The IRSC Collection documents the geographic border region of Mexico and the United States, with special emphasis on the area between Baja California and California, and also extends to border regions around the world.  It dates from approximately 1959 to 2004, with the bulk of documents generated during the1980s and 1990s. Most of the collection was formed as a result of funded research on specific projects. Director Paul Ganster contributed some materials he brought with him from the University of California at Los Angeles, and some significant additional materials from his personal collection. The IRSC Collection is particularly strong in its coverage of environmental issues ranging from environmentally sound industry to fisheries and marine life, and economic issues ranging from agriculture and industry to tourism.  The myriad factors influencing these sectors, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, peso devaluation, Mexican labor policies, and United States immigration policies are also documented in the collection.  Less numerous is documentation of language, culture, and recreation. Organizations represented in the collection include but are not limited to those of the Border Trade Alliance, the International History Fair, the San Diego Association of Governments, the Border Governors Conference, the Border XXI process, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Commission of the Californias, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the United States Commission for Border Development and Friendship (US-CODAF).

The Institute for the Regional Studies of the Californias (IRSC) is located at San Diego State University (SDSU). Preceded by the California Border Area Research Group, the IRSC was established in 1983 by Norris Clement and Miguel Angel Cardenas who served as interim co-directors while a national search for a director was conducted. In 1984, Paul Ganster was hired as IRSC director. Clement and Cardenas continued as associate directors for some time thereafter. Subsequent years saw Joe Nalven and Steve Jenner working at the IRSC as associate directors. Bertha Hernández is Administrative Coordinator and Associate Editor.

136.77 Linear Feet

The copyright interests in some of these materials have been transferred to or belong to San Diego State University. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections means that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. Permissions is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish.  Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Some materials in this collection are sealed until June 1, 2017.  All other materials are open to research.