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Famous People — Highlights

(Also please see our more comprehensive listing of notable people).

Charles Crocker, (1822-1888), is interred in a mausoleum designed by New York architect Arthur Page Brown, who later designed the San Francisco Ferry Building. Initially a successful Sacramento dry goods merchant, Crocker went on to become a founder of the Southern Pacific Railroad and Crocker Bank.

Frank Norris, (1870-1902), author of what was later called 'the romantic realist' school of writing, published three novels—McTeague, The Octopus and The Pit. Norris was one of a number of celebrated figures on the vibrant early San Francisco literary scene.

Henry J. Kaiser, (1882-1967), was the founder of Kaiser Steel & Aluminum. His various enterprises were responsible for such projects as the building of Hoover Dam, and most notably the building of World War II liberty ships. He also briefly produced a motorcar, the 'Henry J.'

Julia Morgan, (1872-1957), was a physically diminutive woman whose vision was responsible for such architecturally striking structures as U.C. Berkeley's Greek Theater, Hearst Gymnasium, the Neptune & Roman Pools and Main building at Hearst's Castle in San Simeon. Julia came from a prominent Oakland family and studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley's College of Engineering. In 1904 Julia took and passed the state examination for certification as an architect, thus becoming the first woman ever to be licensed as an architect in the state of California.

Bernard Maybeck, (1862-1957), was the son of a western German master builder. He was best known for his architectural designs of individual homes in the Arts and Crafts style, which stressed simplicity of adornment, use of native materials in building and accommodating a structure to fit in with its environment. Maybeck was responsible for the design of the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition's Palace of Fine Arts located in San Francisco. He was also Julia Morgan's geometry teacher at U.C. Berkeley, and later her professional mentor.

Thomas Hill, (1829-1908), was born in England the son of a tailor. He originally lived in Massachusetts, but failing health prompted his move to California where he was introduced to the lush California landscapes he later be gan to paint. Along with painter Albert Bierstadt, Hill became famous as a landscape artist of Yosemite Valley. He was a disciple of John Muir and the confidant of many young artists. Hill was also an early member of the Bohemian Club, where several of his masterpieces are exhibited today.

Samuel Merritt, M.D., (1822-1890), one of the first mayors of Oakland—a physician, shipbuilder, philanthropist, early regent of the University of California, founder of Merritt Hospital (now part of Summit Medical Center) and a founding trustee of the Mountain View Cemetery Association.

Anna Head, (1857-1932), was born in Boston and raised in San Mateo County where her father was a judge. A graduate of the University of California in 1879, she went on to establish a school for girls in Berkeley in 1888 where the curriculum included cooking, physical education, art and music, in addition to its academic subjects. In recent years, the school was moved to the Oakland hills and is now the co-educational college preparatory institution known as Head-Royce School.

 
 

Charles Crocker
(1822-1888)

 

Novelist Frank Norris

Architect Julia Morgan with William Randolph Hearst

Architect Bernard Maybeck
(1862-1957)