The Scripps Institution of Oceanography Business Manager was responsible for the oversight of all funding, the development of the campus grounds, and served as the Institution's liaison with academic, state, government, and private supporting entities. The Office of the Director business records document the early SIO fiscal history from 1903-1947.

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. Established as a seaside research laboratory for the University of California's Department of Zoology, 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. He was responsible for directing all of the institution's scientific and administrative work, and for obtaining the material, personnel, and financial support that made research possible.

9 Linear feet (4 archives boxes, 13 flat boxes, and 1 oversize folder)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

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