Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 21.02 Linear Feet (18 containers)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], MS0068, Fairytale Town Records, Center for Sacramento History.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection documents the creation and management of Fairytale Town, with material dating from its development in 1955 through 2019. It includes histories of the park and a scrapbook; organizational documents; board agendas, minutes, meeting notes, and correspondence; financial and fundraising records; program records; accident and security reports; facility maintenance and improvement records; staffing records; newsletters and marketing materials; and sample illustrations and general artwork.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Fairytale Town is a 3.5 acre children's storybook park that opened in Sacramento's William Land Park in 1959. The park includes play sets based on children's stories, gardens, farm animals, performance stages, and special programs and events.
The idea for Fairytale Town came from members of the Junior League of Sacramento. In September of 1955, the organization proposed the project to the City of Sacramento, with the plan that after project completion, the city would assume responsibility for the maintenance and operations of the park. The 15-member Friends of Fairytale Town Inc. advisory board was created in May 1956 to develop and fundraise for the project.
At first, East Portal Park was suggested for the site, but later the suggested location was moved to William Land Park. Ideas for the original development themes came from storybook parks all over the state, such as Children's Fairyland in Oakland, Santa's Village in Santa Cruz, and Disneyland in Anaheim. Scale models of possible sets were constructed by Georgiana Else and Richard Mier and construction drawings of the sets were done by the firm of Rickey and Brooks. The firm of John F. Otto handled the actual construction of the sets.
Fairytale Town opened on August 29, 1959, with 16 original sets, including King Arthur's Castle, the Crooked Mile, and the Cheese Stands Alone. As planned, once the park was complete, the City of Sacramento took over operations and maintenance.
In 1997, the City and Friends of Fairytale Town created a partnership to transfer operations to the board. Fairytale Town has since operated as a nonprofit headed by Friends of Fairytale Town, with primarily public funding.
Since 2009, Fairytale Town has undergone several improvements and expansions. The park welcomes more than 230,000 people annually.
- Acquisition information:
- The collection was transferred by Fairytale Town to the Center for Sacramento History. Accession numbers include 1985/129, 2008/028, 2012/022, 2013/017, 2016/033, 2018/008, and 2020/003.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Ruth Craft, 2022, and Taliyah Shaver, 2024.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged into 8 series:
- Series 1. Organizational Documents and Histories
- Series 2. Board Records
- Series 3. Financial Records
- Series 4. Programs
- Series 5. Facilities
- Series 6. Personnel
- Series 7. Communications and Promotion
- Series 8. Art and Design
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted in writing to the archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], MS0068, Fairytale Town Records, Center for Sacramento History.
- Location of this collection:
-
551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.Sacramento, CA 95811, US
- Contact:
- (916) 808-7072