Book Talk: The Legacy of Pearl Chase

Miss Chase: Santa Barbara’s Trailblazer’ Book Talk + Archive Discussion with Simon Kerry and Erin Graffy

In partnership with Santa Barbara Beautiful, join us for a special evening with British historian Simon Kerry as he discusses his new book, ‘Miss Chase: Santa Barbara’s Trailblazer. Explore materials from  the The Community Development and Conservation Collection (CDCC), also known as the Pearl Chase Collection, donated by Ms. Chase to UCSB Libray’s Special Research Collection, and used in Simon’s research. Moderated by local Santa Barbara historian and author, Erin Graffy.

Pearl Chase (1888-1979) was a longtime activist in local community affairs, as well as at the state and national level. As secretary and later chair of the Plans and Planting Committee, she encouraged the city’s rebuilding in the graceful Spanish style after the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake. She was the city’s unofficial ombudsman in matters of natural beauty and public welfare, suggesting health and building codes and encouraging sign ordinances, saving trees and creating and enhancing parks. Her legacy continues to live on at UCSB through her collection and awards established in her name.

About the Author

Simon Kerry was born in 1970 and is an author and business owner. He is also the 11th Earl of Kerry. He was educated at Eton College and at Cambridge University where he was awarded an MA in Archaeology. He has an MBA from Hult Ashridge, an MSc in Rural Land and Business Management from the University of Reading and a PhD in History from the University of East Anglia. He is married and has one child. He lives at Bowood in Wiltshire. His first book Lansdowne: The Last Great Whig was published by Unicorn Publishing Group in 2017.