Vida Jacks
Vida Grenville Jacks was born July 18, 1883, the youngest child of David and Mary Jacks. Lame as a child, Vida was initially taught at home by a private teacher, Lou Henry, who was the future wife of Herbert Hoover and a good friend to the Jacks family. Lou’s father was treasurer of a bank in Monterey.
Vida went on to attend schools in Oakland and Berkeley, and her teachers found her “to be a good student and bright child” (Mills Quarterly, August 1987). Vida loved art and literature, and her greatest lifetime donation consisted of “2,000 volumes of rare historical and general literature assiduously collected over the years” (Chronicles, Kenneth Jack, Dec. 2011) to the Monterey City Library. The value is estimated to be over 10,000 dollars.
Vida played the least part in the family business, although she was a director and partner in the L. M. and V. Jacks firm formed in 1919, which controlled the family business after their brother Will dissolved the David Jacks Corporation. Her interest focused on her passion for literature and libraries.
Before her death on June 26, 1943, Vida’s generosity became apparent in her share of bequesting with her sisters the Custom House and the Pacific House in Monterey, now state historical museums. She was also instrumental in her part to deed the Memory Garden, Casa del Oro, Friendly Plaza, Lake El Estero , Jacks Peak Park, Washerwoman’s Bay, Don Dahvee Park, Iris Canyon and the Los Coches Adobe near Soledad to the city of Monterey. Her father owned more than 100,000 acres of land between Salinas and Monterey County. Although she never married, Vida spent her life devoted to the arts and continued the family legacy of generosity and gifts to the community and the state. In her honor, her sister Margaret made possible the Vida Jacks Professorship in Education at Stanford University.
Vida went on to attend schools in Oakland and Berkeley, and her teachers found her “to be a good student and bright child” (Mills Quarterly, August 1987). Vida loved art and literature, and her greatest lifetime donation consisted of “2,000 volumes of rare historical and general literature assiduously collected over the years” (Chronicles, Kenneth Jack, Dec. 2011) to the Monterey City Library. The value is estimated to be over 10,000 dollars.
Vida played the least part in the family business, although she was a director and partner in the L. M. and V. Jacks firm formed in 1919, which controlled the family business after their brother Will dissolved the David Jacks Corporation. Her interest focused on her passion for literature and libraries.
Before her death on June 26, 1943, Vida’s generosity became apparent in her share of bequesting with her sisters the Custom House and the Pacific House in Monterey, now state historical museums. She was also instrumental in her part to deed the Memory Garden, Casa del Oro, Friendly Plaza, Lake El Estero , Jacks Peak Park, Washerwoman’s Bay, Don Dahvee Park, Iris Canyon and the Los Coches Adobe near Soledad to the city of Monterey. Her father owned more than 100,000 acres of land between Salinas and Monterey County. Although she never married, Vida spent her life devoted to the arts and continued the family legacy of generosity and gifts to the community and the state. In her honor, her sister Margaret made possible the Vida Jacks Professorship in Education at Stanford University.