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Santa Barbara Legacy Reel Audio Tape Collection
AR.2022.003  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
The Santa Barbara Legacy Reel Audio Tapes Collection contains the earliest recordings of people and events of mid-20th century Santa Barbara historic preservation. From the 1950s into the 1970s, there was a concerted effort at the local, county, and state levels to raise awareness of Santa Barbara's storied past. During this period the Historical Society, as the Museum was then known, began a publications program, established a decade-long presence at the Santa Barbara Mission, and built a permanent museum in the heart of downtown. Through the efforts of its leaders, the historic El Pueblo Viejo district was established along with a spin-off organization that would reconstruct the Presidio, Santa Barbara's birthplace. This collection of reel-to-reel tapes documents many of the key events of this golden era of historic preservation in Santa Barbara.
Background
The Santa Barbara Historical Society was formed in October 1932 to foster research and study of the history of the city and county of Santa Barbara. In 1943, the Society became a California non-profit corporation with exhibit and storage space in the tower room of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. In the 1950s the Franciscans offered the Society office and exhibition space at the Santa Barbara Mission. It was during this period that curator W. Edwin Gledhill began documenting the Society's preservation efforts by means of audio recordings. The capturing of memories on reel-to-reel magnetic tape continued into the 1970s until others took over the Society's recording efforts using the newer and more compact technology of audio cassettes.
Extent
98 Reels in 3 record storage boxes
Restrictions
Property rights reside with the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head Archivist of the Gledhill Library.
Availability
Collection is open for research.