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Guide to Rest Haven Preventorium for Children Papers
MS 6
MS 6
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Table of contents
Title: Rest Haven Preventorium for Children Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 6
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
11.25 Linear feet
(12 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1909-1971
Abstract: This collection contains materials related to Rest Haven Preventorium and its administrative processes from 1910 through 1971.
creator:
Mead, Florence
Biographical / Historical Notes
In 1907, the San Diego County Medical Society voted to cooperate with a California Tuberculosis Association in forming a local
organization for combating the threat of tuberculosis. This San Diego Tuberculosis Association ( San Diego Society for the
Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis) was incorporated in 1910. In its early years the Association administered several programs
in its local fight against the “White Plague”, including the establishment of an open-air sanatorium in the Lemon Villa area
and a cooperative program with the Army during the first World War for treatment of ailing servicemen stationed locally. The
open-air camp, called Rest Haven Preventorium, became the focus of the Association’s activities beginning in the 1920s, as
emphasis shifted from adult patients to the exclusive treatment of children. Rest Haven maintained its commitment to children
through the expansion of the camp, annual Christmas Seal drives, and charity events. In the early 1950s Rest Haven relinquished
operation of its facilities and became a foundation dedicated to the welfare of San Diego’s children.
This collection contains materials related to Rest Haven Preventorium and its administrative processes from 1910 through 1971.
Materials include correspondence, organizational records, meeting minutes, reports and proposals, financial reports and statements,
histories, miscellaneous ephemera and newspaper clippings and scrapbooks. There are materials dating from the Associations
beginnings as well as the period of Rest Haven’s greatest growth before the Second World War. Included in the collection is
the transcript of a lawsuit with the City of East San Diego over Rest Haven’s location and materials related to the camp’s
involvement in the treatment of local servicemen during World War I. There is also material related to the yearly Christmas
Seal drives during the 1920s and 1930s and the many social events organized for charity. Later records are much less detailed
and reflect Rest Haven’s financial role as a foundation. The collection as a whole offers insight into social and medical
welfare programs during the early 20th century in San Diego.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The scrapbooks are in poor condition with loose pages and newspaper clippings that are discolored and fragile. Care should
be taken when handling these items. (May 2013)
Rest Haven Preventorium for Children Records, MS 6, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Collection processed by Jennifer Vanoni on May 31, 2013.
The collection is arranged by series:
Series I: Administrative Records
Series II: Scrapbooks
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 830601A.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Brust, Mina
Mead, Francis
San Diego County Medical Society (San Diego County, Calif.).
San Diego Tuberculosis Association.
Charity organization
Children -- Health and welfare
Children -- Institutional care
Medical treatment
Tuberculosis
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945