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Camp Matthews Architectural Drawings
MSS 0661
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Title: Camp Matthews Architectural Drawings
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0661
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, California, 92093-0175
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
6.0 Linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1929 - 1959
Abstract: Collection of architectural drawings of Camp Calvin B. Matthews, a former U.S. Marine base located north of San Diego (Calif.)
and transferred to the University of California, San Diego, in 1964. The drawings, usually pencil on tracing paper, were created
or contracted for by the Department of the Navy, Eleventh Naval District, Bureau of Yards and Docks, and given to the University
at the time of transfer. The drawings date from 1929 to 1959 and document buildings, streets, utilities, rifle ranges, and
other facilities of Camp Matthews. The drawings are housed in 15 oversize folders and are arranged in three series: 1) GENERAL
PLANS, 2) UTILITIES, and 3) BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES.
Creator:
United States. Bureau of Yards and Docks.
Acquired 2005.
Camp Matthews Architectural Drawings, MSS 0661. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Camp Matthews was established in 1918 as a U.S. Marine rifle range under the command of Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.
It was called the Marine Rifle Range, La Jolla from 1918 until 1942, when it was renamed Camp Matthews after Brigadier General
Calvin B. Matthews, a coach of Marine rifle and pistol teams and a strong advocate of Marine marksmanship.
In 1917 the U.S. Marine Corps leased 544 acres from the City of San Diego to establish a rifle range to train new recruits.
In 1923 a permanent detachment of Marines was stationed at the camp and helped train the more than 1 million recruits who
went through the camp until its closure in 1964. During the 1930s and early 1940s, the camp expanded with the construction
of more target ranges and other facilities, including more administrative housing and barracks, to house the growing number
of Marines stationed there. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the subsequent U.S. entry into WWII, recruits poured into
the recruiting depot and were sent to Camp Matthews to receive training. During 1944, 700 men were stationed at Camp Matthews
and 9,000 men were rotated through every three weeks for their training.
Through WWII and the Korean War of the early 1950s, the camp expanded again to meet the growing training needs, adding administrative
buildings and installing street and utility systems, but during the mid-1950s the garrison stationed at the camp was reduced
to about 120 men.
As the City of San Diego expanded, houses were built around the camp and there was growing concern over having a Marine training
facility in the middle of a suburb. In 1956 the La Jolla Town Council began pressuring the Navy to close Camp Matthews, but
the Navy resisted the idea. In 1959 Congressman Bob Wilson from San Diego introduced a bill in Congress to turn Camp Matthews
over to the University of California for their planned campus in San Diego. On August 21, 1964, closing ceremonies were held
and in October of 1964 Camp Matthews was officially closed. The land became part of the new University of California, San
Diego campus.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Camp Matthews (Calif.). -- Maps
University of California, San Diego. -- History -- Archives
Military bases, American -- California -- San Diego -- Maps