At NAREB's Twentieth Annual Convention in 1927 she had the distinction of addressing the delegates in Seattle. Perego stressed that women were not limited to success in residential real estate. "It is true that many women make their start in the real estate business selling homes because they seem naturally adapted to this line," she said, but added "the only continue in this field until they 'find' themselves and develop a broader knowledge of real estate, then they invade any branch they choose."

In 1945 she subdivided land in the center of San Francisco that would be called Perego Heights. In the 1940s she broadcast a weekly radio show on home maintenance and interior decorating, and covered the same subjects in a column for the San Francisco Chronicle. She taught Apartment House Management in the University of California Extension Division and authored a book, "Apartment House Ownership and Management."

Twenty years after the Seattle Meeting Perego spoke to the Women's Council at NAREB's 1947 Convention in San Francisco. Her career would span six decades and over fifty years.

The first full-time staff hired by the National Association of Real Estate Boards, Tom Ingersoll served as Secretary (Executive Vice President today) from 1911 to 1922. Also referred to as “The most popular man in Realtydom,” everybody associated with the organization knew who Tom was.

It didn’t take him long to win over REALTORS®. Historian Pearl Janet Davies wrote of the 1913 Winnipeg Convention when “Ingersoll was carried around the hall on the shoulders of delegates. (He) had already become ‘dear old Tom.’” At that meeting the National Association's president, Alexander Taylor, praised the hard-working secretary: “We have a man in this organization…whose heart throbs and beats with the work we are doing; who is giving his life, his fidelity, and his strength to the building of this organization. In referring to that man I do not believe I am obliged to use his name. You all know him (cries of ‘Ingersoll’).”

Eleven years later in 1933, Ingersoll fell ill after returning from the National Convention in Chicago. He died at his ranch in La Habra Heights at age 62, with his wife and two sons at his bedside. In July of that year publications across the country gave REALTORS® the bad news.

Writing in 1955, Cleveland REALTOR® Raymond T. Cragin recalled Ingersoll, Taylor, and others from the early years. “The mainspring of NAREB during this period was Tom Ingersoll,” Cragin wrote. He was “a master…in the early promotion of the organization. In my book Tom Ingersoll was a great man.”

NAREB Executive Secretary Herbert U. Nelson remembered his predecessor as well. “Tom represented in a unique way the very life and spirit of the National Association. I think he was its real founder.”

Finally there was the annual Hi-Jinks dinner in the Del Monte dining room, “notable for the absence of speech-making.” Movie star Monte Blue was a special guest.

After the fun, when the REALTORS® began to return home, the June, 1924 National Real Estate Journal noted that the Jinks “is proving again the old principle that those who learn to play together also learn to work together."

Fifty years later NAR historian Pearl Janet Davies would write, “The National Association of Real Estate Boards arose from a realization by men in the real estate business that their business had within it the possibility of governing itself. The association was formed- as some such organization would inevitably have been formed- because real estate matters are deeply matters of the general welfare.”

Judd also chaired the critical Committee on Form of Organization, which included a representative of all boards in attendance and worked all of the first day of May 12 and into that night to hammer out a constitution and by-laws. The Chicago Board’s gifted counsel, Colonel Nathan William MacChesney, provided legal advice when needed. He would go on to represent NAR for almost forty years.

The founders expected a Code of Ethics to be written and approved (it was, five years later) and the by-laws required a standing committee on Code of Ethics. Other standing committees included National Legislation, State Legislation, and Taxation, as hot a topic then as now. An entire evening was devoted to “The Burden of Taxation as We Have Felt It.”

The board presidents were asked what goals the proposed organization should have. Their replies were first for standards in ethics and business practice; second for exchanging information and statistics on the real estate business; and for all involved to promote real estate ownership and development. Separating themselves from unethical “sharks” and “curbstone brokers” was a primary concern. As REALTOR® and future Seattle Mayor George W. Dilling said, they sought “to assure to the buyer and to the seller the services of responsible and trustworthy agents.”

Hard-working Realtor Edward A. Halsey of Chicago doubled as the first Executive Secretary from 1908-1909. Shortly after the historic meeting he published a magazine account of the proceedings, “United Realty.” Over one thousand copies were mailed to real estate boards, newspapers, libraries, and colleges and universities.

The first Realtors expected this real estate organization to survive, unlike others previous to it, and decided the second annual convention would be held in Detroit. Lobbying hard for the Motor City was William W. Hannan. A year later, in his home town, Hannan would be elected NAR’s second president.

Other founders included the third president, Alexander S. Taylor of Cleveland. Historian Davies wrote “Taylor will always be remembered as the red-headed giant whose evangelism…breathed life into new real estate boards all over the country.” Then there was Samuel S. Thorpe of Minneapolis, who “led the transition of the Association from a loosely organized fraternal group to a working body with a full-time executive.”

By June of 1913 Judd was president and “the Association was ready to burst into major action that profoundly fulfilled its purpose.”

The early years were lean for NAR. Davies wrote: “The first years were the hardest. They were an era of getting acquainted, and of talk, just talk. There was confusion and hesitation among the volunteer executives before functions and procedures were defined. First commitments in national affairs were very cautious… but not once did expectation die down.”

Read more about NAR's first days in United Realty, the official proceedings of the founding meeting (15M Adobe Acrobat file).

The November issue of California Real Estate Magazine trumpeted the news of Merriam's election. "As in the 60's when partisanship gave way to the ticket for the Union so in 1934, the Democrats and Republicans alike joined hands at the polls." Looking forward to January's inauguration, the magazine noted "It is believed that this will be one of the most auspicious events in the State's colorful history. A large number of Realtors will attend."

Four years later CREA again stood behind Merriam in his bid for re-election. This time Democratic State Senator Culbert L. Olson won the office.

"Governor Frank" was a friend to California REALTORS® for the rest of his life, installing the presidents and officers of CREA for almost twenty years. When he could not attend the Association's 1955 inaugural three months before his death, a redwood grove was dedicated as a living memorial to him.

Rubber was rationed even before gasoline. The Japanese seized lands in the Dutch East Indies which had produced 90% of America's raw rubber. REALTORS® and their fellow Americans patched and repatched their tires until the end of the war.

A benefit card party and donations from real estate offices paid for the uniforms. In addition to offering local REALTORS® a team to root for, the Journal added there was "no small amount of advertising and publicity."

When this photo appeared in the February 1928 issue, the magazine noted that "great things are expected of the team" in the coming season.

He had no trouble selling his buildings. “I build with the idea of keeping the building for myself, and I give it the same selfish care.” After construction was finished “its quality and appearance is such that I have dozens of offers.”

One building, the Orpha Mae, contained seventy apartments but Lee said he would never sell it. It was named for Mrs. Lee.

He emphasized meeting the demands of modern home seekers. “We must express our own times or be left behind” he told the Journal. “In this age people are not only demanding quality construction, comfortable and artistic room arrangement, but they are also insisting on good taste in every detail whether it be cornice or door knob.”

The magazine featured Lee’s newest work, the 16 story Lee Plaza. Designed for 220 apartments it would include billiard and beauty parlors, a barber shop, commissary and laundry. The building would be “distinguished in its extreme simplicity, its beautiful and majestic proportions, its refinement of line and detail, and absence of ornamentation.” On its roof would be “a 9,000,000 candlepower searchlight, the aviation beacon for Detroit.”

Lee Plaza still stands at 2240 West Grand Boulevard. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, it is now vandalized and vacant.

When this photo was taken the "Gang" was still making silent pictures (they moved to talkies in 1929). Culver is seated on the left wearing a dark jacket, with a child on his knee. Hieatt is in the middle wearing glasses. Roach is standing inback to the right. The note on the photo reads "C. C. Hieatt and Harry Culver visit 'Our Gang' at Culver City, Oct. 15, '27."

Media covering the first NAR Convention were impressed. The Chicago Tribune reported, "Under the auspices of the men who are behind the present movement the national association of real estate dealers may easily become one of the most aggressive factors in maintaining the prosperity of the country."

Nathaniel J. Upham of Duluth, like Judd a future NAR President, agreed. "A national organization when it concentrates its effort is an immense force. Laws that affect the community in which we live, in taxation, in titles, in fire provisions, in mortgage laws...our legislatures are considering and passing continually. If we have the basis of a national organization we can help through the good laws and destroy the poor ones."

Other discussions at the first convention concerned conservation of natural resources, municipal bond issues, and appraisals.

Under President Elwood Corser the Association peaked at near 100 members before succumbing to the Recession of 1892 and the Depression of 1893, when banks and businesses were ruined and real estate was reduced to minimal levels.

The first real estate company in the city is believed to have been Snyder & McFarlane, formed in 1855. Famous Minneapolis residents like Samuel C. Gale and David Cooper Bell would later open offices. In 1885 Thorpe Bros. opened its doors at 258 Hennepin Avenue. Co-founder Samuel S. Thorpe advocated professional ethics and community planning. He would have a great influence in forming the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges, serving as its president from 1911 to 1912. Another Minneapolis REALTOR®, Philip Smaby, would serve as NAR president in 1976.

The word REALTOR® itself is the creation of a Minneapolis broker. Charles N. Chadbourn, president of the Minneapolis Board in 1912, coined the term that was adopted by the National Association in 1916.

In 1926 New York REALTOR® William A. Keadin recalled, "I had the honor of originating that (multiple listing) system in Cincinnati, Ohio, in October 1907, and...the system proved quite a success." When he entered the real estate business that year "the business was not looked upon very favorably for a beginning in life for an ambitious young man, and the brokers and agents were inclined to play fast and loose with prices, terms, commissions, etc., while the courts looked upon a real estate commission with prejudice."

Keadin added, "I conceived the idea of establishing more friendly and honorable methods in the business between brokers by interchanging their listings through a central bureau, or clearing house, thereby creating more confidence between owners, agents, as well as the courts."

Brokers from New York called for a national meeting in St. Louis during the World's Fair. One leader was appraiser and negotiator Fred M. Smith of Auburn, NY, who the next February would help found the Real Estate Association of New York State. Publications like "National Auctioneer" in Chicago and "Real Estate Broker" in Des Moines helped spread the word.

More than 100 real estate brokers attended, most of them farm or suburban dealers, and formed a National Real Estate Association. Though the new organization didn't last long it did encourage the creation of a state association in New York.

At the end of the Revolution over 90 percent of the population lived outside the cities and land grants were the easiest way to pay veterans. The ex-soldiers and their families moved across the Alleghenies and began to populate what was then called the “Northwest Territory,” today’s states of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan as well as Tennessee and Kentucky.

Hearing Judd's speech were members of boards from Chicago, St. Louis, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Superior, all having accepted the Duluth Board’s invitation for a banquet and tour. A year later twenty real estate exchanges, inspired by Judd's words, gathered in Chicago for the first convention of the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges. The Association's 100th annual convention will be held in Las Vegas in November.

“I wish to call your attention to the possible desirability of the formation of state, interstate and national organizations of real estate men. If the idea of a national organization – or even a Central West organization- should meet with the approval of the seven associations here represented and of such other organizations as might care to join in the movement, it may be possible to have a gathering at, say Chicago, another year.

“Such a meeting might result in ultimate good to the individual members of the different organizations and to the thousands of men actively engaged in the real estate business throughout the United States.

“There is a movement on foot looking to the formation of such association. When the Real Estate Association of Portland, Maine, attempted to have a convention of real estate men from all over the United States in that city last month, the replies to their invitation indicated a marked interest in the national organization idea. But the distance to Portland was given as a reason for many of the organizations not attempting to send delegates.

“The Portland people have now taken up the matter of formation of a state organization for Maine, and suggest that some city centrally located take up the matter of a national organization.

“...At a gathering of real estate men from different cities and states such matters might be discussed as advertising both in newspapers and by circulars and signs. The handling of real estate by exclusive agency to the benefit of seller, buyer and agent might well be discussed.

“Questions of state legislation affecting the interest of real estate dealers could be looked into; as, for example, the measure before the last legislature of the state of Illinois requiring an agreement to pay commissions to be in writing to entitle the agent to collect, a burden which is not required of any other class of brokers, and which bill was, thanks to the efforts of the Chicago Real Estate Board, defeated. The question of licensing of real estate brokers might produce an interesting discussion and there are many other topics which the active minds of men engaged in the real estate business would suggest for mutual consideration.

“Aside from any practical money advantages from such conferences, it occurs to me that they would be well worth while for the cultivation of good fellowship. The real estate men from Maine to California are, for the most part, among the leaders in the communities in which they live. The successful real estate man is a born optimist, and it is that spirit of belief in better things to come which encourages effort and which has contributed so much to the splendid growth of your city (Duluth) and all the urban communities of the United States.”

“...The calling of the real estate man should rank with the so-called learned professions of the ministry, medicine and the law. The real estate man who efficiently represents the interests of his clients has occasion to be as keen a judge of men and of motives as is the lawyer who tries cases before judge and jury. He has to meet and settle many problems of right and wrong and can exercise a power for good equal to that of many eloquent pulpit orators. The minister deals with affairs of the spirit, the lawyer with matters of reason, the doctor with questions of bodily health, while the real estate man has to do with the very framework of things, the earth or land, without which the practice of all professions and human life even would be impossible.

“There is something about the permanency and stability of land which should give like traits of character to the real estate man.”

View selections from the 1907 Duluth Meeting photo album in the NAR Archives.