Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project (MOPREP) Records, 1884-2011, bulk 1999-2011

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Summary

Creators:
Chapman, Ron
Abstract:
This record group documents the activities of the Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project and includes adminstrative records, organizational documents, publicity materials, photographs, and educational materials about growing and preserving mission olive trees.
Extent:
2 boxes and 1 Scrapbook
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project Records RG-04, Presidio Research Center, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Santa Barbara, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This record group documents the activities of the Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project. The records are organized into 3 series. Adminstrative Records and Activities contains organizational documents, publicity materials, educational materials, and background materials on the mission olive.

Central to the activities of the organization was the DNA testing of trees at several California missions. Preservation and Restoration Projects documents the preservation of original trees as well as new planting of clones at various sites. The Photographs series consists of five photo albums documenting the organization's activities.

Biographical / historical:

The Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project (MOPREP) was established in 1998 to preserve historical knowledge and provide horticultural expertise to the California missions about their heritage olive trees. Its goals were to preserve a cultural link to the California Mission olive tree for the purpose of general public education and enjoyment of the historical significance, culinary heritage, and health benefits of the Mission Olive tree and its oil.

MOPREP encouraged missions statewide to plant, prune and harvest their olives, to educate the public on how crucial olive oil was in daily mission life and to create a living link to California's culinary history.

MOPREP volunteers coordinated horticultural care, replanting, and olive harvests for oil making from olive trees located at the 21 California missions. They researched the history of the California Mission olive trees, locating and authenticating original groves and artifacts. Their displays educated mission visitors on the history, culinary heritage, health benefits and uses of olive oil in mission life.

MOPREP retired as an organization in December 2011 and its project manager, Ron Chapman, turned the records over to the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in four series:

Series 1. MOPREP Administrative Records and Activities, 1999 -2007

Series 2. Preservation and Restoration Projects, 2005-2011

Series 3. Photographs, 2001-2011

Series 4. Media Coverage, 1884-2011

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Olive
Olive oil
Missions--California

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to researchers.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Director for Historical Resources. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project Records RG-04, Presidio Research Center, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Santa Barbara, California.

Location of this collection:
215 East Canon Perdido St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101, US
Contact:
(805) 961-5369
dez@sbthp.org
Website