S a n D i e g o H i s t o r y Center Newsletter VOLUME 57 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2016 Photo by OI Studios Inside/Out A perpetual peek into our vaults ILLUSTRATED DESIGN IMAGE OF THE UPCOMING INSIDE OUT CASE, DESIGNED BY OI STUDIOS AND MADE POSSIBLE BY LAS PATRONAS. Visitors to our Balboa Park museum will soon full signature of Abraham Lincoln, the earliest experience regular glimpses into the rare, unusual, hand-drawn map of San Diego, diaries of San and everyday items and objects that make up the Diego’s first female doctor, clothing worn at the San Diego History Center’s fascinating archives. Hotel del Coronado opening ball, and rare objects One of the largest on the West Coast, our archives from the Native Indians of San Diego County. contain 45 million documents, 2.5 million historic A flat-screen monitor incorporated into the display photographs, 15,000 objects, 7,000 items of historic will scroll through images of examples from our clothing, and 1,500 pieces of fine art. Like most historic clothing collection, focusing specifically museums around the country, over 90 percent of on items that are difficult to put on exhibit. Inside/ these precious collection items objects spend the Out’s inaugural display items will be selected by TIMES majority of their lives in storage and are infrequently our talented collections staff, Chris Travers, Jane on public view. Inside/Out, an innovative, state-of- Kenealy, and Tammie Bennett. the-art exhibition display that will soon be installed Designed by OI STUDIOS, this cutting-edge case in the museum’s atrium, will change that! This was made possible by a generous grant from exciting addition will showcase a regular rotation philanthropy organization, Las Patronas. The History of rarely seen items and odd finds from the San Center extends our deepest gratitude to Las Patronas Diego History Center’s permanent collection. for bringing our collections into public view. What will you see? Countless intriguing pieces BY TARA CENTYBEAR, CURATOR on rotating display, including an uncommon early the OUR MISSION Why History? The San Diego History But why support history? It’s simple! To Center has a singular appreciate the present, we must compare it to the focus: the history of our past. To anticipate the future, we must identify and The San Diego History region. In the overall extrapolate the trends that are reflected in the past. Center tells the diverse scheme of things, we History can be our most important instructor. story of our region - compete with other We learn our history in many ways—from photos, past, present and non-profit institutions documents, artifacts, oral histories, art, clothing, future - educates that each has a very and more. Our delivery channels include children’s and enriches our compelling mission classes, adult programs, exhibitions, and The community, preserves statement of its own. Journal of San Diego History. our history and Here in San Diego, Our mission is clear: the San Diego History fosters civic pride. there are a number of organizations that support Center tells the diverse story of our region—past, health needs, children, animals, education, the present, and future—educates and enriches our San Diego History Center Board of Trustees poor and needy, homeless people, veterans, and community, preserves our history, and fosters President religious orders, and each has a broad following civic pride. We are making a difference in our Thompson Fetter and raises tremendous amounts of money. For community. In this light, I would like to thank Vice President each endeavor, there are multiple entities within the small but wise group of employees, donors, Joseph Craver Robert Watkins our community. A history museum serves a specific members, advisors, and trustees who support Treasurer niche, and although there are neighborhood- our mission. Without our work, our community Frank Alessi focused historical societies, the San Diego History would be an orphan, an entity without roots. Secretary Center is the institution responsible for collecting, It is a pleasure for us to work on your behalf. Ann Hill preserving, and disseminating the history of our President Emeritus BY TOM FETTER, PRESIDENT Robert F. Adelizzi entire region. Hal Sadler, FAIA Trustees Chuck Bieler Richard Bregante Raymond Carpenter From the Executive Director Debby Cushman-Parrish Dan Eaton It is a great honor and “One-hundred years ago they did things right—they Gayle Hom extremely humbling to (we) placed the History Center on a course of not Lucy C. Jackson John Morrell write this column as the just survival, but a course that has propelled the Ann Navarra new Executive Director institution to thrive.” To do this requires building a Susan Peinado Sandra Perlatti of the San Diego History permanent endowment that allows measured and Kay Porter Center. Since assuming sustained growth, maintaining conservative and Margie Warner the role at the end of balanced operations, continuing to preserve San Allan Wasserman Tom Wornham January, I have been Diego’s history by expanding and investing in our Roger Zucchet repeatedly asked, “What collections, and increasing our role and relevance Advisory Board is your vision for the to our community. Malin Burnham Thomas A. Caughlan History Center?” My We have the capacity to do all of this. We have M. Wayne Donaldson answer has caught some by surprise: “Our mission a dedicated and hardworking board; an advisory Iris Engstrand, PhD Kim Fletcher and our collective vision on ways to achieve it.” board of prominent local leaders; a talented, Tom Karlo The San Diego History Center was founded in passionate, and engaged staff; and members and Bob Kelly 1928 as the San Diego Historical Society. Our mission stakeholders who believe in our mission. Helen Kinnaird Yvonne W. Larsen is“… to preserve our history, tell the diverse stories So what is your vision for the San Diego History David Malcolm of our community—past, present and future, educate Center and how do we secure our organization’s Seth W. Mallios, PhD Jack Monger and foster civic pride.” Our mission is the reason future? I look forward to your comments. Please Rana Sampson the History Center exists, and it is our collective e-mail me at [email protected] or Hon. Lynn Schenk vision that empowers us to achieve our mission. give me a call at 619.232.6203 x106. I look forward Drew Schlosberg Mary L. Walshok, PhD If I look into my crystal ball to 2115, when San to implementing our collective vision together. Stephen B. Williams Diegans are celebrating the bicentennial of the Hon. Pete Wilson BY BILL LAWRENCE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Karin E. Winner Panama-California Exposition, I hope they say, Executive Director Bill Lawrence PRESENTING PRESENTING MEDIA MAJOR SPONSORS THE SAN DIEGO Historian SPONSORS SPONSORS BB&T–John Burnham Insurance HISTORY CENTER IS Iris Engstrand, PhD BrightView Landscape Development, Inc. KFMB-TV CBS8 Certified Folder SUPPORTED BY Times Editor George and Phil Gildred, Jr. Sara Morrison PRINCIPLE John Thornton SPONSOR Gene Trepte Copy Editor Thompson & Jane BJ Williams Chris Zook TO THANK YOU Wells Fargo OUR SPONSORS Trevor Fetter Photo Editor Chris Travers Graphic Design Jennifer Cadam EXHIBITIONS On Exhibit The Lore Behind the Roar!: 100 Years of the San Diego Zoo Presenting Sponsor: Presenting Media Sponsor: Of Animal Importance (through August 14, 2016) Hands-on Learning at The Border: The Line that Divides the History Center (through July 17, 2016) Discover more in the ROAR Family Den San Diego Invites the World (through August 7, 2016) CHILDREN EXPLORE AN ACTIVITY STATION IN THE NEW ROAR FAMILY DEN, INVESTIGATING ANIMAL SKULLS TO HELP THEM DESIGN A MEAL APPROPRIATE FOR THAT ANIMAL. Heritage: Artwork by San Diego’s Japanese Since the Ingenious! The World of Dr. Seuss education, conservation, animal care, ending American Community exhibition, the History Center has had a great extinction, stewardship, and global issues. Most Japanese American opportunity to create a space that is unique in of the stations combine open-ended activities, Historical Society of history museums—a children’s interactive area. which invite imaginative play, with activities that San Diego exhibition Working with museum consultant Vas Prabhu, are more succinct and close-ended. Informational the ROAR Family Den was completely conceived, and interpretive text, touchable objects, games, designed, and built in-house—something that and large mural-sized photos are presented on San Diego: makes us proud! the walls while a central table houses sit-down Place of Promise Our goal was to have children be the author activities, like making a zookeeper hat, observing of their own museum experience, learning about patterns and completing puzzles, designing an different aspects of the behind-the-scenes work appropriate menu for animals, making a rubbing, Films at the San Diego Zoo. The ROAR Family Den was and writing a conservation pledge. A few more BALBOA PARK: designed to broadly appeal to families, but as we surprises include “What’s that Smell?” where The Jewel of all know, there is not one model family. In the families open jars of mystery scents derived from San Diego conceptualization process, we tried to be mindful different plants and try to identify them and Showing daily: of the variety and diversity of our kid visitors and determine how they are used at the zoo and 11am, 1pm, 3pm the adults who accompany them. We see the “What’s that Sound?” where visitors match the interactive area as a wonderful “laboratory” to sound they hear to an animal found at the zoo. Zoorama develop and test experiential learning about the Explore the ROAR Family Den at the History Showing daily: history of our community. Center and discover the child in you.