Distinguished Lemon Grovian to Be Featured at 46th Annual Congress of History Conference

Take a day off for history's sake.

On Friday and Saturday, historical societies from San Diego and Imperial counties will join forces in Balboa Park for a conference honoring women who have made a difference in the region’s history.

With an array of lectures, tours and presentations, the 46th Annual Congress of History Conference covers women from the precolonial era straight through the 20th century. The theme is "They Made a Difference: The Unsung History of Women in the San Diego Region."

Two local historians will be taking part, and the late Dr. Amorita Treganza, a groundbreaking pediatric optometrist whose family's roots run deep in Lemon Grove, will be the subject of a presentation by Helen Ofield, president of the Lemon Grove Historical Society.

Ofield is looking forward to her lecture about Treganza, whom she knew well. Ofield followed her as president of the historical society.

"She was such a distinguished Lemon Grovian," she said. "A giant in her field, she took optometry patients from infancy and followed them through their teens."

Treganza, who lived in Lemon Grove from 1926 until her death in 2002, stepped into uncharted territory with a trailblazing approach that addressed the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of the patients in her practice, she said.

But that’s not all. Treganza had also been a Spanish dancer, lemon fruit packer and actor. As a physician, she was the first woman to head a national medical association, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Her father, Alberto O. Treganza, was a noted architect and designer of the Big Lemon, which was created as a parade float in 1928 and now greets everyone to Lemon Grove at the intersection of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue. Her mother, Antwonet Kaufman Treganza, was the first woman to head the Lemon Grove Chamber of Commerce and serve as postmaster.

Lemon Grove's Helen Halmay is one of the event’s organizers. She became involved with the Congress of History Conference in 1994, when she was presented with an award for her fight to preserve Art Deco architecture in San Diego. She currently serves as the Congress' financial secretary.

"After the awards ceremony, I asked them if Lemon Grove was represented at the Congress," she said. "They told me no, so I later asked the board of the Lemon Grove Historical Society if I could represent them at the Congress. They said yes, and I was hooked."

Halmay is a journalist, graphic artist and architectural historian. She has been editor of the Congress' newsletter, Adelante, for 17 years, putting all her skills to work to make a difference in the region's historical community. Adelante has grown from a two-page typewritten newsletter in 1964 to a bi-monthly issue more than 10 times that size. An “Adelante Conference Special Edition" will be given to all attendees at the conference.

She said this year, working with co-sponsors Women's Museum of California and the Historic Resources Board of the city of San Diego, the two-day event offers a wealth of activities, exhibits and speakers. She said this is the first time the Congress has focused exclusively on the history of local women.

"All of this gives me a warm glow that keeps me going," Halmay said. "I am so pleased and gratified that we are creating this one-of-a-kind experience for our members and the public. With our conference co-sponsors we are bringing their knowledge and expertise to help make this event truly spectacular."

Former Assemblywoman Lucy Killea is the keynote speaker. Killea, who served in the California Legislature from 1989 to 1996, as well as one term on the San Diego City Council, was inducted into the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame in 2002 for her commitment to improving the lives of women.

Congress President Alexander D. Bevil said this year's conference has an eclectic collection of presentations on some well-known and perhaps forgotten San Diego women. Hazel Wood Waterman was one of the first 20th century California women to become a successful architect. She is best known for restoring the historic Casa de Estudillo in 1910 in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, one of the oldest surviving adobe homes from California’s Mexican Rancho Period.

"One of her contemporaries, Julia Clark, was one of San Diego's 'First Ladies of Flight,' " he said. "Faced with gender bias, ridicule and sabotage, her single-minded determination made it culturally acceptable for women to fly."

He said 22-year-old Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick proved women could do astounding things after jumping out of an airplane at 3,000 feet during the 1915 Exposition in Balboa Park.

"They all made some impact in promoting a woman's place in society—sometimes against great odds, sexual prejudice and danger," he said.

Halmay said she just wants women to know how exciting this event is for the Congress and everyone involved. As each year's event has its own theme, she said she does not know when people will have this opportunity to learn so much about the history of the women in this region.

"It's now or never folks!" she said.

Event Information

"They Made a Difference: The Unsung History of Women in the San Diego Region" will be Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5, in Balboa Park's Santa Fe Room at the Balboa Park Club and the Ballroom & Recital Hall.

Event hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, with registration at 9 a.m.; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, with registration at 9:30 a.m. The registration fee is $25 for both days, seniors 65 and older are $20 and students with ID are $15.

Box lunches for both days can be purchased. Entry will be through the Santa Fe Room in the Balboa Park Club building on both days.