Marine Biological Association of San Diego Records and Photographs, 1901-1923 (SAC 37)

OFF-SITE STORAGE: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW TWO TO THREE (2-3) WEEKS FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Restrictions: Glass plate negatives are restricted; however, most have been digitized and are available for viewing through links in the container list.

Extent: 3 Linear feet (4 archives boxes, 1 flat box, and 1 map case folder)

Digital Content

Selected materials from this collection have been digitized and can be viewed through links in the container list.

The collection consists of early records, meeting minutes, and photographs documenting the formative years of the Marine Biological Association of San Diego and its transition into the Scripps Institution of Biological Research, predecessor of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

In 1903, UC Berkeley biologist William E. Ritter and San Diego physician Fred Baker, with the financial support of philanthropists E. W. Scripps and Ellen Browning Scripps, founded the Marine Biological Association of San Diego. The purpose of the Association was to advance the study of marine sciences. Ritter was appointed as its first director and supervised the activities of temporary research stations in San Diego Bay. In 1905, the Association leased property above La Jolla Cove and established a marine laboratory. Ms. Scripps added a codicil to her will in 1909 bequeathing a gift to the Regents of the University of California for a permanent marine biological station, and construction of the first building on the current campus, the George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory, was completed in 1910. In July of 1912, the Association deeded its property to the Regents and became the Scripps Institution for Biological Research, formally becoming part of the UC System. In 1925, it was renamed the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The collection consists of early records, meeting minutes, and photographs documenting the formative years of the Marine Biological Association of San Diego and its transition into the Scripps Institution of Biological Research, predecessor of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Arranged in two series: 1) RECORDS, and 2) PHOTOGRAPHS.

William E. Ritter Papers. SMC 4. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Winfred E. Allen Papers. SMC 23. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Container List

RECORDS

Box 1 Folder 1
Record of meeting minutes, 1903-1911
Bylaws, page 1, 1904
Box 1 Folder 2
Scrapbook of documents and meeting minutes, ca. 1901-1923

Includes account ledgers and financial reports, constitution and bylaws documents for the Scripps Institution for Biological Research, correspondence, Board of Directors meeting minutes, and notes on policies and development of the campus. Includes a typewritten speech by Francis Sumner entitled "The Scripps Institution," ca. 1923.

Box 1 Folder 3
Association checkbook, undated
Oversize Annex MC-006-07
Articles of Incorporation certificate, 1904 May 13
Box 1 Folder 18
Marine Biological Association - Property transfer, 1907-1912

The Association's property was officially transferred to the University of California on July 1, 1912. At this time, the official name because the Scripps Institution of Biological Research.

Box 1 Folder 19
Scripps Institution of Biological Research - Property transfer, 1912-1920
Box 1 Folder 20
Scripps Institution of Biological Research - Constitution and by-laws, 1912
Oversize Annex MC-006-07
Newspaper clippings about the Association, 1903-1904

PHOTOGRAPHS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 2) PHOTOGRAPHS. Includes glass plate negatives and original and copy prints, arranged in two subseries: A) Prints and Glass Negatives, and B) Mounted Exhibition Prints. Subseries B contains images by photographer Herbert Fitch of the Association's La Jolla locale, facilities, and collecting grounds on beaches in San Diego. The Fitch prints were mounted on boards and displayed for an exhibition on the Association's activities circa 1906.

Selected photographs and negatives from this series have been digitized and can be viewed by clicking on the links in the container list.

Prints and Glass Negatives

Box 1 Folder 4
Wooden laboratory sheds, Point Loma, 1903

Staff of the Marine Biological Association of San Diego, Hotel del Coronado boathouse summer laboratory, 1904 June

Box 1 Folder 5
B&w prints

A duplicate of this image from the Tillie Genter Papers has been scanned and is available through the UC San Diego Library Digital Collections website.

Subjects identified as: Front row, l-r: J. F. Bovard, Effie Rigden Michener, Alice Robertson, Calvin O. Esterly. Back row, l-r: Robert D. Williams, B. D. Billinghurst, William E. Ritter, Loye H. Miller, Charles Kofoid, Harry B. Torrey.

Box 2 Folder 1
Glass plate negatives

Restrictions Apply

Interior, laboratory above La Jolla Cove, ca. 1905

Box 1 Folder 6
B&w prints

A duplicate of one of these images from the Tillie Genter Papers has been scanned and is available through the digital library.

Box 2 Folder 2
Glass plate negatives

Restrictions Apply

Box 1 Folder 7
Schooner Loma , 1906

Label on verso: "...Large residence on Point Loma in the background was that of Dr. Fred Baker."

A duplicate of this image in subseries A) Mounted Exhibition Prints has been scanned and may be viewed by clicking on the link in the container list.

Box 1 Folder 8
Building site of the Marine Biological Association of San Diego, La Jolla, 1908 July

Four original black and white prints. Subjects include station grounds, distribution of vegetation, the undeveloped building site (looking north). Verso signed "Kelsey, Photo."

Land and cliffs of La Jolla at the future site of the Marine Biological Association of San Diego, ca. 1908

Box 1 Folder 9
B&w prints
Box 2 Folder 3
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

William E. Ritter reading in his apartment on the second floor of the George H. Scripps Memorial Biological Laboratory, 1909 November 7

Box 1 Folder 10
B&w print
Box 2 Folder 4
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

William and Mary Ritter in their apartment on the second floor of the George H. Scripps Memorial Biological Laboratory, 1909 November 7

Box 1 Folder 11
B&w prints
Box 2 Folder 5
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

William E. Ritter reading in his apartment on the second floor of the George H. Scripps Memorial Biological Laboratory Building, ca. 1910

Box 1 Folder 12
B&w prints
Box 2 Folder 6
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

Director's study, George H. Scripps Memorial Biological Laboratory, ca. 1910

Box 1 Folder 13
B&w prints
Box 2 Folder 7
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

William E. Ritter on the steps of the George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Laboratory, with Mary Ritter in automobile, ca. 1910

Box 1 Folder 17
B&w prints
Box 3 Folder 1
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory and seawater tower, 1910

Box 1 Folder 14
B&w and tinted color prints
Box 3 Folder 2
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory and seawater tower, 1910

Box 1 Folder 15
B&w prints
Box 3 Folder 3
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

View of the Marine Biological Association of San Diego from top of hill, La Jolla, ca. 1910

Box 1 Folder 16
B&w prints
Box 3 Folder 4
Glass plate negative

Restrictions Apply

Box 3 Folder 5
Clay model of San Pedro Channel and Santa Barbara Channel, ca. 1910

Glass plate negative.

Restrictions Apply

Box 3 Folder 6
Upstairs laboratory, George H. Scripps Memorial Biological Laboratory, 1911 December 30

Glass plate negative.

Restrictions Apply

Box 3 Folder 7
George H. Scripps Memorial Biological Laboratory and Scripps Library, 1925

Glass plate negative.

Restrictions Apply

Box 3 Folder 8
Scripps Library, 1925

Glass plate negative.

Restrictions Apply

Mounted Exhibition Prints

Box 4 Folder 2
Cathedral Rock, La Jolla, now destroyed, ca. 1906
Box 4 Folder 4
Sandstone cliffs showing erosion of upper stratum, ca. 1906
Box 4 Folder 5
Beach and cliffs north of caves, ca. 1906
Box 4 Folder 7
Bird Rock collecting ground at high tide, ca. 1906
Box 4 Folder 8
False Bay collecting ground at low tide, ca. 1906
Box 4 Folder 10
Bird Rock collecting ground at low tide, ca. 1906
Box 5 Folder 3
Rocks at south La Jolla, covered with sea-weed, ca. 1906
Box 5 Folder 4
Alligator Head looking south, ca. 1906
Box 5 Folder 5
Interior of one of the caves, La Jolla, ca. 1906
Box 5 Folder 6
Gold Fish Point, La Jolla, concretions, ca. 1906
Box 5 Folder 7
The caves, La Jolla, looking north, ca. 1906
Box 5 Folder 8
Sandstone rocks forming coast of north La Jolla, ca. 1906