Scripps Family Papers on the Founding of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2018
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Business Number: 858-534-2533
Fax Number: 858-534-5950
spcoll@ucsd.edu


Descriptive Summary

Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Scripps Family Papers on the Founding of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Creator: Scripps (Family : San Diego, Calif.)
Identifier/Call Number: SMC 0003
Physical Description: 1.6 Linear feet (4 archives boxes, and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1900-1996 (bulk 1903-1938)
Abstract: A small but important collection of correspondence, records, miscellaneous papers, and photographs that documents the Scripps family's role as a foundational supporter of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, originally known as the Marine Biological Association of San Diego.
Languages: English .

Scope and Content of Collection

The Scripps Family Papers on the Founding of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) is a small but important collection of correspondence, records, miscellaneous papers, and photographs that documents the Scripps family's role as a foundational supporter of SIO (originally known as the Marine Biological Association of San Diego). The early correspondence includes exchanges between Ellen Browning Scripps, E. W. Scripps, and Robert Paine Scripps with the first series of officers of the Institution, including Fred Baker, William E. Ritter, Thomas Wayland Vaughan, Harald Sverdrup, and presidents of the University of California. The collection also includes copies of foundational meeting minutes, documentation from the city of San Diego and the Regents, some financial files, and drafts of the Institution's early by-laws. It includes many letters and other documents essential to an understanding of the founding and early years of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, including perspectives of key personnel and the evolution of the research program.
Arranged in four series: 1) EARLY CORRESPONDENCE, 2) INSTITUTION RECORDS, 3) MISCELLANEOUS, and 4) PHOTOGRAPHS.

Historical Background

In 1903, UC Berkeley biologist William E. Ritter and San Diego physician Fred Baker, with the financial support of philanthropists E. W. Scripps and Ellen Browning Scripps, founded the Marine Biological Association of San Diego. The purpose of the Association was to advance the study of marine sciences. Ritter was appointed as its first director and supervised the activities of temporary research stations in San Diego Bay. In 1905, the Association leased property above La Jolla Cove and established a marine laboratory. Ellen Browning Scripps added a codicil to her will in 1909 bequeathing a gift to the Regents of the University of California for a permanent marine biological station, and construction of the first building on the current campus, the George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory, was completed in 1910. In July of 1912, the Association deeded its property to the Regents and became the Scripps Institution for Biological Research, formally becoming part of the UC System. In 1925, it was renamed the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Members of the Scripps family were important early philanthropists in San Diego; the Scripps family fortune, especially under the generous philanthropy of Ellen Browning Scripps, left a lasting mark on many San Diego science, social, and cultural heritage institutions.
Ellen Browning Scripps (1836-1932) was born in London to a publishing family. Her father, after the deaths of his first two spouses and a failed bookbinding venture, immigrated to the United States in 1844 and settled in Illinois. There, he wed his third wife and had five more children, one of whom, Edward Willis Scripps (E. W. Scripps, 1854-1926) became a newspaper tycoon and founder of the E. W. Scripps Company. E. W. Scripps became close to his older half-sister, Ellen, later in life. After studying science and mathematics at Knox College, Miss Scripps took a job as a schoolteacher in Illinois. After the Civil War, she joined her brother James E. Scripps in Detroit, helping him with his publishing business and the Detroit Evening News. She wrote a daily column and became a shareholder in his company. In the 1880s, E. W. led a failed attempt to seize control of the Scripps Publishing Company; this led to a contentious lawsuit and break with his brother James.
Shortly after 1890, following extensive international travels, E. W. and Ellen purchased land in San Diego and established Miramar Ranch. Ellen eventually moved to La Jolla in 1897 and became a fixture of the community there, involving herself in a wide range of progressive causes and institutions. Miss Scripps had made a personal fortune by investing in E. W. Scripps's growing chain of newspapers in the West; she also received a sizable inheritance from her brother George H. Scripps. Continually interested in science and education, she donated considerable funds to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography from its earliest beginnings in 1903, and generously supported many other San Diego schools, hospitals, nature reserves, museums, and social organizations.

Preferred Citation

Scripps Family Papers on the Founding of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. SMC 3. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Acquisition Information

Acquired 1988, 1992 and 2006.

OFF-SITE STORAGE

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Digital Content

One photograph from this collection has been digitized, and is linked via the container list.

Related Materials

Ellen Browning Scripps Collection, D1981.1. Ella Strong Denison Library, Scripps College, Claremont, California.
Marine Biological Association of San Diego Records, SAC 37. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
William E. Ritter Papers, SMC 4. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
SIO Office of the Director Records, SAC 1. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Thomas Wayland Vaughan Papers, SMC 14. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Provenance

The bulk of these materials were orginally archived within the E. W. Scripps Trust records. They were transferred to the SIO Archives in 1992 due to their direct relevance to the founding of SIO.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Scripps, E. W. (Edward Willis), 1854-1926 -- Correspondence
Scripps, Robert P. (Robert Paine), 1896-1938 -- Correspondence
Ritter, William Emerson, 1856-1944 -- Correspondence
Vaughan, Thomas Wayland, 1870-1952 -- Correspondence
Sverdrup, H. U. (Harald Ulrik), 1888-1857 -- Correspondence
Crandall, W. C. (Wesley Clarence), 1878-1947 -- Correspondence
Scripps, Ellen Browning, 1836-1932 -- Correspondence
Scripps (Family : San Diego, Calif.) -- Archives
Marine Biological Association of San Diego (Calif.) -- History
Scripps Institution for Biological Research -- History
Scripps Institution of Oceanography -- History
Baker, Fred, 1854-1938 -- Correspondence

 

EARLY CORRESPONDENCE

Scope and Content of Series

Series 1) EARLY CORRESPONDENCE: Letters exchanged between Ellen Browning Scripps, E. W. Scripps, and Robert Paine Scripps and the founding officers of SIO, including Fred Baker, William E. Ritter, Thomas Wayland Vaughan, W. C. Crandall, and later, Harald Sverdrup. Correspondents also include city of San Diego officials, University of California President Benjamin Wheeler, and various agents of the Regents. The letters document in extreme detail the Scripps family's early support for the first Biological Station, and its growth into the Scripps Institution for Biological Research, and finally the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The writers of the letters and memoranda discuss financial arrangements and budgets, real estate development, facilities construction, and ship leases and purchases. The letters also document the evolution of the research program and faculty. E. W. Scripps' letters also discuss his newspaper publishing business (including the impact of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake) and his other interests in San Diego.
Box 1, Folder 1-10

Marine Biological Association of San Diego 1903-1912

Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1903
https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb9157509m
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1905
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1906
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1907
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1908
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1909
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1910
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1911
Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1912

Box 1, Folder 11-20

Scripps Institution for Biological Research 1912-1923

Marine Biological Association of San Diego - Early correspondence, 1912
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1913
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1914
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1915
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1916
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1917
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1918-1920
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1921
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1922
Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Early correspondence, 1923

Box 2, Folder 1-3

Scripps Institution for Biological Research 1924-1925

Box 2, Folder 4-16

Scripps Institution of Oceanography 1925-1938

 

INSTITUTION RECORDS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 2) INSITUTION RECORDS: A one-box assortment of foundational records, most in carbon copy, relating to the founding of SIO. Includes board and trustee meeting minutes, agreements between the Scripps family and the Regents of the University of California, drafts of by-laws, articles of incorporation, ship procurement records, and reports.
Box 3, Folder 1

Meeting of the members of the Marine Biological Association - Minutes 1904 May 3

Meeting of the members of the Marine Biological Association - Minutes

Box 3, Folder 2

Agreement of Ellen B. Scripps, Homer H. Peters, and E. W. Scripps to support the San Diego Marine Biological Association 1904 May 3

Agreement of Ellen B. Scripps, Homer H. Peters, and E. W. Scripps to support the San Diego Marine Biological Association

Box 3, Folder 3

Meeting of the trustees of the Marine Biological Association 1904 May 5

Meeting of the trustees of the Marine Biological Association

Box 3, Folder 4

By-laws of the San Diego Marine Biological Association 1904 May 23

By-laws of the San Diego Marine Biological Association

Box 3, Folder 5

City of San Diego resolution no. 2613 1906 January 29

City of San Diego resolution no. 2613

Box 3, Folder 6

Board of Regents - Committee on the Marine Biological Laboratory at San Diego 1906 February 13

Board of Regents - Committee on the Marine Biological Laboratory at San Diego

Box 3, Folder 7

Financial report 1906 November 27

Financial report

Box 3, Folder 8

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Marine Biological Association 1908 July 14

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Marine Biological Association

Box 3, Folder 9

Transfer of the Marine Biological Association to the Regents of the University of California 1912 February

Transfer of the Marine Biological Association to the Regents of the University of California

Box 3, Folder 10

By-laws of the Scripps Institution for Biological Research 1912 February 16

By-laws of the Scripps Institution for Biological Research

Box 3, Folder 11

Incorporation of the Marine Biological Association 1914 April 6

Incorporation of the Marine Biological Association

Box 3, Folder 12

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Minutes 1915-1916

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Scripps Institution for Biological Research - Minutes

Box 3, Folder 13

Bill of sale for Ellen Browning 1918 September 11

Bill of sale for Ellen Browning

Box 3, Folder 14

SIO Advisory Board - Founding 1926

SIO Advisory Board - Founding

Box 3, Folder 15

SIO Advisory Board - Meeting minutes 1927

SIO Advisory Board - Meeting minutes

Box 3, Folder 16-17

SIO Advisory Board - Meeting minutes 1928-1929, 1932

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Advisory Board - Meeting minutes, 1928
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Advisory Board - Meeting minutes, 1929-1932

Box 3, Folder 18

SIO budget 1927-1928

Scripps Institution of Oceanography budget documents, 1927-1928

Box 3, Folder 19-20

R/V Scripps - Procurement and outfitting 1927-1934

Box 3, Folder 21

Seaplane unit for oceanographic research - Report submitted by H. L. Kirby 1931

General note

Signed by McEwen, Allen, Moberg, Fox, Gorton, and Gee.
Box 3, Folder 22

Donation vouchers and receipts 1932-1936

Box 3, Folder 23

Contributions by Robert P. Scripps to SIO - Ledgers ca. 1938

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 3) MISCELLANEOUS: Assorted papers and letters regarding the Scripps family generally, and their ongoing relationship to SIO. Includes sketches of Scripps family genealogies, photocopies of clippings about the early Marine Biological Association and its successor Institution, historical summaries, and fundraising correspondence between SIO and the officer of the E. W. Scripps Trust regarding financial donations to support new buildings and renovations on campus.
Box 3, Folder 24

Notes on Scripps family genealogy and trees undated

Box 3, Folder 25

Clippings (photocopies) ca. 1914-1937

Oversize FB-560, Folder 5

Clippings (originals) ca. 1905

Box 3, Folder 26

Conference on the work of the Scripps Institution - Remarks by W. Ritter and Joseph Le Conte (satire/humor) 1921

Conference on the work of the Scripps Institution - Remarks by W. Ritter and Joseph Le Conte (satire/humor)

General note

Satirical notes from an imagined "conference" at which the attendees are luminaries such as Charles Darwin, William Wordsworth, Dante, etc. lounging near the pier.
Box 3, Folder 27

Time magazine with Miss Ellen Scripps on the cover 1926 February 22

Box 3, Folder 28

Presentation and remarks on acceptance of Dr. Ritter portrait by President W. W. Campbell and T. Wayland Vaughan 1927

Box 4, Folder 1

Davis, B. M. - An hour's cruise with E. W. Scripps 1936

Box 4, Folder 2

Historical summaries of SIO 1948-1973

Box 4, Folder 3

"The Scripps are very much with us: The family today," by Mary Cowan Richard 1954

Box 4, Folder 4

Requests to Edward W. Scripps Trust to support SIO 1976-1977

Box 4, Folder 5

Old Scripps Building restoration fund 1978-1979

Box 4, Folder 6

Requests to Edward W. Scripps Trust to support new Aquarium 1985-1988

Box 4, Folder 7

Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum ground breaking 1989

General note

Includes photographs of Bill Scripps, Sam Scripps, and Don Wilkie.
Box 4, Folder 8

Correspondence with E. W. Scripps Trust re: Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier ground breaking 1987-1989

General note

Includes contact sheets of photographs taken at the event.
 

SCRIPPS FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 4) PHOTOGRAPHS: A small collection of photographic prints and negatives of members of the Scripps family, some of which are originals (others are copy prints).
Box 4, Folder 9

Ellen Browning Scripps (copy prints) ca. 1912-1932

Box 4, Folder 10

Edward W. Scripps (prints and negatives)

 

Portrait of E. W. Scripps as a young man ca. 1903

Portrait of E. W. Scripps as a young man: ca. 1903

Box 4, Folder 11

Miramar Ranch, home of Edward W. Scripps ca. 1909

Box 4, Folder 12-13

Robert Paine Scripps (prints and negatives)

Box 4, Folder 14

Edward W. "Ted" Scripps (prints and negatives)

Box 4, Folder 15

Scripps family (prints and negatives) 1900-1908, 1996

Box 4, Folder 16

Bee Scripps at Aquarium-Museum 1953

Box 4, Folder 17

George Scripps 1862-1987