Ella King Torrey
Ella King Torrey | |
|---|---|
| President of San Francisco Art Institute | |
| In office 1995 – April 2002 | |
| Preceded by | William O. Barrnett |
| Succeeded by | Larry Thomas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1957 Bronxville, New York (state), United States |
| Died | April 30, 2003 (aged 45) San Francisco, California, United States |
| Relations | Ella King Russell Torrey (mother) |
| Education | Yale University, University of Mississippi |
| Occupation | Academic administrator, professional fundraiser, arts advocate, art historian |
Ella King Torrey (1957–2003), was an American academic administrator, professional fundraiser, arts advocate, and art historian.[1][2] She was president of San Francisco Art Institute from 1995 to 2002;[3][4] and was known for creating opportunities for visual artists.
Early life and education
[edit]Ella King Torrey was born in 1957, in Bronxville in Westchester County, New York (state).[2] She grew up both in Evansville, Indiana, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2] Her mother was Ella King Russell Torrey.[4]
She graduated in art history in 1980, from Yale University.[2] Her thesis was on the cultural effects of Barbie dolls.[1][2][5] Torrey continued her studies at the University of Mississippi (UM), where deepened her learning on contemporary folk art, and Black quilt making traditions.[2] While attending UM, Torrey worked with the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, and curated a traveling exhibition on folk art toys.[6] Her master's thesis was on folk art painter, Theora Hamblett.[2]
Career
[edit]After graduating in 1985, Torrey became a program officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia, an NGO working on the creation of artists' subsidized housing, and fundraising for local music organizations.[2][7] During her time at Pew, she founded and led the Pew Artists Fellowship Program.[2]
In 1995, Torrey was elected president of the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), where she worked to amend some of the structural problems related to the organizational finances.[2] During her time at SFAI, she tripled the schools endowment, added a few new trustees, and generally improved the school's reputation.[2][3] Torrey resigned in 2002, as SFAI faced financial problems, and after an auditing firm found irregularities in 2001.[2][3]
She died on April 30, 2003, at the age of 45, in her home in the Potrero Hill neighborhood in San Francisco.[3][4] The cause of death was not disclosed,[2] however some news reports attributed to suicide.[4][8][9] Her memorial service was held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, with a second service was held at the Santa Monica Museum of Art (now Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles).[4]
After her death the Ella King Torrey Arts Fund was created at the Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia.[4] Her collection of quilts from 1980 to 1983, the Ella King Torrey Collection of African American Quilts, are now part of the collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ella King Torrey: She Has Degree in 'Barbie' Doll". The News–Messenger. 1980-06-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-04-05 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Smith, Roberta (2003-05-03). "Ella King Torrey, 45, Scholar, Arts Advocate and Administrator". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ a b c d Garofoli, Joe (May 2, 2003). "Ella King Torrey - ex-president of S.F. Art Institute". SFGate. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ a b c d e f Woo, Elaine (2003-05-03). "Ella King Torrey, 45; Former S.F. Art Institute Leader, Fund-Raiser". The Los Angeles Times. p. 109. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2024-04-05 – via Newspapers.com.
Torrey, who lived in the Potrero Hill section of San Francisco, apparently took her own life Wednesday
- ^ "Barbie, Dream Doll Reflects Change". The Sentinel. 1980-11-18. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-04-05 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UM preparing toy exhibition". The Sun. 1983-10-23. p. 38. Retrieved 2024-04-05 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "$1.5 million to help Phila. musical groups". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1989-09-25. p. 47. Retrieved 2024-04-05 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cullum, Jim (2003). "Innovative Administrator and Arts Funder Ella King Torrey Dies at 45". Art Papers Magazine. Vol. 1–6. Atlanta Art Papers, Incorporated. p. 8 – via Google Books.
...died April 30 in San Francisco, an apparent suicide (according to Los Angeles Times reports)
- ^ Mather, Frank Jewett; Sherman, Frederic Fairchild (2006). "Torrey". Art in America. Vol. 94. Art in America, Inc. p. 60 – via Google Books.
...the 2003 suicide of president Ella King Torrey...
- 1957 births
- 2003 deaths
- American academic administrators
- American art historians
- Heads of universities and colleges in the United States
- People from Bronxville, New York
- People from Philadelphia
- Presidents of San Francisco Art Institute
- Suicides in California
- University of Mississippi alumni
- Yale University alumni