Scope and Contents
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Accruals and Additions
Preferred Citation
Historical Note
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: San Diego High School Collection
Creator:
San Diego High School
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0212
Physical Description:
2.50 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1901-1982
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Contents
The
San Diego High School Collection dates from 1901-1982. It consists mostly of paper records. Included in this collection are copies of the school's early yearbooks,
The Russ Annual, and its successor,
The Gray Castle as well as copies of the school's Homecoming programs from the 1920s to the early 1980s. Also included are two pieces of
rock from the Old Gray Castle building dated 1906-1976 mounted on wood pedestals to celebrate the school's 70th Anniversary.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
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.
Accruals and Additions
1983-006, 1989-009, 2017
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, folder title, box number, San Diego High School Collection, Special Collections and University Archives,
San Diego State University Library.
Historical Note
San Diego High School began as the Russ School in 1882. Named for the founder of a local lumber firm, Joseph Russ donated
all of the initial lumber used to build the school. The original building, designed by the Stewart Brothers and built by Brown
and Stevens, was two stories tall and had eight classrooms. The school opened on August 14, 1882 as a grammar school with
an initial enrollment of 308 students—32 more than they had chairs for.
In 1893, the school was given over completely to high school classes. As the city's population continued to grow and the school
became over crowded, architect F.S. Allen was commissioned to design a new building. His design would come to be known as
the "Castle" due to the gray stone used to complete the castle-like structure. The new school, now officially known as San
Diego High School, was dedicated on April 13, 1907. The old Russ building was moved to the canyon behind the new school when,
due to many years of neglect, it burned to the ground in 1911.
The Castle would continue to expand over the years, adding a new addition in 1912, a stadium in 1915 and an auditorium in
1926. However, due to the passage of the Field Act in the 1960s, all school buildings constructed prior to 1933 had to be
demolished. In 1970, the firm of George Wheeler and Associates was contracted to design the new San Diego High School. The
new school was completed and occupied in September of 1977.