Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Kelco Aerial Photograph Collection
SMC 0129
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Languages:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Kelco Aerial Photograph Collection
Creator:
Kelco (Firm)
Identifier/Call Number: SMC 0129
Physical Description:
4.5 Linear feet
(8 archives boxes, 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): circa 1931-1992
Abstract: The collection consists of black and white, color, and infrared aerial photography of kelp beds and coastline from Baja California
to Point Conception.
All images in Series 3) SCANNED IMAGES are exclusively available digitally. Due to copyright constraints, digital content
is restricted to UC San Diego IP addresses (including UCSD-PROTECTED network for wireless, and VPN or Proxy for off-campus
access).
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Acquired 2011.
Kelco Aerial Photograph Collection. SMC 129. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
The Kelco Company (est. 1929, San Diego) was the world's largest commercial producer of algin, a derivative of alginic acid
used as a stabilizing, suspending and gelling agent in a variety of food and industrial applications. Kelco's fleet harvested
giant kelp (
Macrocystis pyrifera) and rockweed (
Ascophyllum nodosum) from the waters off Baja and Southern and Central California to procure alginic acid. To facilitate its harvesting operations,
the company conducted aerial surveys of kelp beds regulated by the California Department of Fish and Game. This visual survey
information was used to direct vessels to mature areas of kelp canopy that had sufficient density for harvesting.
Kelco Company was purchased by Monsanto in 1995 and became part of their Kelco Alginates division. Kelco Alginates merged
with International Specialty Products in 1999 and the new company was named ISP Alginates. The business shut down its San
Diego operations in 2005 citing increased permit, regulation, and energy costs.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists of black and white, color, and infrared aerial photography of kelp beds and coastline from Baja California
to Point Conception. The order and numbering systems utilized in the original survey project binders were preserved where
possible within folders.
Arranged in three series: 1) SLIDES, 2) PHOTOGRAPHS, and 3) SCANNED IMAGES.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Giant kelp -- Aerial photographs
Kelps -- Aerial photographs
Kelco (Firm) -- Archives