California World Progress Exposition/Fiesta del Pacifico Collection, 1949 -1960
Collection context
Summary
Background
- Scope and content:
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The Fiesta del Pacifico was a short lived civic festival presented in Balboa Park and adjacent communities. Seeking to create a nationally significant exposition, it was initiated by the Chamber of Commerce in 1949, after a pitch from veteran festival promoter and publicist Clyde Vandeberg. The organization was renamed and reincorporated as the California World Progress Exposition (CWPE) in 1950. Originally planned for 1953, it was derailed by the war in Korea. In 1955 it was again reorganized as the Fiesta del Pacifico. The first of the festivals occurred in 1956, and subsequently in 1957 and 1958. By 1959, with lessening interest by the subscribers and dropping numbers of attendees, the organization and the festival folded. The collection consists mainly of minutes from the General and Executive Board of Directors, documents, contracts, and correspondence amongst supporters. The minutes document the relentless quest for money and by the mid 1950’s there was a shift in fund-raising activities, from the early expectation of federal funding and significant donations from large industry and finance, to a massive list of small local subscribers from the business community. It also evolved from an international and community celebration to one focused on entertainment, tourism and the development of Mission Bay as an aquatic sports resource.
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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San Diego Public Library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claims of the copyright holder. Permission to copy or publish any portion of San Diego Public Library's collection must be given by the San Diego Public Library.
- Preferred citation:
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California World Progress Exposition/Fiesta del Pacifico Collection. San Diego Public Library
- Location of this collection:
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330 Park Blvd.San Diego, CA 92101, US
- Contact:
- (619) 238-6668