Description
Marjorie Bissinger was an art educator and philanthropist who helped start San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum. She was born in San Francisco in 1912 and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. She taught nursery school at the Jewish Community Center for 18 years, and promoted reading and literacy in schools and libraries. Bissinger played a key role in building the collection at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, which opened its doors in 1966. She was a commissioner of the museum from its inception until her death and also served as chairwoman of the museum’s acquisition committee. Bissinger is the recipient of the Jewish Endowment Foundation’s Tzedakah Award and Hannah G. Solomon Award. In this interview, she discusses her upbringing in Tahoe, the crystal radio, and her passion for asian art.