The San Diego Opera Office Collection (1968-2004) documents the administration, creative history, development, and growth of the San Diego Opera (SDO). It includes correspondence, memoranda, clippings, minutes, photographs, budgets, financial records, and detailed documentation of numerous productions. The collection consists of three major series: Administrative Files (1968-2004), Production Files (1973-1995), and Publicity (1980-2007).  The Administrative Files have three sub-series: Correspondence (1976-2004), General Files (1975-2000), and Rental Files (1968-1996).  The Production Files are filed in two sub-series: Production Binders (1973-1990) and Production Photographs (1974-1995).

The Administrative Files (1968-2004) include three subseries: Correspondence (1976-2004), General Files (1975-2000), and Rental Files (1968-1996). These files document SDO's general operations, activities and functions, interaction with the public, and the company's growth and development over several decades. The Correspondence (1976-2004) subseries documents some of SDO's interactions with the public. It primarily consists of letters sent to SDO from audience members and reviewers in response to performances, show selection, and other topics.  Responses from San Diego Opera staff, especially Director Ian Campbell and Artistic Administrator Marianne Flettner are sometimes included.  Letters sometimes include clippings, and the sub-series is filed chronologically.  The General Files (1975-2000) document daily operations, work with various performers, and early production preparation. It includes clippings, brochures, receipts, internal correspondence, correspondence exchanged with performers and other opera companies both in the US and abroad, photos of former Director Tito Capobianco, performer head shots, and audition forms, and is filed alphabetically by file name. The Rental Files (1968-1996) document the San Diego Opera's Scenic Studios rental relationships with various opera and production companies around the US who have used sets designed and created by San Diego Opera in their own productions. It includes set rental forms, diagrams, photographs, slides, rental agreements, correspondence, and shipping forms, and is filed alphabetically by file name.

The Production Files (1973-1995) include two subseries: Production Binders (1973-1990) and Production Photographs (1974-1995).  These files document the creation and performance of SDO's regular season productions.  The Production Binders (1973-1990) include materials originally stored in large 3-ring binders, and document the complex and detailed processes necessary to stage an opera production. The subseries includes casting information, correspondence with principal performers, information on orchestral musicians, choruses, dancers, sets, props, contracts, costumes, technical staff, rehearsal schedules, rental documentation, handwritten notes, correspondence, set diagrams, and some photographs, and is filed chronologically. The Production Photographs (1974-1995) document finished opera performances as they were staged at SDO. The majority of photographs are from performances staged in the 1970s and 1980s, though some productions are undated.  The subseries includes production stills only, and is filed chronologically.

The Publicity (1980-2007) series documents the SDO's coverage in various print media outlets, and consists primarily of published reviews of SDO performances. Clippings were gathered by the San Diego Clipping Service from various local and national publications including the San Diego Union, Evening Tribune, San Diego Daily Transcript, La Prensa, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Los Angeles Times, and numerous others.  The series is filed chronologically.