CONNECT with the CityNew Discoveries
Welcome to the New Discoveries blog! City of San Diego City Clerk Archives staff use this area to upload newly rediscovered documents from San Diego’s history. In their duties, staff often find unique and interesting pieces of history they want to bring to the public. Those documents are uploaded here and then organized into their appropriate Collection, or a new Collection is created. Please check back frequently for fascinating new finds and discoveries!
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1939 - Infamous Sculptor
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“Infamous Sculptor” Donal Hord (1902-1966) was San Diego's most famous sculptor. His public art is displayed at numerous locations around San Diego, including Balboa Park and San Diego State University. In 1960, he was commissioned to produce a concrete replica of the statue to give to San Diego's sister city, Yokohama, Japan.
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1937 - Working Women Paving the Way
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Here is an interesting photo of employees who were from the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. The history of the organization dates to the beginning of 1870, when David Felsenheld called a preliminary meeting at his large mercantile house on the corner of F and Sixth Streets. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce was founded later that year by Alonzo Horton with the mission to guide in the development of San Diego.
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1902 - First Public Carnegie Library
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Please check out this significant historical photo of first public library in San Diego. In 1897 Lydia Knapp Horton, wife of San Diego founder Alonzo Horton, wrote to Mr. Carnegie to start a funding effort. San Diego had the honor of being the first Carnegie library in California. It opened in 1902 at Eighth and E Streets. It was demolished in 1952 to make way for a new Central Library.
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September 19, 1969 - Reaching Greater Heights
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Look at this photo of the brave San Diego Firemen standing in extended snorkels of their new fire trucks in 1969. In 1968, the City Council passed a resolution approving the purchase of these Quint 65 Ft. Articulating Arm Aerial Platform Fire Apparatuses for a total cost of $293,012. The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was one of the oldest fire apparatus manufacturers in America, with roots that go back to approximately 1832.
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July 23, 1948 - San Diego High School Civics Class
We wanted to share this letter from San Diego High School with you. They wanted to express their heartfelt thanks for the warm hospitality their civics class students received at the council meeting on July 20, 1948. Our city always values civic education in schools and loves having students from different schools visit the City Council and Archives throughout the year. Thanks for being a part of it!
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1969 – U.S. Navy Blue Angels
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Please check out this impressive photo of two McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom jet fighters from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performing in close formation over Miramar Naval Air Station during the 1969 Air Show. The Blue Angels are known the world over for their precision flying and intricate maneuvers. Noteworthy in this performance for the Blue Angels was the first to fly supersonic jets in back-to-back formation with the top plane inverted and the second snuggled underneath right side up with minimum separation.
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October 19, 1944 – An Appeal from Blood Donor Service
Please review the communication received from the Blood Donor Service, the American Red Cross, San Diego Chapter, dated 1944. Ms. Margaret Price, Director of Blood Donor Service, issued an appeal to City employees to donate blood for our soldiers overseas. World War II concluded one year later.
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March 24, 1938 - Invitation from California Sewage Works Association
Have you seen this pretty invitation letter from the California Sewage Works Association for its 10th Annual Spring Conference held on April 11-12, 1938? Back in the early 20th century, California was really making strides in sewage treatment technology, leading to a notable increase in sewer mileage and sewage treatment plants. As a result, the California Sewage Works Association (CSWA) was founded in 1928. Over the years, it went through several name changes and eventually evolved into the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) that we know today.
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LGBTQ Pride Month - Christine Kehoe
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Christine Kehoe made history in San Diego in 1993 when she became the city's first openly LGBTQ elected official, serving as Council Member for District 3 until 2000. She went on to be elected to the California State Assembly and later to the California State Senate in 2004. Throughout her tenure in the state legislature, she held the prestigious position of Assembly Speaker pro Tempore - only the second woman to do so.
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August 26, 1964 - Signed Photo of Archie Moore
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Have you seen this awesome signed photo of Archie Moore from 1964? Archie Moore, who was an American professional boxer, is known for being the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time. Fun fact - he's the only boxer to have faced both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali! Born and raised in St. Louis, Moore later adopted San Diego as his home. In 1965, he was honored with the key to the City of San Diego and was also inducted into the Hall of Champions.
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September 5, 1949 - Celebration of Mission Bay Park Opening Day
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Check out this picture of a float decorated by the Cannery Workers and Fishermen Union. The City contracted with the Central Labor Council to stage a water parade consisting of decorated floats on the night of September 5, 1949, as part of the 3-day Fiesta Bahia celebration that officially opened Mission Bay Park. The theme of the parade was 100 years of progress, 1849 - 1949. Other events included entertainment on floating stages and aquatic exhibitions.
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May 12, 1916 – Ordinance Regulating Fish Canneries
In this 1916 document, the Board of Health recommended the adoption of this ordinance regulating fish canneries in the City of San Diego. The first cannery opened in 1909, and San Diego was once known as the “Tuna Capital of the World.” In the 1960s, tuna was the city’s third-largest industry, with almost 40,000 employees.
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August 11, 1890 – Petition from the Ladies Annex
Please take a moment to review this elegantly written petition drafted in 1890 by the Ladies Chapter of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. The petition proposed the implementation of an ordinance requiring vendors to change from house-to-house produce sales to selling their goods in the market square.
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November 27, 1918 - Celebration Flight
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Take a look at this awesome picture of aviators from Rockwell Field flying over downtown San Diego to celebrate the end of World War I in November 1918. The Rockwell Field was located on North Island in San Diego, California, which was originally called the Signal Corps Aviation School. It was the first U.S. Army school to provide flying training for military pilots, and North Island was the school's first permanent location. The Aviation School was officially established on North Island in 1912.
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May 23, 1889 - Multitasking Pays Off
According to this interesting ordinance the Common Council and Board of Alderman appointed W. H. Rapier the first Janitor and Sergeant of Arms during the session of the Common Council. Mr. W. H. Rapier’s monthly compensation wage was $55.00.
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1916 - Cadillac Motor Car Ambulance
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Please look at this well-designed ambulance in 1916. This classy ambulance was created and built for excellent and easy riding for patients. This ambulance was very popular and showcased in the east coast.
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1938 -1939 – San Diego Yearbook
If you are in school, you will get yearbook every year. Have you ever seen the 1938 San Diego Yearbook? It's actually the City Manager's annual report, and it's pretty fascinating. It goes into detail about the municipal operations during the fiscal year from July 1, 1938, to June 30, 1939. It's filled with lots of interesting data and photos showing how tax dollars were used. Why not give it a read? It's a pretty neat insight into our city's history!
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August 11, 1890 – Petition from the Ladies Annex
Please take a moment to review this elegantly written petition drafted in 1890 by the Ladies Chapter of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. The petition proposed the implementation of an ordinance requiring vendors to change from house-to-house produce sales to selling their goods in the market square.
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1916 – Concert on the Lawn
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Check out this charming 1916 photo of beautifully dressed ladies and gentlemen eagerly waiting on the lawn to attend a concert during the Panama California Exposition! It's such a timeless and elegant scene. The Panama California Exposition held at Balboa Park in San Diego between January 1, 1915, and January 1, 1917. The exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal and was meant to tout San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward through the canal.
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Undated – William Tomkins' handshake with Sioux Native American Chief Crow Eagle
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View the image of William Tomkins, shaking hands with Sioux Native American Chief Crow Eagle. Tomkins served as Secretary of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce from 1913-1915 and again from 1917-1921. He was also an expert in the study of Indian sign language.
In 1926, William Tomkins’ self-published the “Universal Indian Sign Language of the Plains Indians of North America,” followed by "A Culture Attainment of the First American- Universal Indian Sign Language.”