Muehleisen (Vesta) Papers, 1926-1948

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Summary

Title:
Vesta Muehleisen Papers
Dates:
1926-1948
Creators:
Muehleisen, Vesta
Abstract:
The collection contains materials on Vesta Muehlesisen's educational activities from the 1920s to 1940s.
Extent:
0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Vesta Muehleisen Papers, MS 142, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Accession number 950407.
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.

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.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Alison Hennessey
Sponsor:
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.
Date Prepared:
December 1, 2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-03-08T15:59-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Vesta Muehleisen Papers, MS 142, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website