Thomas Parker Emery Personal Papers, 1935-2014

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Summary

Creators:
Emery, Thomas Parker
Abstract:
Thomas Parker Emery - a local community college art instructor, mural painter, designer, and sculptor - was commissioned to restore the March of Transportation murals painted by Juan Larrinaga in the Ford Building, which currently houses the San Diego Air and Space Museum. This Collection includes materials related to the restoration and general information about the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Extent:
0.44 Cubic Feet one 12.5”x5”x10.25” box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of one 12.5”x5”x10.25” box containing correspondence, process journal, contract drafts, cost estimates, information regarding the history of the San Diego Air & Space (Aerospace) Museum, and numerous artistic sketches and drawings.

Biographical / historical:

The “Transportation Mural” was conceived by Orville Goldner and the prime artist, Juan Larrinaga, in September 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition when it was decided that the fair would run another year. While the Ford Company pulled out of the exhibition the second year, they donated the structure and the building became The Great Hall of Transportation. The Mural contained 281 single figures and 125 groups of figures. It was 18 feet high, excluding the border, and 468 feet long. It was completed in six months.

After the exposition, the mural was largely ignored while the building went through various uses (including storage and a welding school), until February 1979. When the Aerospace Museum prepared to move into the Ford Building following the Electrical Building fire that destroyed much of the collection, various restoration efforts went underway. Thomas Parker Emery was commissioned to restore the two murals painted by Juan Larrinaga (the other being the Explorer II mural). It took eight months to clean, patch, and restore over 10,000 square feet of wall surface.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Terms of access:

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Location of this collection:
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 234-8291
archives@sdasm.org
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