Robert and Marjorie Rawlins
Encyclopedia
Robert Ernest Rawlins (December 3, 1911 – September 26, 1993) and Marjorie (Marge) Townsley Rawlins (February 6, 1920 – May 19, 2009) were American philanthropists and patrons of the arts, particularly music.
Robert was the son of Robert E. Rawlins of Pierre, South Dakota
, schools superintendent (after whom the town's Rawlins Municipal Library is named). An Edison Scholar in 1929, Bob was expelled from an engineering course at South Dakota State College
for spending too much time playing bridge. He spent some time working for the local highway department, before studying physics at the University of South Dakota
(USD), Vermillion
. There he met music student Marjorie Townsley, daughter of John Boyd Townsley, editor of the Dakota Republican. Graduating in 1940, Bob went to work for Lockheed
in California
, and when Marge graduated in 1942, she decided not to take up the offer of a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music
, and married Bob.
At Lockheed, Bob rose through the ranks into management, finally heading their Electronic Systems Analysis and Development lab in Burbank. In 1956, he was hired by Hewlett Packard to run their new subsidiary, Dynac (soon renamed Dymec for legal reasons), and the couple moved to Palo Alto
with their children Pam and Jeff. Bob was the first general manager, building the company up very rapidly from a small team in a single large room to a major business occupying several buildings. The core purpose of Dymec was to provide customized electronic measuring equipment, which necessitated considerable creativity, and Bob's name appears on a number of patents, including one for the backup transmitter for the first generation of US space satellites. In 1959, HP took the subsidiary into full ownership, and Bob left once the administrative transition was settled to take the post of Assistant to the President of HP, David Packard
.
Marge, in addition to bringing up the children, became involved with several local singing ensembles. In 1966 she founded the University Women's Chorus (which she soon opened to non-graduates; for many years it has been called the Peninsula Women's Chorus
), stressing the value of discipline and learning by insisting that performers worked from memory, even when singing in foreign languages. Both Marge and Bob, in their respective spheres, placed as much emphasis on enjoyment and sociability as on achievement, and the Chorus still maintains a tradition of parties each spring.
After leaving HP in 1962, Bob became a venture capitalist, and scored numerous successes in the electronic technology industry. The couple shared a philosophy that the best status symbols were successes in which they had invested, and applied this even to ventures in which success was not measured by financial returns. When Marge learned of a new museum in her hometown, the Shrine to Music
, which was opened at USD in 1975, she investigated it and became a life member. This led to a long succession of donations over many years, both for acquisitions and for improvements, such as the courtyard, with Mike Tuma's 1987 sculpture "Generations". Many of these donations were in the form of stocks in which Bob had invested, the most notable being the transfer of shares worth $3 million to buy the Witten
collection of early stringed instruments in 1984. The following year, Bob put up $550,000 to buy the museum the Harrison Stradivarius
violin, as a birthday tribute to Marge, and many other donations followed, the total approaching $6 million by 1991. Having now amassed the world's greatest collection, the Shrine has become the National Music Museum.
In the late 1970s, the Rawlins decided to return to Southern California to retire, and acquired the last unbuilt bayfront plot on Balboa Island, Newport Beach. Having lived for two decades in a modernist "Eichler
" house, they chose architect John Lautner to realise Joseph Eichler's notion of "bringing the outside in" on a waterfront plot 30 feet wide and 70 feet deep, hemmed in by other houses. The result was a very individual, open-plan building of wood and concrete, with all of its curved seaward end filled by glass panels that could slide aside at the touch of a button. Initially resistant to Lautner's insistence on providing the two-story house with an elevator, they were later glad that this allowed them to spend the rest of their lives there.
After the move, Bob and Marge began to involve themselves with music and culture at the local University of California, Irvine
(UCI), but they also gave much support to the University of South Dakota. In 1987 they arranged for the creation of a piano and string trio, the members of which were to teach within USD's music department; the founder members chose to call themselves the Rawlins Piano Trio. In 1991 they gave a record $1.7 million endowment to USD for scholarships to the valedictorians of 14 South Dakota high schools.
Bob died in September, 1993. In 1995, Marge received both the UCI medal, and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from USD (which has also established a group for intending legacy donors called The Robert and Marjorie Rawlins Society). The same year, she gave $1 million to UCI to endow music scholarships, then in 1996 she gave a further $1 million to create the first endowed Chair in the arts department, and established the Rawlins Fall Visiting Artist series over at USD- free annual masterclasses and recitals by world-renowned pianists. In 1998 she was awarded a Golden Baton by the Orange County Philharmonic Society, which she had also supported for many years (and in 1999 she co-sponsored the Society's exhibition of instruments from the Shrine to Music collection).
Marge co-sponsored research at UCI, published in 1999, which suggested that childhood music training is beneficial for the general development of higher brain functions. In 2004 the Rawlins Piano Trio at USD was complemented by the Townsley Graduate Piano Trio- annual awards of $5,000 for three graduate students, who are coached by their counterparts in the Rawlins Trio. Marjorie Rawlins died at home in the spring of 2009. She was survived by her children Pam Courtial (now deceased) and Jeff Rawlins, her daughter-in-law Cathy Rawlins, granddaughters Danica Rawlins and Christy Stocker, three great-granddaughters, and her sister-in-law Jo Rawlins Gilbert.
Robert was the son of Robert E. Rawlins of Pierre, South Dakota
Pierre, South Dakota
Pierre is the capital of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second least populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont...
, schools superintendent (after whom the town's Rawlins Municipal Library is named). An Edison Scholar in 1929, Bob was expelled from an engineering course at South Dakota State College
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
for spending too much time playing bridge. He spent some time working for the local highway department, before studying physics at the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
(USD), Vermillion
Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the tenth largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. Vermillion lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.The area has been home to...
. There he met music student Marjorie Townsley, daughter of John Boyd Townsley, editor of the Dakota Republican. Graduating in 1940, Bob went to work for Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and when Marge graduated in 1942, she decided not to take up the offer of a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, and married Bob.
At Lockheed, Bob rose through the ranks into management, finally heading their Electronic Systems Analysis and Development lab in Burbank. In 1956, he was hired by Hewlett Packard to run their new subsidiary, Dynac (soon renamed Dymec for legal reasons), and the couple moved to Palo Alto
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
with their children Pam and Jeff. Bob was the first general manager, building the company up very rapidly from a small team in a single large room to a major business occupying several buildings. The core purpose of Dymec was to provide customized electronic measuring equipment, which necessitated considerable creativity, and Bob's name appears on a number of patents, including one for the backup transmitter for the first generation of US space satellites. In 1959, HP took the subsidiary into full ownership, and Bob left once the administrative transition was settled to take the post of Assistant to the President of HP, David Packard
David Packard
David Packard was a co-founder of Hewlett-Packard , serving as president , CEO , and Chairman of the Board . He served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1969–1971 during the Nixon administration...
.
Marge, in addition to bringing up the children, became involved with several local singing ensembles. In 1966 she founded the University Women's Chorus (which she soon opened to non-graduates; for many years it has been called the Peninsula Women's Chorus
Peninsula Women's Chorus
The Peninsula Women's Chorus is an award-winning female choir based at Palo Alto, California.In 1966, after a decade of involvement with local musical ensembles, Marjorie Rawlins of Palo Alto founded the American Association of University Women Midpeninsula Chorus, with 17 members...
), stressing the value of discipline and learning by insisting that performers worked from memory, even when singing in foreign languages. Both Marge and Bob, in their respective spheres, placed as much emphasis on enjoyment and sociability as on achievement, and the Chorus still maintains a tradition of parties each spring.
After leaving HP in 1962, Bob became a venture capitalist, and scored numerous successes in the electronic technology industry. The couple shared a philosophy that the best status symbols were successes in which they had invested, and applied this even to ventures in which success was not measured by financial returns. When Marge learned of a new museum in her hometown, the Shrine to Music
National Music Museum
The National Music Museum: America's Shrine to Music & Center for Study of the History of Musical Instruments is a musical instrument museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, USA. It was founded in 1973 on the campus of the University of South Dakota...
, which was opened at USD in 1975, she investigated it and became a life member. This led to a long succession of donations over many years, both for acquisitions and for improvements, such as the courtyard, with Mike Tuma's 1987 sculpture "Generations". Many of these donations were in the form of stocks in which Bob had invested, the most notable being the transfer of shares worth $3 million to buy the Witten
Laurence Claiborne Witten II
Laurence C. Witten II , was an American rare book dealer and collector of antiquities....
collection of early stringed instruments in 1984. The following year, Bob put up $550,000 to buy the museum the Harrison Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
violin, as a birthday tribute to Marge, and many other donations followed, the total approaching $6 million by 1991. Having now amassed the world's greatest collection, the Shrine has become the National Music Museum.
In the late 1970s, the Rawlins decided to return to Southern California to retire, and acquired the last unbuilt bayfront plot on Balboa Island, Newport Beach. Having lived for two decades in a modernist "Eichler
Joseph Eichler
Joseph Eichler was a 20th century post-war U.S. American real estate developer known for developing distinctive residential subdivisions of Mid-Century modern style Tract housing in California, United States. He was one of the influential advocates of bringing modern architecture from custom...
" house, they chose architect John Lautner to realise Joseph Eichler's notion of "bringing the outside in" on a waterfront plot 30 feet wide and 70 feet deep, hemmed in by other houses. The result was a very individual, open-plan building of wood and concrete, with all of its curved seaward end filled by glass panels that could slide aside at the touch of a button. Initially resistant to Lautner's insistence on providing the two-story house with an elevator, they were later glad that this allowed them to spend the rest of their lives there.
After the move, Bob and Marge began to involve themselves with music and culture at the local University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
(UCI), but they also gave much support to the University of South Dakota. In 1987 they arranged for the creation of a piano and string trio, the members of which were to teach within USD's music department; the founder members chose to call themselves the Rawlins Piano Trio. In 1991 they gave a record $1.7 million endowment to USD for scholarships to the valedictorians of 14 South Dakota high schools.
Bob died in September, 1993. In 1995, Marge received both the UCI medal, and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from USD (which has also established a group for intending legacy donors called The Robert and Marjorie Rawlins Society). The same year, she gave $1 million to UCI to endow music scholarships, then in 1996 she gave a further $1 million to create the first endowed Chair in the arts department, and established the Rawlins Fall Visiting Artist series over at USD- free annual masterclasses and recitals by world-renowned pianists. In 1998 she was awarded a Golden Baton by the Orange County Philharmonic Society, which she had also supported for many years (and in 1999 she co-sponsored the Society's exhibition of instruments from the Shrine to Music collection).
Marge co-sponsored research at UCI, published in 1999, which suggested that childhood music training is beneficial for the general development of higher brain functions. In 2004 the Rawlins Piano Trio at USD was complemented by the Townsley Graduate Piano Trio- annual awards of $5,000 for three graduate students, who are coached by their counterparts in the Rawlins Trio. Marjorie Rawlins died at home in the spring of 2009. She was survived by her children Pam Courtial (now deceased) and Jeff Rawlins, her daughter-in-law Cathy Rawlins, granddaughters Danica Rawlins and Christy Stocker, three great-granddaughters, and her sister-in-law Jo Rawlins Gilbert.