University Club of Pasadena To Celebrate Centennial With a Grand Gala on Saturday

In 1921, Howard W. Carter was sitting in his dentist chair when he thought to himself that there ought to be enough college-educated men in Pasadena to form a university club.

He turned this idea into reality and in 1922, after getting support from interested college men, he formed the University Club of Pasadena. This Saturday, the club will celebrate its 100-year anniversary with a grand gala themed: “Honoring The Past, Celebrating The Future.”

“We are so honored and proud to be celebrating 100 years in the community. And we are really looking to the next 100 years of the club,” said Katelyn Barchowsky, Membership and Communications Director of the University Club of Pasadena.

The upcoming Saturday gala, which begins at 5:30 p.m., features a cocktail hour, multicourse dinner, and dancing. A celebration program will also be held at 7:00 p.m. Due to capacity restrictions, the event is open only to members of the club and invited local dignitaries, according to Barchowsky.

As part of the Centennial Celebration, author Nat B. Read, a member of the club, will release a coffee table book about the club’s history.

Read has written several books and his articles have appeared in newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times. He has also written about the history of the Jonathan Club and early Los Angeles history.

“About a year ago the club asked me to write its centennial book, because I am a member of the club and because I have written other books about clubs in Pasadena and Los Angeles. I accepted,” Read told Pasadena Now.

Read said before he wrote the book, he had no idea how distinguished the founders of the club were.

“Among the first ten presidents of the club three were former college presidents and seven had doctorate degrees. The Club’s first vice president was awarded a Nobel Prize while serving that club role.”

“Pioneer members included Nobel Laureate Robert Millikan; astronomers Edwin Hubble and George Ellery Hale; California Impressionist painter Alson Skinner Clark; Mount Lowe Railroad engineer David Macpjerson; father of Julia Child, John McWilliams, earthquake authority Charles Richter; and many noted architects including Henry Greene (of Greene and Greene) and Myron Hunt,” said Read.

According to Barchowsky, every guest in attendance on Saturday will get to leave with a copy of the book authored by Read.

As a historic membership club and event venue, the University Club of Pasadena hosts events for members and non-members.

“So many service organizations meet here. Many of our fellow institutions have held many memorable events in their histories with us, such as galas and fundraisers and things of that nature.”

“And so I think it holds a special place in the hearts of many people and institutions, and it’s also a place where families grow up together and generations continue on.”

Barchowsky recounted a few of the club’s milestones throughout the years. From being an all-men club, the club welcomed women in 1986. At present, the club is welcoming men, women, and people of all ages and backgrounds.

Another milestone is the 2019 launch of the University Club of Pasadena Education Foundation, which helps provide scholarships to local students pursuing higher education.

Despite changes in the club’s events and programs over the years, Barchowsky remarked it has remained as “center for professional academic and social life in the community.”

“The way that people gather here may have changed, but the reasons why they want to come have really stayed the same through the generations. It’s really a chance to connect and to enjoy some really unique dining experiences together, special events, and really to get a seat at the table in the community,” she said.

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