MS 286 House of Pacific Relations and International Cottages Collection

Summary Information

Repository
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Creator
House of Hospitality Association (San Diego, Calif.).
Title
House of Pacific Relations and International Cottages Collection
ID
MS 286
Date [inclusive]
1934-1989
Extent
2.25 Linear feet (5 boxes)
Language
English
Abstract
A collection of newspaper articles, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera related to the history of the House of Pacific Relations and International Cottages in Balboa Park.

Preferred Citation

House of Pacific Relations and International Cottages Collection, MS 286, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

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Biographical / Historical Notes

The House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park was created for the California-Pacific International Exposition of 1935. Frank Drugan, mastermind of the Exposition itself, established the organization “to foster and cultivate a spirit of understanding, tolerance, and good will.” The organization was non-political, non-religious, and non-profit. At its creation nineteen nations occupied fifteen buildings situated between the Ford Building (Aerospace Museum) and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. By 2014, there were a total of thirty two national groups occupying the original fifteen cottages, as well as four new cottages, and the Hall of Nations. Membership in the House of Pacific Relations (“pacific” meaning peaceful) was constantly changing as many countries gained and relinquished membership in the organization.

The House of Pacific Relations served many purposes. Initially, each member country was responsible for creating an annual cultural program, typically consisting of ethnic costume, song, dance, and cuisine, for public events held Sundays between April/June and October. The main function of the organization was to facilitate cultural exchange, although it also served the public during its history by providing written and oral language translators. In the middle of the 20th century, the House was also charged with receiving foreign dignitaries to San Diego. During World War II, the buildings comprising the House were used as living quarters for non-commissioned naval officers. However, following the war, the buildings were rededicated for the House of Pacific Relations and continue to present cultural programs to the present day.

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Scope and Content

A collection of newspaper articles, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera relating to the history of the House of Pacific Relations and International Cottages in Balboa Park. The collection originally consisted entirely of scrapbooks; however, it was necessary to deconstruct many of them during processing. “History of the House of Pacific Relations, 1935 – 1980” in addition to documenting the history of the organization, also includes by-laws and correspondence. The volumes entitled “Programs” and “Miscellanea” detail the participants and schedules of the House of Pacific Relations social events. “Tickets” is a collection of ticket stubs from these events. “Tours” consists of correspondence relating to the charter flights to Europe which were organized by the group. “The San Diego-Yokohama Friendship Commission” contains a small number of documents from the establishment of the sister city affiliation between San Diego and Yokohama, Japan. The House of Pacific Relations scrapbooks contain newspaper articles documenting social events sponsored by the member countries of the House of Pacific Relations and persons either belonging to or being received by the organization. Two volumes of photographs provide a visual survey of the events sponsored by each member country; most photographs are accompanied by a description.

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Arrangement

Arranged by Series:

Series I: History of the House of Pacific Relations

Series II: Programs and Ticket

Series III: Miscellanea

Series IV: The San Diego-Yokohama Friendship Commission

Series V: Scrapbooks

Material within each volume is arranged chronologically.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

San Diego History Center Document Collection April 11, 2016

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.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Chris Bishop in March, 2014.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • California Pacific International Exposition (1935-1936 : San Diego, Calif.).
  • Hall of Nations.
  • House of Argentina.
  • House of Austria.
  • House of China.
  • House of Columbia.
  • House of Czech and Slovak Republics.
  • House of Denmark.
  • House of England.
  • House of Finland.
  • House of France.
  • House of Germany.
  • House of Hungary.
  • House of India.
  • House of Iran.
  • House of Ireland.
  • House of Israel.
  • House of Italy.
  • House of Lebanon.
  • House of Lithuania.
  • House of Mexico.
  • House of Norway.
  • House of Pacific Relations.
  • House of Palestine.
  • House of Panama.
  • House of Peru.
  • House of Poland.
  • House of Puerto Rico.
  • House of Scotland.
  • House of Spain.
  • House of Sweden.
  • House of the Philippines.
  • House of Turkey.
  • House of Ukraine.
  • House of USA.
  • International Cottages.

Geographic Name(s)

  • Balboa Park (San Diego, Calif.)

Personal Name(s)

  • Drugan, Frank

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Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Scrapbooks were deconstructed and placed in folders to prevent further deterioration of the material and to improve accessibility. (March, 2014)

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Collection Inventory

 Series I: History of the House of Pacific Relations 1935-1980

Box-folder
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 1, 1935 1:1
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 2, 1935-1947 1:2
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 3, 1948-1951 1:3
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 4, 1951-1955 1:4
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 5, 1955-1956 1:5
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 6, 1957-1959 1:6
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 7 1959-1960 1:7
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 8, 1960-1962 1:8
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 9, 1962-1963 1:9
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 10, 1963-1966 2:1
History of the House of Pacific Relations, Part 11, 1966-1980 2:2

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 Series II: Programs and Tickets 1937-1989

Box-folder
“Programs” Part 1, 1937-1941 2:3
“Programs” Part 2, 1946-1963 2:4
“Programs” Part 3, 1963-1969 2:5
“Programs” Part 4, 1969-1975 2:6
“Programs” Part 5, 1975-1989 2:7
“Tickets” Part 1, 1956-1972 2:8
“Tickets” Part 2, 1973-1986 2:9

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 Series III: Miscellanea 1955-1984

Box-folder
“Miscellanea” Part 1, 1955-1984 3:1
“Miscellanea” Part 2, 1955-1984 3:2
House of Pacific Relations Tours (Flights of the House of Pacific Relations) 1958-1975 3:3

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 Series IV: The San Diego-Yokohama Friendship Commission 1958

Box-folder
“The San Diego-Yokohama Friendship Commission,” 1958 3:4

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 Series V: Scrapbooks 1934-1988

Box-folder
“House of Pacific Relations: Scrapbook,” 1934-1961 4:1
“House of Pacific Relations: Scrapbook,” 1961-1967 4:2
“House of Pacific Relations: Scrapbook,” 1968-1972 4:3
“House of Pacific Relations: Scrapbook,” 1972-1978 4:4
House of Pacific Relations Photograph Scrapbook, Part 1, 1940-1963 5:1
House of Pacific Relations Photograph Scrapbook, Part 2, 1963-1966 5:2
House of Pacific Relations Photograph Scrapbook, Part 3, 1966-1988 5:3
Untitled scrapbook 1978-1988 5:4

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