Weill, Henrietta

HENRIETTA WEILL

By W. Harland Boyd

The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic is a fitting tribute to a woman who was highly regarded for her social, civic, and benevolent activities in Bakersfield. In 1882 she came to the city as the nineteen year old bride of Alphonse Weill, a Bakersfield businessman. A native of San Francisco, she would have liked to attend the University of California, Berkeley, but her family felt that was not appropriate. She received normal school training in San Francisco. This included kindergarten methods under Kate Douglas Wiggin, who also was a well-known author of children’s books.

In Bakersfield, Henrietta continued to be interested in early childhood education, and she used her kindergarten training to the benefit of her four children. In fact, she was so enthusiastic about the kindergarten movement that she opened one in her home for the benefit of the neighborhood children. Subsequently, when the city school district claimed it could not support a kindergarten, she and several other mothers joined in the support of a kindergarten teacher.

Henrietta was a strong and capable supporter of community advancement, including civic, cultural, and educational improvements. All of these helped Bakersfield emerge from its pioneer days and move toward cultural maturity. She was active in the Woman’s Club of Bakersfield and she was it president in 1903-1904. Upon the organization of a local chapter of the American Red Cross in 1917, she was elected vice-president of the organization. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a supporter of the Kern County Musical Association.

Henrietta’s lifelong interest in child welfare was apparent in her support of such organizations as the children’s Shelter, Children’s Home Society, and Kiddie Camp. In recognition of her concern with child welfare, the Weill Children and others appropriately perpetuated her memory with the founding of the Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic.