Los
Angeles County
Biographies
MRS. ELEANOR BREEN
Mrs. James F. (Eleanor) Breen has
played an important part in the organization and development of The Catholic
Woman’s Club of Los Angeles, organized in 1916, and one of the outstanding
women’s clubs of Southern California.
She is a native of Dayton, Ohio, and a daughter of William S. and
Cecelia (Weingartner) Kramer, whom she accompanied to
Los Angeles when fifteen years of age.
Her father operated a chain of barber shops after he came to the Golden
state until his retirement. He passed
away in 1924. The mother of Mrs. Breen
still resides in Los Angeles as well as three sisters, Mrs. George L. Reynolds,
Mrs. Lewis W. Wheeler and Mrs. Warren R. Cain.
Mrs. Breen, who in her maidenhood
was Eleanor Kramer, is a graduate of the Los Angeles High School, Class of
1901. On July 28, 1909, she became of
wife of James F. Breen and they have two sons, William B. and Robert. She has taken an active and helpful part in
all projects looking toward civic advancement and is frequently called upon to
address the members of the numerous clubs and organizations to which she
belongs. She has filled all the
important offices of The Catholic Woman’s Club, of which she is now
president. It was The Catholic Woman’s
Club which started the movement, through its program chairman, Mrs. Edward L.
Cross, to have John Steven McGroarty made poet laureate of the state of
California, passing the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That whereas John Steven McGroarty has long given of his literary talents to the people of the State of California and is
beloved by all for his munificent and unselfish
efforts and devotion in portraying the beauties and grandeur of the verdure and
the scenic landscape of our state as endowed by nature; and,
Whereas, John Steven McGroarty has also, with his pen and voice, given to us
most fascinating and accurate reviews of the historical progress in the affairs
of the State of California from the early pioneer days and in the perpetuation
of its history, and has symbolized the characteristics of these early pioneer
days for our own people and the visitors to California through his Mission Play
at San Gabriel; and
Whereas, John Steven McGroarty through his zeal and ingenuity has long become a singular
and outstanding Californian in poetical contributions which have been of a common benefit to our own people and our
visitors for a better understanding of the history and resources of this great
Commonwealth; and
Whereas, it is fitting that the
people of the State of California in gratitude to John Steven McGroarty for his many literary achievements inuring to the
aggrandizement of California, should bestow upon him the honor that he most
richly deserves;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that The Catholic Woman’s Club of Los Angeles, California, be sponsor
to the Legislature to the State of California, that through Joint Resolution of
the Senate and the Assembly, or other appropriate proceedings, that the
Legislature of this State bestow upon John Steven McGroarty
the honor and distinction of Poet Laureate of the State of California.
(Mrs.
James F.) Eleanor Breen, President,
Mrs. A. J. Klant, Record Secretary
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 297-298, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES