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San Diego Opera Association Records
MS-0474  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Scope and Contents
  • Arrangement Note
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Source of Acquisition
  • Accruals and Additions
  • Custodial History
  • Related Materials
  • Preferred Citation
  • Historical Note

  • Contributing Institution: Special Collections & University Archives
    Title: San Diego Opera Association Records
    Creator: San Diego Opera Association
    Identifier/Call Number: MS-0474
    Physical Description: 29.38 Linear Feet
    Date (inclusive): 1965-2008
    Language of Material: English .

    Scope and Contents

    The San Diego Opera Association Records (1965-2008) documents the outreach, fundraising, growth and development of the San Diego Opera Association (SDOA), including the SDOA's outreach activities, fundraising, education, and work done in support of the San Diego Opera. It includes budgets, bylaws, correspondence, minutes, committee files, programs, photographs, and scrapbooks. The collection consists of five major series:  Operational Files (1972-2005), Programs and Publications (1972-2008), Photographs (1965-1993), Scrapbooks (1972-2006), and Posters and Artifacts (n.d.).  The Operational Files have four sub-series: Event and Program Files (1975-2005), Minutes (1975-2000), Guilds of the San Diego Opera Association (1972-2001), and Membership Rosters (1972-1985). The Programs and Publications series contains two sub-series: Published Programs (1972-2008) and Other Publications (1973-2002). The Photographs are divided in two sub-series: Events and Programs (1965-1993), and Metropolitan Opera Auditions (1974-1990).
    The Operational Files (1972-2005) include four subseries: Event and Program Files (1975-2005), Minutes (1975-2000), Guilds of the San Diego Opera Association (1972-2001), and Membership Rosters (1972-1985). These files document the Association's special programming, outreach activities, and education work, as well as their administrative activities, and the work of various guilds of the SDOA.  The Event and Program Files (1975-2005) document fundraising, finances, community outreach programs, special auditions, and other programming. It consists of budgets, bylaws, Ian Campbell's correspondence, committee files, and other materials. It is filed alphabetically.  The Minutes (1975-2000) document the SDOA's formation, as well as myriad other topics, including fundraising, membership, ticket sales, facilities, and budgets. The Board of Directors and Executive Committee minutes include president's reports and committee reports. The series is filed chronologically. The Guilds of the San Diego Opera Association (1972-2001) series documents the activities of various branch SDOA guilds including the La Jolla, North Coast, Park West, Point Loma, Rancho Bernardo, and Rancho Santa Fe guilds. It includes files on events, the Council of Guilds, fundraising, supplementary programming, community support, financial matters, meeting minutes, agendas, and correspondence, and is filed alphabetically. The Membership Rosters (1972-1985), document SDOA's membership and committee service.  Created annually, each roster is a booklet which contains information on SDOA officers, the board of directors, various committees, the SDO's season for that year, and an alphabetical listing of all SDOA members. Rosters are filed chronologically.
    The Programs and Publications (1972-2008) document productions staged at numerous west coast opera companies, and opera in the US in general. It consists of two subseries: Published Programs (1972-2008) and Other Publications (1973-2002). The Published Programs (1972-2008) document productions staged at numerous west coast opera companies, and usually include general background information about individual shows, photos of the production, a cast list, biographies of actors and production staff, the name of the production's theater, background information about the show, and advertisements.  Programs are filed chronologically. The Other Publications (1973-2002) consists primarily of major trade publications, including Opera Briefs, Opera Scene, and Opera People. Publications are filed chronologically.
    The Photographs (1965-1993) includes two subseries: Events and Programs (1965-1993) and Metropolitan Opera Auditions (1974-1990). It documents some of the special events and programming organized by SDOA, and the Met Auditions held in San Diego. The Events and Programs (1965-1993) documents some of the special events and supplementary programming organized by SDOA over the years in support of San Diego Opera productions.  They are filed alphabetically by event or program name. The Metropolitan Opera Auditions (1974-1990) primarily consist of headshots submitted by performers participating in the Met Auditions held in San Diego.  They are filed chronologically by audition year.
    The Scrapbooks (1972-2006) consist of numerous scrapbooks documenting San Diego Opera history, activities, programs, and events, as well as the activities and programs undertaken at various local opera guilds around San Diego. They include clippings, programs, event invitations, reviews, membership posters, brochures, pamphlets, and other materials.
    The Posters and Artifacts (n.d.) consists of production posters documenting performance dates, venue, and individual production graphic design, as well as some assorted artifacts used at SDOA events and programs over the years.

    Arrangement Note

    I. Operational Files, 1972-2005
         1.) Event and Program Files, 1975-2005
         2.) Minutes, 1975-2000
         3.) Guilds of the San Diego Opera Association, 1972-2001
         4.) Membership Rosters, 1972-1985
    II. Programs and Publications, 1972-2008
         1.) Published Programs, 1972-2008
         2.) Other Publications, 1973-2002
    III. Photographs, 1965-1993
         1.) Events and Programs, 1965-1993
         2.) Metropolitan Opera Auditions, 1974-1990
    IV. Scrapbooks, 1972-2006
    V. Posters and Artifacts, n.d.

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Conditions Governing Use

    The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.  Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

    Source of Acquisition

    San Diego History Center

    Accruals and Additions

    2008-029, 2013-016, 9999-229

    Custodial History

    The San Diego Opera Association Collection was originally donated to the San Diego History Center from 1984 to 2008.  In 2008 it was transferred by the San Diego History Center to San Diego State University Library and Information Access.

    Related Materials

    San Diego Opera Guild Records (MS-0476)
    San Diego Opera Office Records (MS-0477)

    Preferred Citation

    Identification of item, folder title, box number, San Diego Opera Association Records, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.

    Historical Note

    Formed in 1974 out of the dissolution of the San Diego Opera Guild (1950-1974) and San Diego Opera, Inc. (1966-74), the San Diego Opera Association (SDOA) assumed the responsibilities of both organizations. It is responsible for promoting greater public interest and support of opera, and for supporting the production and presentation of opera in San Diego.
    In 1974 the SDOA introduced public memberships, which helped the company to expand, and gave members the privilege of belonging to regional opera guilds around San Diego, based on their place of residence. Governed by the Council of Guilds, these regional guilds enabled the SDOA to continue its community education and outreach work, and to build a fundraising network to support opera in San Diego.
    In 1976, with the passing of founding Director Walter Herbert, the SDOA hired General Director Tito Capobianco, formerly of the New York City Opera. Working with Capobianco, the SDOA during this period worked to develop numerous educational and outreach programs, and organized special events which frequently complemented opera productions and series, such as the Verdi Festival and Fanfare. In 1983, the SDOA hired Ian Campbell as General Director, and continues its outreach, education, and support work with Campbell, including the Operation: Opera program, which brings Opera to 100,000 children in San Diego County and Northern Mexico.