YALE UNIV_.«SITV
MAY 19^19
LIBRARY

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

\

IN MEMORIAM

HECTOR ALLIOT
Chateau der Forestiers, Gironde, France
November 20, 1862
Los Angeles, California, U. S. A.
February 15, 1919

For some we loved, the loveliest and the best
That from his Vintage rolling Time hath prest,
Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
And one by one crept silently to rest.
The moving finger writes; and having writ,
Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.

HECTOR ALLIOT
President 1918 1919

HECTOR ALLIOT

¥_T ECTOR ALLIOT was a man of great dynamic force. And, what
1 1 is more to the point, he was endowed with a sense of direction, a
fixity of purpose, a splendid enthusiasm, which made his force avail
able for achievement. His type of mind was essentially constructive,
beneficent; hence he drew about him coteries of earnest, progressive,
thoughtful men who, in acknowledgment of his large vision, his tact
and enthusiasm, were always glad to award him the leadership.
An abounding sense of good humor and kindliness was the concomit
ant of his efforts, and he never failed to acknowledge and appreciate
the work that his associates were doing ; claiming only the least honor
for himself. In his outlook upon life, its incentives and ends, there
was no room for selfish ambition, but rather his inspiration seemed to
lie in doing something to make people wiser, better, happier — to make
the world in some respect a more congenial place to live in. With
such qualities, it is no wonder that Hector Alliot was a chosen, an
inevitable, leader among his fellows. It is no wonder that he soon
acquired a standing as one who achieves — who is capable of grasping
large and difficult tasks, and able to carry them to fruition. In our
practical age such a man never lacks opportunities. But, no matter
how rapidly duties and responsibilti#s crowded upon him, he had a
heart full of enthusiasm for every good cause that offered, and, as a
strong man glories in his feats, so Hector Alliot reveled in the joy of
service. It is not a marvel that such a man did not succeed in ac
cumulating for himself a large share of this world's gear, but the won
der is rather how, in his constant devotion to public affairs, he was
able to make a living for himself and family. Many of the world's
truest philosophers and philanthropists have hardly been able to do
that. But, with all of his talent and all of his devotion, Hector
Alliott had a keen sense of the practical, and the matter of his own
maintenance was a mere incident; he could accomplish that, without
interfering with the more important things of life as he considered
them. This same business sense was a potent factor in carrying him
through his enterprises. If he had in prospect an undertaking in
volving large expenditures, he was always sure about his ability to lay
hands on the necessary funds before he incurred indebtedness. There
was never an aftermath of confusion, defalcation or accusations of
bad faith. His credit was Al with the business world, and that is a
great deal to say for a man who works for the common good, and has
no individual fortune behind him. So we may say of Hector Alliot
that he never shirked a duty, never slighted a task. He died in
harness, and probably had it been a matter of his own selection, he
would have wished it so. For he was never happier than when at
work under pressure, with a multitude of things demanding his atten
tion, and performing tasks that to most people would appear burden
some or thankless. David Starr Jordan said "The world will stand
aside for the man who knows where he is going." Our friend knew

where he was going and the world did more than stand aside; it
followed him.
Hector Alliot, son of Jehan Hector Alliot and Lelia Beymier Alliot,
was born at Chateau des Forestiers, Gironde, France, November 20,
1862. His education was acquired at the Lycee Bordeaux and the
Academie de Medicine, School of Technology, at Montpelier. He
received his degree of A. B. at the University of France, and D. S. at
the University of Lombardy. He came to the United States in his
early manhood. In 1891 he was associated with Farah Pasha in ex
plorations at Tyre, Asia Minor.
His first archaeological work in this country was as Director of the
Cliff Dwellers' Exploration exhibit at the- Chicago World's Fair
in 1893.
. It was in that city that on August 20th, 1893, Hector Aliot and
Miss Laurena Moore, of Barnesville, Ohio, were married. In choos
ing an American girl — of pioneer stock — Mr. Alliot acquitted himself
of one of his finest achievements; for he secured a helpmeet in the
fullest sense, — a devoted wife of strong physique and mentality, —
who appreciated his talents and helped him to make the most of them
through the rest of his life.
Coming to Los Angeles in 1908, Dr. Alliot's first activity was as
Professor of Art History at the University of Southern California,
which position he held for two years; during which period he lectured
on art topics before many women's clubs of Southern California. In
that time he gained a wide acquaintance among the art-loving, literary
and scientific circles of the community, and also a leading place in
the French colony. He became an American citizen more than twenty
years ago, and while not abating his love and devotion to France, he
was in spirit and in truth a loyal American and a patriot. He was
Registrar of the California Society Sons of the Revolution, a ma
ternal ancestor having come here with Layafette. He was one of
the leading factors in the organization of the Lafayette Society,
being its first president, an office which he held at his death, and he
acted as chairman in the two annual celebrations that have been held.
He also was largely instrumental in securing the change of name from
Sunset Park to Lafayette Park. In his heart, love and loyalty to
both France and American peoples were so thoroughly joined that he
lost no opportunity to promote general confidence and sympathy.
Probably no man regarded with greater satisfaction the bonds that
have been formed between the two great republics by the exigencies of
the war now ending. With the natural tact and all-round social quali
ties of the Frenchman, together with artistic instincts and culture of
a high order, a profound love of science and thorough equipment in
several of its branches, it is no wonder that Dr. Alliot had the open-
sesame to every sort of social activity. His services were in request
for every civic, patriotic and philanthropic committee that was or
ganized. He worked faithfully for the Red Cross and the general
and specific relief movements all through the war. He was a thirty-
second degree Mason, Past Master of Vallee de France Lodge, F. and
A. M., and Secretary of the lodge at the time of his death. He was

President of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, having
been a Fellow and member of the Board of Directors for a number of
years. He lectured before the Academy on Archaeology and other
technical subjects on several occasions, and contributed valued articles
to its Bulletin. The issue of that publication in press at the time of
his death contains a scholarly paper from him on Anthropogeny, and
as a fortunate coincidence, a fine half-tone of the writer. That was
probably the last article contributed by him to any publication.
Other positions held by Dr. Alliot were Trustee of the Los Angeles
School of Art and Design, Secretary of the Los Angeles Society
Archaeological Institute of America; Secretary-Treasurer of the
Hispanic Society of California; Secretary-Treasurer of the Southwest
Welfare League; member of the American Federation of Fine Arts
League, Los Angeles; member of the Allies' Commission and the
Library War Council.
Dr. Alliot was also Vice-President of the French Red Cross Society,
and for his scholarly attainments he was twice decorated by the
French Government, Officer de l'lnstruction Publique. In 1910 he
was created Knight Commander of the O. M. and made honorary
Dr. of Science and Philosophy for a thesis read before the Royal
Academy of Lombardy.
Among the clubs to which Dr. Alliot belonged are the Sunset and
Scribes and the Celtic of which last named he was President last year.
He was a contributor to the Times of Los Angeles on artistic and
scientific subjects, and served for some time as its musical critic. He
was the deviser of the metrical color standard and of a marine
colorometer. Probably in no respect did Dr. Alliot's vigorous mentality and ver
satility shine forth more manifestly that in his use of the English
language. Although this had been acquired after he reached man
hood, -he spoke and wrote it with the grace, vigor and accuracy of an
English or American collegiate. He was rarely if ever caught at odds
with pronounciation, accent or idiom, and yet there was an inscrib-
able something .that disclosed his foreign birth. So thoroughly had
he mastered the art of "thinking in English" that he was able to
stand before an audience and deliver an address of an hour or more
without consulting a note or recalling or correcting a word. In addi
tion to the full vocabulary of the man of letters, he commanded the
terminology of half a dozen arts and sciences and employed these
words with the most careful discrimination.
In the use of French he was, of course felictious; his knowledge
of Spanish was almost as complete as his English, and he had a con
versational vocabulary in Italian and Portuguese as well as a scholas
tic equipment in Latin and Greek.
Aside from all his many social activities, the greatest work which
Dr. Alliot accomplished in this community, and that which will
remain longest as a material monument to his genius, is the Southwest
Museum. Founded as a branch of the Archaelogical Institute of
America, the local museum had made not much more than a crude
and hap-hazard beginning up to the time that Dr. Alliot took charge

of it as Director, November 1st, 1909. The story of the develop
ment of this institution is concisely told in the following excerpt:
"The work of the Southwest Museum, with Dr. Alliot as the inspir
ing spirit, has become a potent factor in the educational life of Los
Angeles and vicinity. Through his activities classical research and
scientific work have been accomplished, and through his lectures and
others, students in the public schools and other educational institu
tions have been given rare opportunities.
"The Southwest Museum's present standing has been due, to a re
markable degree, to the enthusiastic labors of Dr. Alliot. His per
sonal effort succeeded in securing many highly valuable collections.
"At a meeting of members of the association, held at the home of
Dr. Norman Bridge, only last month, Dr. Alliot presented a sum
mary of the work accomplished, and a forecast of the future of the
Southwest Museum. The following are excerpts from this report:
" 'On August 1, 1914, at noon, the museum opened its doors to the
public. Its entire possessions were judiciously and generously spread,
if thinly, through one and one-fifth of its ten halls. On the second of
August, the day following, war was declared, and its malevolent fire
burned with more intense fury as the years passed on.
"'.... On the eve of the war, our collections should have been
most easily accommodated in a single hall; at the close of the war,
nine halls are replete to overflowng with objects of scientific and ar
tistic merit, and enough material is warehoused to fill another . . .
No museum in peace — and certainly not in war — can show such a
wonderful growth in so short a time.
" 'Annually, over 3000 children of the public schools avail them
selves of the educational facilities offered them, and meet in classes
in the assembly room, now altogether inadequate for its purpose; 385
adults are enrolled in the botany, conchology and archaeology class.
Our laboratories have made, this year, numerous contributions to
science, and have been of special assistance during the war to the
Navy Department in solving a technical problem of vast importance.'
"In addition to his work in connection with the Southwest Museum,
Dr. Alliot secured funds for and directed the construction of the
Casa de Adobe, adjacent to the museum, and which is now about
ready to be thrown open to the public."
Dr. Alliot died at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday, February
ISth, 1919. His indisposition started with a fainting spell three days
earlier in his office at the Southwest Museum, but his condition was
not regarded as serious. He was sitting up in bed, reading, when the
end came. Without a moment's premonition, and without a struggle,
the heart ceased functioning, and a great life went out.
Thus passes to the Inscrutable Mystery, Hector Alliot, patriot,
scholar, scientist, artist, lover of his kind, and greatly beloved. He
was the most versatile man and the most thorough in his various
fields of activity that the writer of this memoir has ever known. He
was also one of the truest, most gracious and most lovable of friends.
The greatest heart-burning in it all is that he should be snatched

away in the very flower of his life, from the field of activities so
splendid. But perhaps in the great Overruling Design he had worked
enough; and so the hand of the Artificer was stayed.
He was a-weary, but he fought his fight,
And stood for simple manhood; and was joyed
To see the august broadening of the light
And new earths heaving heavenward from the void.
He loved his fellows, and their love was sweet —
Plant daisies at his head and at his feet.
We, the Directors of the Southern California Academy of Sciences,
engross in our Records this Memorial as a Tribute of our admiration
and affection for him, who had been, for many years, so powerful a
factor in our work for scientific investigation and the betterment of
humanity.