http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c81r6x6j No online items Records of the San Diego Scientific Library LA.1998.1201 Finding Aid prepared by Katherine Kolthoff San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library 2019-02-27 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101 [email protected] URL: http://sdnhm.org/science/research-library Records of the San Diego LA.1998.1201 1 Scientific Library LA.1998.1201 Language of Material: English Contributing Institution: San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library Title: San Diego Scientific Library Association Records Identifier/Call Number: LA.1998.1201 Physical Description: 1.3 Linear Feet Date (bulk): 1922-1967 Abstract: The Records of the San Diego Scientific Library consist of reports and financial documents about the operation and management of the library. The collection includes by-laws (and revisions), accession records, association meeting minutes, and financial reports. Storage Unit: 322 Storage Unit: 182 Content Description Two boxes of material. Financial records, correspondence, reports, minutes, and legal records of the San Diego Scientific Library Association. Conditions Governing Access The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Contact the Research Library Director, San Diego Natural History Museum. Conditions Governing Use Copyright may be reserved. Consult the San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library Director for more information. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Records of the San Diego Scientific Library (LA.1998.1202). Research Library, San Diego Natural History Museum. Biographical / Historical The San Diego Scientific Library Association was formed on April 17, 1918 by an agreement between the San Diego Public Library, San Diego Society of Natural History, San Diego Medical Association Library, and San Diego Museum Association. A $30,000 grant by W.W. Whitney in October 1922 provided the funds necessary to actualize the Association's goals, leading to its incorporation on October 16, 1922. The early governing body consisted of Board of Directors members John Burnham of the San Diego Society of Natural History; the San Diego Medical Library Association Library's Robert Pollock, elected vice-president of the Association; Duncan McKinnon, President of the San Diego Museum Association; William Templeton Johnson, a prominent local architect; Mr. Russell C. Allen, of the Panama-California Exposition and Association president. The Board of Directors and Mr. Whitney came to an accord on the specifics of the bequest, including intent to house the library at the California State Building (now the Museum of Man) in Balboa Park and the placement of a memorial plaque in honor of Whitney's late wife in front of the building, on October 30, 1922. The Panama-California Exposition Commission and the San Diego Museum Association, who had maintained a pre-existing agreement over the use of the building with the former since 1917, permitted the Association space in the California State Building for the library on November 7, 1922, with the provision of no structural modifications to the building and that any renovations would be overseen by William Templeton Johnson, who was both a member of the San Diego Scientific Library Association Board of Directors and had preexisting charge of the building's interior. By November 9, 1922, Dr. Henry M. Wegeforth joined the Board of Directors representing the Zoological Society, but resigned in August 1923. The San Diego Scientific Library opened its doors on July 14, 1923. Cooperating institutions at the time of opening included the San Diego Public Library, the State Commission for the Panama-California Exposition Building, San Diego State College, Board of Park Commissioners of the City of San Diego, San Diego Museum Association (later the Museum of Man), San Diego Society of Natural History, San Diego Medical Library Association, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Zoological Society of San Diego. The books in the library were sourced from the San Diego Society of Natural History, San Diego Museum Library, Vogdes Geological Library, Gates Library of Oriental History and Art, the U.S. Grant Historical Library, and the San Diego Medical Library Association. The Vogdes Geological Library had been donated by Blanche Vogdes Kendall, niece of General Anthony Wayne Vogdes, on May 28, 1923 and accepted June 5, 1923. In 1935 the San Diego Scientific Library was transferred to the newly-built Natural History Museum in preparation for 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. After the exhibition, the collections were split by subject between the original location in the Museum of Man and the Natural History Museum as the collection had grown beyond its original space allotment. In November 1941, the Gates Oriental Library was transferred to the San Diego State College Library at the Records of the San Diego LA.1998.1201 2 Scientific Library LA.1998.1201 college librarian's suggestion, which the Board of Directors unanimously accepted because of the collection's underuse and need for additional space for other collections. In early 1943 Balboa Park was requisitioned by the U.S. Navy for hospital space. On March 10, 1943 the Association took up an offer by San Diego State College to house both sections of the library in the college's library building for the duration of the war. In 1947, the collections were returned to the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Man. By 1948, the total membership of institutions in the Association had dropped to just the two housing institutions, the Museum of Man and that San Diego Natural History Museum, with funds split between the two. In 1957, the museums agreed that the San Diego Scientific Library Association had become redundant and applied to the state court for dissolution. By the terms of the dissolution agreement, each museum library would act as a trustee and maintain terms of original Whitney Trust, which was divided in half between the two libraries. The collections of the San Diego Scientific Library at the time of dissolution are now located in the San Diego Museum of Man and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Subjects and Indexing Terms Balboa Park (San Diego, Calif.) California Building (San Diego, Calif.) California Pacific International Exposition (1935-1936 : San Diego, Calif.) Libraries -- California Museum libraries Natural history libraries San Diego Museum Association San Diego Museum of Man San Diego Natural History Museum San Diego Society of Natural History San Diego Society of Natural History -- Archives San Diego State University Science libraries Abbott, Clinton G. (Clinton Gilbert), 1881-1946 Baily, Joshua L., Jr. (Joshua Longstreth), 1889-1981 Fischer, Arthur F., (Arthur Frederick), 1888-1962 Hewett, Edgar Lee, 1865-1946 Johnson, William Templeton , 1877-1957 (American architect) Klauber, Laurence Monroe, 1883-1968 Marston, George W., 1840-1901 Meeder, Billie (Mildred Henney Hughes), 1906-1994 Vogdes, Anthony Wayne, 1843-1923 Wegeforth, Harry Milton, Dr., 1882-1941 Whitney, W. W. (Willard Washington), 1837-1923 Box 182 Museum Administration: San Diego Scientific Library: Records and Corporation papers 1922-1967 Scope and Contents Legal, administrative, financial, and historical documents, included within Museum Administration records. Includes letters, floor plans of library layouts, historical reports. Envelope with W.W. Whitney photograph Content Description One envelope containing photo of W.W. Whitney on cardstock, 19cm, with invitation to library opening July 14 1922. Separated Materials; added to photographic collection. Records of the San Diego LA.1998.1201 3 Scientific Library LA.1998.1201 San Diego Scientific Library Records 1932 to 1956 Box 322 San Diego Scientific Library Records 1932 to 1956 Scope and Contents Financial records and minutes of the San Diego Library Association. Records and minutes 1932-1956. Contains some historical information about the Association and how it came to be dissolved. Box 322, Folder 1 Program and remarks 1923 Scope and Contents Booklet recording the opening of the San Diego Scientific Library and the meeting of the Library Association for the acceptance of the General A. W. Vogdes Library of Geology and Paleontology. Records remarks by participants including Dr. Edgar L. Hewett, Director of the San Diego Museum, Clinton G. Abbott, Director of the San Diego Natural History Museum, Dr. Fred Baker, Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett, William Templeton Johnson, and George Marston. Box 322, Folder 2 Report on the San Diego Scientific Library Association 1947-1948 Scope and Contents Brief summary of the activities of the San Diego Scientific Library Assocation from its founding in 1922 until 31 December 1947. Includes by-laws and recommendations for reorganization. Box 322, Folder 3 Bank statements 1935-1956 Scope and Contents Folder contains four bank deposit books of Scientific Library general and endowment accounts at the San Diego Trust & Savings Bank. Box 322, Folder 4 Whitney Library (San Diego Scientific Library Association) Documents 1922 to 1957 Scope and Contents One file of material. Includes envelope, Articles of Incorporation, certification from State of California, by-laws, and documents regarding the distribution of materials from the Whitney Library after the San Diego Scientific Library Association's dissolution. File also contains communication accepting Vogdes Library into the San Diego Natural History Museum's collections, related communications (including communications from