The Ebell of Los Angeles

At a time when the fight for women’s suffrage was still radical, Harriet Strong was one of its most formidable and visionary champions. Strong was also the first President of The Ebell of Los Angeles.

In the 1890s, Strong travelled across the U.S. with suffragist Susan B. Anthony arguing not only for the right to vote, but for a broader transformation in women’s access to education, independence, and civic authority. On June 4, 1919, the hard work of those suffragists paid off when Congress passed the 19th amendment. (It would take another 14 months for the amendment to be ratified.)

An inventor who exemplified the Ebell motto, “I will find a way or make one,” Strong also held multiple patents relating to water storage, dam construction, and flood control, and her innovation was crucial to the construction of the Hoover Dam.

In shaping the suffrage movement, agriculture, and an iconic women’s organization, Strong unleashed her ambition for the public good, building an enduring legacy that still amplifies women's voices today. Join us today at https://www.ebellofla.org/join

1. Harriet Williams Russell Strong, from The Ebell Album of the Presidents, Ebell Archives
2. The First Annual Ebell Report, September 1895, Ebell Archives
3. Harriet Williams Russell Strong portrait by Joseph Mason Reeves, from The Ebell Art Salon

Immerse yourself in a joyous display of artwork by Ebell Members in the historic Ebell Art Salon—one of the first places in LA to exhibit work by women artists. A rich mix of photography, collage, drawing, painting, and more, this FREE show invites Angelenos into the Ebell, which is dedicated to anchoring LA arts and culture, and amplifying voices—at a gathering generated by the unique Ebell community.

Thursday, June 4, 2026
The Ebell of LA
6:00 PM
FREE!

More information at: https://www.ebellofla.org/events/ebell-member-art-show-2

Legendary landscape architects Florence Yoch and Lucile Council designed private gardens for the Hollywood elite, the Tara set in GONE WITH THE WIND—and the historic courtyard at The Ebell of Los Angeles. As Pride month kicks off, we celebrate Yoch and Council, who were partners in both work and life.

“The Ebell’s gardens are especially significant because so much of Yoch and Council’s work was residential and private,” says Ebell Scholar In Residence, Dr. Meredith Drake Reitan. Together Yoch and Council designed outdoor spaces for luminary film directors George Cukor (THE PHILADELPHIA STORY) and Dorothy Arzner (DANCE, GIRL, DANCE) and helped define the aesthetic of Pasadena through many commissions—including the Pasadena Public Library and the home of Mrs. Howard Huntington. (The Florence Yoch papers are now housed at The Huntington in Pasadena.)

“At a time when landscape architecture was still largely centered on the East Coast, Yoch and Council established Los Angeles as an important center of design innovation, helping define a distinctly Southern Californian garden aesthetic.”

Yoch and Council lived and worked together for 40 years, until Council’s death in 1964. Happy Pride from The Ebell of Los Angeles!

Photos:

1. Lucile Council and Florence Yoch at the garden of Mrs. C. Pardee Erdman, San Marino, ca. 1940. Unknown photographer. (Photo from the Florence Yoch Papers | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens)

2. The original Ebell courtyard, as designed by Yoch and Council (Photo from The Ebell Archives)

3. Yoch and Council letterhead (Photo from The Ebell Archives)

4. Sketch for Vroman’s bookstore in Pasadena, inspired by a 17th century Spanish garden (Photo via Dr. Reitan from the Florence Yoch Papers | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens)

5. Florence Yoch (Photo via Dr. Reitan from the Florence Yoch Papers | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens)

Thank you to Ebell Archivist Christine Cao for pulling Ebell Archive photos.

In an evening with that could not be more timely, former political speechwriter Jon Favreau joins author Ben Rhodes to discuss his new book, ALL WE SAY: THE BATTLE FOR AMERICAN IDENTITY, A HISTORY IN 15 SPEECHES, which traces American social and political movement through 15 specific speeches over the course of 250 years.
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From Abraham Lincoln to Ronald Reagan, from abolitionist Maria Stewart to Frederick Douglass, from Martin Luther King Jr and Louis Brandeis to Donald Trump, we read the speeches that reflect powerful social movements — and gauge the impact in front of our eyes. These speeches represent a crystallization of our highest and lowest moments as a nation, from our most glorious idealism to our most repugnant extremism.

Monday, June 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM at The Ebell of LA
Tickets via Calendar Linktree in bio!

"We Fought That the World Might be Free from War," the wordsstamped in gold on the cover of The Ebell Roll of Honor from 1918, still ring with haunting clarity. This extraordinary tome records 252 stars honoring the five Ebell members and the husbands, sons, and brothers who responded for active war service during WW1—12 of whom never returned. This Memorial Day, we honor those who have fought and fallen in service of our nation.

Roll of Honor images from The Ebell Archives. View The Ebell Collections click here: https://hub.catalogit.app/ebell-of-la-collections

Scientific evidence that arts & culture are good for you!

Engaging with arts and culture can slow biological aging as much as exercise, study suggests | CNN When it comes to slowing down our biological aging, engaging with arts and culture is as beneficial as physical activity, a new study suggests.

Thank you for visiting The Ebell, Representative Laura Friedman!

What does it take to transform a beloved public garden into one of Southern California’s most dynamic cultural destinations? Join nonprofit leader and Descanso Gardens Foundation CEO Juliann Rooke for an inspiring conversation about leadership, community impact, and the power of connecting people to nature. A passionate advocate for environmental stewardship in Southern California, Rooke has helped propel Descanso Gardens to new heights — with soaring attendance, doubled membership, and remarkable operational growth under her leadership.

More than a luncheon, this is an opportunity to hear how bold vision, mission-driven leadership, and community engagement can spark meaningful change. Leave inspired, energized, and ready to make an impact in your own work and community.

Tickets available via calendar Linktree in bio.