The Journal of San Diego History
Summer 1986, Volume 32, Number 3
Contents of This Issue
Mabel Ernestine Sumerlin (Mrs. Howard L. Surnerlin)*b. San Diego, California May 4, 1879
d. San Diego, California July 8, 1956Mabel Journeay married Howard Sumerlin in August of 1900, and by 1908 was listing herself under "artists" in the local business directory. Her early art training came from Charles Fries, and she later studied with Nicolai Fechin in Los Angeles. A member of the San Diego Art Guild, she exhibited locally in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1934, over twenty of her landscape, still-life and portrait paintings were exhibited at the San Diego Women's Club. After the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park, she shared a studio in the Spanish Village for several years. An active member of the local art community, her name is frequently encountered in conjunction with local art events. (Ref. Dixon; Mallory; SDHS bio files; SDU 3-19-34 6:4)
