Old San Diego Architectural Control Board Records

Collection

Identifier: MS-0179

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Old San Diego Architectural Board Records (1943-1974) document the planning, preservation, and development of Old Town State Historic Park. Highlights include the review drafts for the overall design of Old Town, including landscaping, lighting, street furniture, and signs. The collection consists of by-laws, correspondence, meeting minutes, photographs, maps, resolutions, reports, plans, ordinances, and newspaper clippings, and primarily dates from 1968 to 1971. The collection is divided into alphabetically-filed series: Administrative Files and Photographs.

The Administrative Files (1943-1974) document the Board's operation and administration, and the planning and growth of Old Town. Of particular interest are the architectural drawings and maps, as well as the Board's meeting minutes, which include such topics as sign placement and historic designations for certain buildings. The series includes correspondence, maps, meeting minutes, reports, plans, by-laws, architectural drawings, review drafts, and resolutions.

The Photographs (circa 1965-1974) document the architectural style and planning of Old Town. The series consists of photographs of buildings, streets, architectural details, and signs. These photographs date from approximately 1965 to 1974, although few of them are actually dated.

Dates

Creation: 1943-1974
Creation: Majority of material found in 1968-1971

Creator

Old San Diego Architectural Control Board (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Historical Note

The City of San Diego established the Old San Diego Architectural Control Board in 1966 in order to preserve the historical character and appearance of Old Town State Historic Park, particularly from the Mexican pueblo period and the American period, dating from 1821 and 1871. The Board consisted of seven members appointed for two-year terms by the mayor with confirmation by the San Diego City Council. It remained active until 1974.

Old Town San Diego was the first permanent European settlement in California, established in 1769. By the 1820s, after Mexican independence, San Diego became a thriving pueblo or city. Then, after the Mexican-American War and the incorporation of the State of California in 1850, San Diego became an American settlement. The area's historical significance and diverse architectural styles led the State of California to designate Old Town a State Historic Park in 1968. Today, the park includes the Presidio, the Whaley House, La Casa de Estudillo, Mason Street School, the San Diego Union Printing Office, the main plaza, and more.