Collection Guide
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Spanish American Institute records, 1913-1971
mssSpanishAmericanInstituterecords.
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Table of contents
Title: Spanish American Institute records
Dates: 1913-1971
Collection Number: mssSpanishAmericanInstituterecords.
Creator:
Spanish American Institute (Gardena, Calif.)
Extent:
22 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The Spanish American Institute records consist of individual student files who enrolled at the boarding school from 1913-1971.
Language of Material: The records are in English and Spanish.
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to following
web site .
Due to the nature of the collection and the amount of personal information that is present, many parts of the collection are
sealed for 75 years after the individual's birthdate. This material is noted in the finding aid.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item], Spanish American Institute records, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Gift of the Spanish American Institute, September 2015.
The Spanish American Institute is a Methodist establishment located in Gardena, California. The Institute has provided a connection
between the churches in Mexico and the United States for the Spanish-speaking community in Southern California. Since 1909,
the Institute has provided academic and vocational training for boys primarily of Hispanic descent. In 1971, the Institute
closed down the boarding school. Today, the Institute offers college and vocational scholarships to Hispanic students in Southern
California.
There are over 2,000 student records in this collection. Although the institute provided assistance for primarily boys of
Hispanic descent, there are records for students from Asia, Africa, and Europe. Some of the records contain more details than
others. For example, one file may only contain a record of only S.A.I. credits, while other files may include a case summary,
correspondence, medical records, family history, and/or probation reports. The letters written to the institution may concern
tuition or perhaps, additional background information about the student. The letters from the institute are mostly written
by the director, Dr. Richard Silverthorn. His letters may be regarding the student’s progress at the school, general concerns,
or why the student received disciplinary action. At the end of the collection, there are miscellaneous folders containing
additional unsorted student records, photographs, and printed matter. Box 22 consists of lantern slides and photographic plates.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Silverthorn, Richard
Spanish American Institute (Gardena, Calif.)
Boarding schools--California--Gardena--History
Boarding schools--Records and correspondence
Hispanic American students
Hispanic Americans--Education--California
Methodist Church--California
Gardena (Calif.)
Administrative records
Correspondence
Medical records
Report cards