Guide to the Jerry MacMullen Collection MS 242
Finding aid prepared by Katrina White
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
San Diego History Center Document Collection
April 27, 2012
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
Title: Jerry MacMullen Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 242
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1956-1974
Abstract: This collection contains volumes of Jerry MacMullen’s weekly column, “The Southwest Corner,” published in the San Diego Union.
creator:
MacMullen, Jerry
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Jerry MacMullen Collection, MS 242, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Collection processed by Katrina White on April 27, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Gerald (“Jerry”) F. MacMullen was born in 1898 in San Francisco. His family moved to San Diego in 1899 and he grew up in the
city, only leaving to attend college at UC Berkeley. He returned to San Diego in 1921 where he established his career as a
newspaperman, author, historian and artist. MacMullen first worked at the Evening Tribune, transferring to the San Diego Union
in 1928 where he worked as a reporter until the beginning of World War II. He joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a commander
for Naval Intelligence for four years until the close of the war, at which time he returned to newspaper work in December
of 1945. A long-time member of the Maritime Research Society, MacMullen served as its president in 1948. He also published
several books including
Paddle Wheel Days in California, as well as two books he co-wrote with Jack McNairn,
Ships of the Redwood Coast and
Star of India: Log of an Iron Ship. MacMullen played an active role in the restoration of the Star of India. He served as the director of the Serra Historical
Museum in Presidio Park for ten years, between 1956 and 1966. It was during this same period that MacMullen began writing
a weekly column for the Union called “The Southwest Corner,” which he continued to write into the mid-1970s. Published in
the Sunday edition, his articles presented historical sketches related to the history of San Diego. MacMullen was married
to Roberta MacMullen and resided in Coronado until his death in 1981.
The collection is arranged chronologically.
This collection contains transcriptions of Jerry MacMullen’s weekly San Diego Union column titled “The Southwest Corner.”
They present historical sketches related to the early days of San Diego written in a humorous manner. The articles are contained
in 19 volumes organized by year, dating from 1956 to 1974. Each volume between 1957 and 1973 contains every column published
in that corresponding year. The 1956 volume includes articles published from May 1956 forward, and the 1974 volume is missing
more than half of that year’s articles. Volumes from 1956-1971 include a table of contents and articles titles, whereas volumes
from 1972-1974 do not include a table of contents or titles for the articles.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 680910B.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Capron, John G.
Dashaway Social Club.
King, Leroy A.
MacMullen, Jerry
Maritime Research Society.
Pacific Pioneer Yacht Club.
San Diego Union Company.
Smith, Walter Gifford
Spreckels, John Diedrich, b. 1853
Star of India (Ship).
Cedros Island (Mexico)
Coronado (Calif.)
Filibusters (Political science)
Indians of North America
Journalists
Newspapers Sections, columns, etc.
Presidio Park
Reporters and reporting
San Diego (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
San Nicolas Island (Calif.)
Smallpox
Stingaree District (San Diego, Calif.)
Warner's Ranch (Calif.)
World War, 1914-1918
Box-folder 1:1
Box-folder 1:2
Box-folder 1:3
Box-folder 1:4
Box-folder 1:5
Box-folder 1:6
Box-folder 1:7
Box-folder 2:1
Box-folder 2:2
Box-folder 3:2
Box-folder 2:4
Box-folder 2:5
Box-folder 2:6
Box-folder 3:1
Box-folder 3:2
Box-folder 3:3
Box-folder 3:4
"The Southwest Corner, 1972, by Jerry MacMullen, Volume XVII" (51 articles), 1972 January 2-December 31
Box-folder 3:5
"The Southwest Corner, 1973, by Jerry MacMullen, Vol 18" (49 articles), 1973 January 2-December 30
Box-folder 3:6
"The Southwest Corner, 1974, by Jerry MacMullen, Volume XVIII" (21 articles), 1974 January 6-December 22