HARVARD WESTLAKE SCHOOL IN 1937

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                      2013

     One of the most prestigious schools in California is Harvard - Westlake School in Studio City. Harvard School was founded as a boys' military academy in 1900 by Glenville C. Emery in what is now downtown Los Angeles.

Grenville C. Emery - Founder of the Harvard School.  

Excerpt from the Sentinel yearbook produced in 1937 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg in 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

      Harvard School was opened in 1900 near the corner of Venice Boulevard and Western Avenue. In 1911 the school was affiliated with the Episcopal Church. In 1937, the school was relocated to property once owned by the defunct Hollywood Country Club in Studio City. The headmaster was the Right Reverend Robert Gooden.

Robert B. Gooden, Episcopal Bishop, Headmaster of Harvard School (1912 - 1930 / 1934 - 1949)

H. Peter Gantz - Senior Harvard School 1937

(I thought it might be interesting to include the yearbook biography of one of the graduating students  from the Harvard School.)

     H. Peter Gantz "Pete", was born in Fullerton California August 19, 1919. His father is Harry Gantz, well-known oil man. His mother's maiden name was Beatrice Miller she is now married to Elmer J. Boeseke Jr. the  international polo player, and he is now a Pete's guardian. A step-sister Gertrude completes the family.

     Pete entered Harvard school in 1934 as a sophomore coming to Los Angeles from La Cumbra School in Santa Barbara he is a member of the Red Club and the forum Club.

     Pete has always been an enthusiastic sportsman although his thoughts are more with polo than in any other sport. He is an excellent player and we hope he will follow in the footsteps of his illustrious guardian. However Pete has always taken an active part in other sports, playing on the B football team in 1934 and in 1935, and taking his place as a regular on the 1935 - 1936 baseball teams.

     He was appointed a Private, 1st class in the 1935 and later in the same year won his promotion to corporal. In his senior year he was appointed second lieutenant and was assigned to Company D. He has won his Marksman Badge.

     Pete lists his hobbies as horses, polo and the fairer sex.  He has signified his intention of matriculating at Stanford to prepare himself for a career as a petroleum engineer

    His  permanent address is 375 San Leandro Alejandro Lane in Montecito California. 

 Harvard School Track Team - 1937 (click on image to enlarge it.)

Advertisement in the 1937 Sentinel yearbook of Harvard School.

(click on image to enlarge it.)

HARVARD SCHOOL 1938

Commencement Brochure - 1938 - Harvard School - North Hollywood, CA - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg - 2008
22 fresh faced boys graduated from Harvard School in June of 1938. Two months earlier, the dictator Benito Mussolini had ordered his goose-stepping troops to invade Ethiopia. It is hard to imagine that these boys, with their quasi-military training would not soon find themselves in the turmoil of war. By 1941, many of them would be nearly finished with college.
With the youngest of these graduates now 85 or 85, they are likely now gone.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley collects, and cares about, the history of Valley students and schools. Share your old yearbooks and commencement programs with future generations.
The San Fernando Valley deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

THANKS TO RANIA PALLAD AND KAREN WHITAKER

Harvard School - vintage postcard - collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - postmarked 1908 - gift of Gerald Fecht 2008

Special thanks to Rania Pallad and Karen Whitaker for their hard work getting our non-profit documents for the State of California this week.

Grenvill Emery opened the doors of Harvard School at the onset of the 20th century in Los Angeles, California. The school was in fact a military academy, which in 1911 won the sponsorship of the Episcopal Church. In 1937, the directors of the school secured a loan from Donald Douglas, owner of the Douglas Aviation Company to move the school to the San Fernando Valley.
Fortunately, the splendid Saint Savior's Chapel was moved from its Venice Boulevard location to North Hollywood, where it stands today as a cultural landmark of the City of Los Angeles.
The vintage postcard featured here was mailed 100 years ago, to Miss Bessie Milholland at 872 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena, California. The card's message reads: "7-31-08 Dear Bessie, I am in L.A. this aft (afternoon). Will be back for party.
(signature is as follows - good luck reading it)


The San Fernando Valley deserves a great Museum of history and culture.