Alice Lee was born in Westport, NY in 1854 and throughout her life was surrounded by individuals passionate about the Progressive movement including Teddy Roosevelt, who was married to her second cousin; Florence Nightingale; Ralph Waldo Emerson; and the Bronson Alcott family. When Lee moved to San Diego in 1902 for health reasons she became friends with the Marston Family who were involved with the Progressive movement in San Diego. Alice Lee became very involved with different organizations in San Diego including the First Unitarian Church, the Wednesday Club, the Civic Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and other local civic and cultural groups. She took leadership positions as President of the San Diego Museum, Honorary Director of the Women’s Civic Center, Director of the Natural History Museum, President of the Balboa Park Auditorium Association, and President of the Balboa Park Commission.

Alice Lee founded the group “Open Forum”, which was a public forum to openly talk about social, political, and international issues. According to a newspaper article from the San Diego Union, by 1935 the group had become one of the “oldest continuous non-legislative forum of free public discussion in the United States” before being disbanded sometime in the 1970s. Lee was also a leader of the Progressive movement in San Diego organizing Progressive thinking women to get out and vote for Teddy Roosevelt in 1932. She was recognized by the Progressive Party by being chosen to represent California at the National Convention for the Progressive Party in Chicago. Lee was the leader of the “Save the Beaches” campaign in San Diego which resulted in the city acquiring miles of beach for public use. She was also instrumental in developing the public playground system. Alice Lee was praised as a Civic leader in several publications including the San Diego Union, the Ticonderoga Sentinel, the Boston Globe, and a book entitled Women of the West: A Series of Biographical Sketches of Living Eminent Women in the Eleven Western States of the United States of America. Lee lived at 3574 Seventh Ave, San Diego, CA from its year of construction in 1905 until her death in 1943.

The house at 3574 Seventh Ave is also important to the social development of San Diego. The first owner of this house was Alice Lee who lived here with her long time partner, Katherine A. Teats. They are said to be one of the first documented domestic partnerships in San Diego having been listed under the same household in many Census records and in 1930 Alice Lee was listed as Head of Household while Katherine Teats was listed as Partner. The two lived together in the home until Lee’s death in 1943. Together they managed several investment properties throughout San Diego, were highly involved in various organizations throughout San Diego, and were said to be generally accepted for their lifestyle.

Alice Lee has made significant contributions to San Diego history.

source: http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/programs/historical/pdf/reports/hrb11062mtng110922.pdf