of the superb
building, above illustrated, wherein 70 en-
airline his art collection. Before its full
completion, but not until his treasured col
lection was placed upon the walls, this
distinguished citizen died. But he left a
widow who took up his work, not only
with all the enthusiasm that had inspired
Tim, but with all that devoted love for her
husband could add and with heart rs big
Sith human sympathy and as rich in
charitable purpose as ever prompted any
aUman being to action.
MARGARET Z. cRocKER
7as few peers and no superiors in all that
constitutes the noble woman. Her name
3 the synonym in California for good
doing, charity and lofty humane purpose.
Size carried out the wishes of her lamented
husband to the letter, finished the magnifi
cent gallery, and did more-she improved
upon the original designs, embellished its
Interior with lavishness not surpassed in
say building on the coast, and added to the
structure every convenience known to the
Rouae-buildipg art, and brought the beau
.ifrI grounds surrounding tito the highest
possible state of culture.
FOB YEARS
The gallery was open to her friends and to
all, indeed, who requested the privilege.
For time it was made absolutely free the
doors being open to all, but the necessity
Of cost in maintaining these conditions
To ha VII
She privilege In recent years, however,
the building being fully completed, Mrs.
Croker set aside certain days IL each
Ecek when the public should be admitted.
She never permitted q charge to be made at
she door except on occasions when benefits
we're taken for some public charity,
mainly for the support of the orphan
ASYLUM in Sacramento, and notwithstand
ny the heavy cost of caring for such Large
building and such a treasury of art, the
noble lady never permitted cent Of in
come for the use of the gallery TO come
INTO her purse. In all the long years in
which she has administered the wealth left
% her her days have been filled with good
deeds. No worthy cause ever came to her
Cor aid in vain Our charities, our churches,
our public works, our asylums, all are in
5ebtei to her for generous aid. The PEG
pie who know her so well, and love her so
ssnderly, and salute her with such depth
Of sincerity, do not even know all OF her
charitable deeds for she is modest, re-
Sring woman and never mentions her be-
ze7olent acts Her benefactions have been
90 broad, her gifts SO well placed, her char
ties so admirably disposed, her kindness
and generosity so proTerbial that she has
come to be known as Sacramento;s Lady
Bountiful and good angel. The Art Gal
5ery building and all its contents this good
<onan gave to the city of her home. To
che brief recital of the history leading up
TO that gift, and the elimination of It in the
celebrated I" Festival of Flowers, in her
honor, and to description of the Art Gal
lery and the School of Design lately found
ed IN it, we now propose to give space.
IN addition to all the benefceuce of Mrs.
C,rocker. to her aid TO the poor and dis
.-essed, her heed to the call of sudering, her
-esponse to all appeals OF publie-spirited
enterprises, the lady founded in Sacramento
THE MARGUERITE HOME
Eor the benefit of aged women. She
conceived the idea Of erecting a
,oyse where gentlewomen OF adj
vauced years with limited means could
asve all the comforts of home, and that
care and attention their declining years de-
nand. In 1879 she bought ground for the
tone, but changed her plans and pur-
chased shortly after the residence and spa
-io1s grounds of Robert Hamilton. She
rad she residence materially altered, erected
; sing 36x7S feet, fitted up all the rooms
handsomely and arranged so IS to provide
for twenty-eight bedrooms, besides living
rooms, libraries, diniueroonl. etc Febru-
arg IS, 1884, the sixtieth anniversary of
KS. Crocker's birth, the Marguerite Home
Ess dedicated and q reception given at
which hundreds OF married people were
the guests. She crested Albert Gallatin, ].
Il. Carroll. G. L. Simmons, Chas. McCreary
A29 Frank Miller, Trustees, and 70 them