Guide to the Vesta Muehleisen Papers
MS 142
Finding aid prepared by Alison Hennessey
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.
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
December 1, 2011
Title: Vesta Muehleisen Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 142
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1926-1948
Abstract: The collection contains materials on Vesta Muehlesisen's educational activities from the 1920s to 1940s.
creator:
Muehleisen, Vesta
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The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials.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 Alison Hennessey on December 1, 2011.
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.
Preferred Citation
Vesta Muehleisen Papers, MS 142, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Biographical / Historical Note
Vesta Muehleisen (August 7, 1887-October 19, 1973) was a San Diego citizen actively involved in the educational system through
the 1940s. Muehleisen, graduate of San Diego State Teachers College in 1907, was the first Alumni Association President in
1931. She served on the San Diego City Board of Education from the late twenties through the thirties for a number of years
. She also served as Director of Education for the California Pacific Exposition from 1935-1936 and for the Golden Gate Exposition
from 1939-1940. She was a member of the Advisory Council for San Diego State College from 1925-1934. She founded the Hall
of Education Association in February 1937 and served as its first President. She was also a longtime member of the National
Congress of Parents and Teachers and the 9th District Congress of Parents and Teachers. During her time serving on the San
Diego City Board of Education, Muehleisen was involved in the lawsuit between the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) vs.
the Board of Education, based on rumors that the ACLU had ties to the Communist Party, making them unfit to use public schools
to hold meetings.
Scope and Content
The materials in the collection reflect Vesta Muehleisen’s educational activities through her involvement with San Diego State
Teacher’s College, as a member of the San Diego Board of Education, as Director for Education for the California Pacific International
Exposition and as the founder of the Hall of Education Association. Vesta Muehleisen’s role in the relocation of the San Diego
State College to its current location in East San Diego is detailed in correspondence and newspaper clippings. The collection
contains City of San Diego Board of Education Meeting Minutes and Resolutions related to the issue of Communist and Communist-related
organizations requesting use of public schools to hold meetings. The collection also contains the court documents and correspondence
on the lawsuit the ACLU brought against the San Diego City Board of Education for denying them access to public schools for
their meetings. In addition, there is general correspondence, political ephemera, published articles and other documents related
to Communism and Communist activities. Also included are documents and correspondence regarding activities of the Palace of
Education during the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935-1936. Documents and correspondence pertaining to
the founding and activities of the San Diego Hall of Education Association are included in the collection as well as an agreement
and correspondence regarding property Blanche La Garde left with the Hall of Education Association.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 950407.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five series:
Series I. San Diego State Teachers College
Series II: San Diego City Board of Education and Communism
Series III: Palace of Education at California Pacific International Exposition
Series IV: San Diego Hall of Education Association
Series V: Miscellanea
Items within each series are arranged by subject.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American Civil Liberties Union.
California Pacific International Exposition (1935-1936 : San Diego, Calif.).
Golden Gate International Exposition (1939-1940 : San Francisco, Calif.).
Hall of Education Association.
Muehleisen, Vesta
San Diego (Calif.). Board of Education.
San Diego State College Alumni Association.
Schweigardt, Frederick
State Teachers College of San Diego.
Anti-communist movements
Balboa Park (San Diego, Calif.)
Communism
Education
Hall of Education (San Diego, Calif.)
Propaganda, Anti-communist
Propaganda, Communist
San Diego (Calif.)
Series I:
San Diego State Teachers College
Box-folder 1:1
Relocation documents,
1928 April 6 and undated
Includes:
Citizens Advisory Council of the San Diego State Teacher and Junior College resolution regarding relocation of the College
Chart comparing three possible sites for the relocation of San Diego State Teachers College
Box-folder 1:2
Relocation correspondence,
1927 September 24–1929 September 26 and undated
Box-folder 1:3
New site dedication,
1931 May 1-2
Includes:
Invitation and program for dedication of San Diego State at new site, May 1-2, 1931
Box-folder 1:4
Newspaper clippings,
1928 February 24–1931 June 8 and undated
Box-folder 1:5
Alumi Association recognition,
1957 February 6-March 15 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence and article honoring Vesta Muehleisen's involvement with the College and Alumni Association, as a past Alumni
President.
Series II:
San Diego City Board of Education and Communism
Box-folder 1:6
Board of Education meeting minutes and resolutions,
1933 February 6 and undated
Includes:
Discussion of whether or not to allow particular organizations use of public schools to hold their meetings.
Box-folder 1:7
ACLU vs. San Diego Board of Education: court documents,
1934 December 21–1935 March 13
Box-folder 1:8
ACLU vs. San Diego Board of Education: correspondence,
1934 December 26–1935 January 5
Box-folder 1:9
Board of Education correspondence,
1929 June 1–1944 April 11
Includes:
Correspondence with school board officials in San Francisco and Los Angeles regarding the issue of whether or not to allow
certain organizations use of public schools to hold meetings.
Correspondence from Communist-allied groups and anti-Communist groups arguing for and against the right to use public schools
as meeting places.
Box-folder 1:10
Articles,
1934 December 18–1946 September
Includes:
Articles discussing the use of public schools by Communist or Communist-allied groups, including discussion of the ACLU vs.
San Diego Board of Education court case.
Box-folder 1:11
Political ephemera,
1934 October 10–1945 July 10
Includes:
Brochures and pamphlets for and against Communism.
“American Youth For Democracy” (pamphlet) (in Oversize Collections D3)
Box-folder 1:12
Communism: article excerpts and organizations,
1931 January 17–1945 November 20
Includes:
Excerpts from House of Representatives Report investigating Communist propaganda in the United States.
Excerpts from political publications such as The Communist, Associated Farmers of Riverside County Bulletin, and the American
Civil Liberties Union.
List of Communist and radical organizations functioning in the United States.
Series III:
Palace of Education and California Pacific International Exposition
Box-folder 1:13
Palace of Education inventory administration,
1935 October 24–1936 November 4
Includes:
Bill of Sale, correspondence and inventory list regarding furniture for the Palace of Education.
Box-folder 1:14
Fountain, “The Four Cornerstones of American Democracy,” at Palace of Education,
1935 February 12-September 16 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence, article and construction records regarding the fountain.
Box-folder 1:15
Frederick Schweigardt (fountain artist),
1935 March 7–1948 September 22
Includes:
Article “The Artist and his work” on Frederick Schweigardt
Letter to Frederick Schweigardt from New York Museum of Science and Industry
Obituary for Frederick Schweigardt
Box-folder 1:16
California Pacific International Exposition ephemera,
undated
Includes:
Promotional information regarding the exposition.
Demographic information about San Diego and exposition, including maps of Balboa Park.
Promotional poster, “America’s Exposition 1935” (in Oversize Collections D3)
Series IV:
San Diego Hall of Education Association
Box-folder 1:17
History and by-laws,
1937 November 29–1938 January 31 and undated
Box-folder 1:18
Finances,
1937 August 31–1941 June 5 and undated
Includes:
Memorandums and Treasurer’s Reports detailing rentals, memberships and other financial activities.
Box-folder 1:19
Meeting minutes and agendas,
1936 October 23–1941 January 9
Box-folder 1:20
Membership,
1938 December 29 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence and information regarding membership.
Membership Certificates.
Box-folder 1:21
Hall of Education building information,
1937 November 1–1941 May 15 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence and records regarding lease for building and occupancy permits.
Correspondence and documents regarding building maintenance.
Box-folder 1:22
Correspondence,
1938 February 21–1941 July 28
Box-folder 1:23
Educational events,
1936 June 16–1938 and undated
Box-folder 1:24
Blanche La Garde property,
1938 September 10-18
Includes:
Agreement and correspondence regarding La Garde’s property residing in the Hall of Education building
Box-folder 1:26
Miscellanea,
1926 July–1941 November 26
Includes:
Copy of poem, “Report of Ninth District” from Parent-Teacher, July 1926, p. 15.
Booklet: “San Diego City Schools, Report of Superintendent of Schools 1928-1929.”
Guarantee certificate for a radio purchased.
