MS 207 Silvergate Riding Club and Balboa Mounted Troop Records
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- San Diego History Center Document Collection
- Creator
- Balboa Mounted Troop.
- Creator
- Silvergate Riding Club.
- Title
- Silvergate Riding Club and Balboa Mounted Troop Records
- ID
- MS 207
- Date [inclusive]
- 1924-1994
- Extent
- 2.75 Linear feet (4 boxes)
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- The collection contains materials for the Silvergate Riding Club and the Balboa Mounted Troop, two equestrian societies that were based in San Diego in the mid to late 20th century.
Preferred Citation
Silvergate Riding Club and Balboa Mounted Troop Records, MS 207, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Biographical / Historical Notes
The Silvergate Riding Club was founded by Rachel G. Wegeforth in 1924 as a private equestrian society. Originally named the Silvergate Riding and Driving Association, the Club operated out of the Balboa Park Riding Academy and focused on western riding instruction. The co-ed group also hosted a multitude of social activities, including trail rides, picnics, scavenger hunts, and breakfast functions. In 1933, the Balboa Park Stables and the organization’s clubhouse were destroyed by a fire. That same year, the Club began hosting their popular horse shows. The shows, which attracted up to 800 participants, were held annually until 1986, with the exception of 1943 during World War II. After the 1933 fire, the Club, in preparation for the California Pacific International Exposition, rebuilt the stables and a large riding arena in south Balboa Park near San Diego High School. In 1946 they founded the Bridlewise Club, a junior riding organization, to promote horsemanship among San Diego youth. Construction of the crosstown freeway (later called Interstate 5) in 1960 forced the Club to move from their Balboa Park facilities to Bonita Valley Farms, a ranch run by a member, Robert Bradley. From 1978-1983, the Club’s annual horse shows were held at Dehesa Farms Equestrian Center in El Cajon. The Club officially dissolved in 1994.
The Balboa Mounted Troop, a dressage drill team, was organized in 1935 and was the only women’s English riding group in San Diego County. Like the Silvergate Riding Club, membership was by invitation only. The Troop shared facilities, instructors, and several members with the Silvergate Riding Club, though the two groups were separate organizations. The Troop’s first public appearance was in 1935 at the California Pacific International Exposition. In 1937, they chartered their first charity horse show to benefit the Boys and Girls Aid Society of San Diego. These shows lasted until 1947, but the Troop maintained their ties with the Boys and Girls Aid Society for years to follow. The Troop also hosted a number of social activities, the most popular of which was the Troop’s annual Easter “Bunny Hunt,” first held in 1952. Participants on horseback searched for decorated Easter eggs. Brunch was later served and a cash prize was awarded to the winner. As with the Silvergate Riding Club, the Troop was forced to move to Bonita Valley Farms in 1960 due to the freeway construction continuing to share facilities with the Silvergate Riding Club. Weekly meetings were held on Thursdays, with an hour of drill followed by a social coffee hour. The Troop formally dissolved in 1985.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of records from both the Silvergate Riding Club and the Balboa Mounted Troop. Administrative materials from both groups include histories, by-laws, officer and membership rosters, meeting records and announcements, newsletters, and correspondence. Horseshow programs, publicity correspondence, related newspaper articles, and photographs of members and activities are also included for both the Club and Troop. Scrapbooks include articles, photographs, event flyers and programs, and correspondence.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series:
Series I: Silvergate Riding Club Records
Series II: Balboa Mounted Troop Records
Items within each series are arranged by subject. Scrapbooks remain in original order.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
San Diego History Center Document Collection February 23, 2012
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accesion number 980318.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Lauren Rasmussen on February 23, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Related Materials
Separated Materials
Original photographs separated to the SDHC Photograph Collection, 2000/091.1-op thru 2000/091.134-op.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Balboa Mounted Troop.
- Balboa Park Stables.
- Bonita Valley Farms.
- Boys and Girls Aid Society of San Diego.
- Dehesa Farms Equestrian Center.
- San Diego National Horse Show Association.
- Silvergate Riding and Driving Association.
- Silvergate Riding Club.
Geographic Name(s)
- Balboa Park (San Diego, Calif.)
- Bonita (Calif.)
- San Diego (Calif.)
Personal Name(s)
- Bradley, Robert C.
- Derr, Rowena
- Jacques, Dorothy
- Simpson, Harry
- Wegeforth, Rachel Granger
Subject(s)
- Eventing (Horsemanship)
- Horse shows
- Horse shows — English performance classes
- Horse shows — Western division and classes
- Horse sports
- Horsemanship
- Horses
- Horses — Training
- Riding clubs
- Show riding
- Trail riding
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Pages of scrapbooks are fragile and brittle.
Collection Inventory
Series I: Silvergate Riding Club Records |
||||
| Box-folder | ||||
| Club history, 1964-1973 and undated | 1:1 | |||
| By-laws, 1960 and undated | 1:2 | |||
| Officer and new member lists, 1924-1978 | 1:3 | |||
| Club rosters, 1960-1986 | 1:4 | |||
| Membership cards and dues, 1964-1985 and undated | 1:5 | |||
| Meeting notes, 1966 November 29 | 1:6 | |||
| Correspondence, 1963-1986
Includes: Thank you notes Finances Horse show planning and sponsorships |
1:7 | |||
| Newsletters, bulletins, and announcements, 1962-1985 and undated | 1:8 | |||
| Events, 1964-1994
Includes: Flyers Club invitations Planning notes, such as event seating charts Invitation to Club Christmas party (December 18, 1944) notes official disbanding of the Club. |
1:9 | |||
| Horse Show rider list, 1964 | 1:10 | |||
| Horse Show programs, 1962-1967 | 1:11 | |||
| Horse Show programs, 1968-1977 | 1:12 | |||
| Miscellaneous Horse Show programs, 1959-1961
Includes: Programs for shows not hosted by Club, but instead participated by Club, such as the Romano Ranch Riders Horse Show. |
1:13 | |||
| Publicity, 1962-1969
Includes: Drafts of articles and speeches to promote Club activities Correspondence with various news outlets, such as the San Diego Union |
1:14 | |||
| Newspaper clippings, 1962-1974 | 1:15 | |||
| Photographs (copies), undated | 1:16 | |||
| Scrapbook one (1 of 3), 1948-1990 and undated | 1:17 | |||
| Scrapbook one (2 of 3), 1954-1990 and undated | 1:18 | |||
| Scrapbook one (3 of 3), 1968-1991 and undated | 2:1 | |||
| Scrapbook two (1 of 3), 1944-1967 and undated | 4:1 | |||
| Scrapbook two (2 of 3), 1967-1973 and undated | 4:2 | |||
| Scrapbook two (3 of 3), 1974-1987 and undated | 4:3 | |||
| Scrapbook two, loose materials (1 of 2), 1960-1967 and undated | 2:2 | |||
| Scrapbook two, loose materials (2 of 2), 1971-1984 and undated | 2:3 | |||
| Miscellanea, 1966-1991 and undated
Includes: Silvergate Carnival award ribbon Drafting of a male member of the Silvergate Saber Corps Newspaper articles on subjects of Club interest and on Club family members and friends |
2:4 | |||
| Miscellanea, 1964
Includes: Wooden plaque commemorating Ann Kempf’s lifetime membership |
2:5 | |||
|
|
||||
Series II: Balboa Mounted Troop Records |
||||
| Box-folder | ||||
| Troop history, 1965 and undated | 2:6 | |||
| Constitution, by-laws, and Troop rules, 1947 and undated | 2:7 | |||
| Officer lists, 1954-1975 | 2:8 | |||
| Troop rosters, 1963-1978 | 2:9 | |||
| Meeting announcements and minutes, 1969-1970 | 2:10 | |||
| Correspondence, 1954-1976
Includes: Thank you notes Dues reminders Payment invoices Personal member correspondence |
2:11 | |||
| Newsletters and announcements, 1960-1985 and undated
Includes: July 21, 1985 newsletter pertains to the disbanding of the Troop and the closing of the Troop banking account. |
3:1 | |||
| Events, 1962-1975 and undated
Includes: Flyers Invitation Planning notes |
3:2 | |||
| Horse Show programs, 1941-1945 | 3:3 | |||
| Publicity, 1950-1980 and undated
Includes: Event press releases Publicity correspondence |
3:4 | |||
| Newspaper clippings, 1963-1975 | 3:5 | |||
| Photographs (copies), undated | 3:6 | |||
| Scrapbook, 1950-1965 and undated | 4:4 | |||
| Scrapbook, loose materials, 1950-1974 and undated | 3:7 | |||
| Miscellanea, 1948-1975 and undated
Includes: Parade award ribbons Troop membership application Troop stationary Copy of Troop song Newspaper clippings |
3:8 | |||
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