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California Fairs Collection
MS 009  
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Collection location Contact California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo::Special Collections and Archives
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Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Provenance
  • Restrictions on Access
  • Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
  • Preferred Citation
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content Note
  • Indexing Terms
  • Related Material

    • Descriptive Summary

    Title: California Fairs next hit Collection,
    Date (inclusive): 1856-1997
    Date (bulk): (1945-1982 bulk)
    Collection number: MS 009
    Creator: Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocations and Classification, and Louis S. Merrill, former director of the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association
    Extent: 94 boxes, one flat file
    Languages:

    English
    Repository: Special Collections, Robert E. Kennedy Library
    California Polytechnic State University
    San Luis Obispo, California 93407
    Abstract: The Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, the California Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocation and Classification, and Louis S. Merrill, former director of the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association gave the California previous hit Fairs next hit Collection, one of the major archival collections on previous hit fairs next hit and previous hit fairs next hit management in the Western United States, to Cal Poly in 1982. In addition to extensive material on the management of previous hit fairs next hit in California, the collection also contains information on previous hit fairs next hit in other Western states, as well as foreign previous hit fairs next hit and world previous hit fairs next hit . The previous hit Fairs next hit Collection contains archival and printed material created in three separate offices: Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, a non-profit trade association; Division of previous hit Fairs next hit and Expositions, an agency of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; and the Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocations and Classification, a legislative group comprised of seven senators and seven assembly members. In addition, material collected through the years by Louis S. Merrill, director of Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association from 1945-1972, has been added to the collection. An additional gift was made in 1999.

    Provenance

    Donated by the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association in 1982 and 1999, this collection housed in and administered by Special Collections at Cal Poly.

    Restrictions on Access

    Collection is open to researchers by appointment. For more information on visiting, access policies, and reproduction requests, please visit our Reference Services page online at http://lib.calpoly.edu/search-and-find/collections-and-archives/reference-services/.

    Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

    Digital copies are provided to researchers for the purpose of study, research, and personal use only, unless otherwise specified in writing. Materials that are the property of Cal Poly Special Collections and Archives require written permission prior to publication. No complete collection may be reproduced.
    For print and online publication, please visit our Reproduction Services page online at http://lib.calpoly.edu/support/sca-policies/reproduction/. Special Collections and Archives reserves the right to review all reproduction requests and to withhold permission if scanning would endanger the material, would violate copyright law, or would violate institutional restrictions.

    Preferred Citation

    California previous hit Fairs next hit Collection, Special Collections, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

    Biography

    Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association
    The beginning of Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association is usually ascribed to a post-World War I meeting at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco where a livestock circuit plan was agreed upon to "help the breeders and previous hit fairs next hit " across the state. Records of Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association activity begin in 1933, although there are some financial summaries going back to the early 1920s. Annual meetings began in 1939 but were suspended during World War II.
    In California previous hit fair next hit history, 1933 is an important year because of the passage by the California voters of the Horse Racing Act, which allowed pari-mutuel betting with a portion of the revenues received by the state to be used for the support of agricultural previous hit fairs next hit . From 1859 until 1934, previous hit fairs next hit had been partially financed from the state's General Fund. Only eight previous hit fairs next hit were in operation in 1933. By 1946 there were seventy-six.
    In 1945 the Association was incorporated, a central office was established, and Louis S. Merrill, former Assistant Manager of the Fresno District previous hit Fair next hit , was appointed General Manager.
    For twenty-seven years Merrill was the chief executive officer of the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association. (See the previous hit Fair next hit Dealer periodical for an accounting of his many accomplishments, especially the June/July 1972 issue.) Most notable among his contributions are the regular publication of a previous hit fairs next hit trade journal as well as the annual Date List, the area concept of organization, the development of the judges' conference, the beginning of a lobbying group called Californians for previous hit Fairs next hit , the Industry Purchase Plan, the previous hit fair next hit management course at Cal Poly, the alliance with the vocational education program, and the continuing effective influence on the legislature in Sacramento.
    The following people succeeded Merrill: William Clayton, 1972-1975; Robert R. Stern, 1975-1980; John J. Fitzpatrick, 1981-1983; and Kim Myrman, 1984-present. Early important staff members include: Rose E. Links, Secretary-Treasurer, 1943-1962; Joe Blenkle, Program and Service Division, 19 -1978; and Bonnie Scotland Merrill, Secretary, 1952-1973. In 1981 Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association had 1,215 members including 887 previous hit fair next hit managers and directors, and 328 corporate concessionaires or service members.
    Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association membership categories include:
    Active Members: Individual previous hit fairs next hit organized under provisions of the state
    Associate Members: previous hit Fairs next hit organized and located outside of California
    Service Members: Business individuals or organizations which provide supplies, services and/or entertainment for previous hit fairs next hit
    Affiliate Members: Horse breeding associations, community previous hit fairs next hit , privately owned previous hit fairs next hit , rodeos, etc.
    Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocation and Classification
    This committee was established in 1959 by an amendment to Section 92.7 of the State Agricultural Code. At that time, it replaced a previous hit fairs next hit classification committee that had been created in 1955 and whose membership was made up of elected previous hit fair next hit officials and representatives of the division of previous hit Fairs next hit and Exposition and the Department of Finance. Since 1959, it has been composed of seven senators and seven members of the assembly. Its first chair was Senator Edwin J. Regan, 1959-1973, followed by Assembly Member Pauline L. Davis, 1973-1977. Brian L. Davie has served as chief consultant since 1971.
    The Committee has been given the authority by law to "investigate, study and analyze any and all facts relating to the operation and financing of (state-supported) previous hit fairs next hit ." It holds hearings regularly throughout the state and issues reports.
    Division of previous hit Fairs next hit and Exposition
    Established under the Department of Agriculture, this Division was transferred to the Department of Finance in the 1930s. In 1965, it became an agency of the Department of Food and Agriculture. The Division is responsible for the preparation of the annual Master Premium List, a manual prescribed by law "to assist in administering the offering and payment of awards" for each category of competition at state-supported previous hit fairs next hit , from beef cattle to vegetables to domestic science.
    A.E. Snider, Thomas E. Blair, Ray Harrington, George J. Gomes, and John Fitzpatrick have provided leadership of the Division through the years. Harrington is best remembered as the person who did the research on the Horse Racing Act of 1933, which made the present system of previous hit fairs next hit possible.
    The division deals with the administration of state-supported previous hit fairs next hit , except the California State previous hit Fair next hit , now called CAL EXPO, which in the early 1960s was moved to the Department of Parks and Recreation.
    Sources
    previous hit Fair next hit Dealer , June/July 1972

    Scope and Content Note

    The Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, the California Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocation and Classification, and Louis S. Merrill, former director of the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association gave the California previous hit Fairs next hit Collection, one of the major archival collections on previous hit fairs next hit and previous hit fairs next hit management in the Western United States, to Cal Poly in 1982.
    The material was originally collected by Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association as the previous hit Fair next hit Industry Library Project "to centralize all the printed information relating to the previous hit fair next hit industry." Material was solicited from individual previous hit fairs next hit and persons involved in previous hit fairs next hit . As the project grew, it became clear that the material would benefit students as well as previous hit fair next hit industry personnel if it were housed in the library at Cal Poly State University. The materials were transferred to the Special Collections Department in July of 1982.
    In September of 1984, archival consultants Lynn A. Bonfield and Karen R. Lewis were hired to process the collection and prepare a descriptive guide according to archival standards. Bonfield and Lewis appraised, arranged, and described the 108 records transfer boxes of archival and manuscript material, publications, photographs, audio recordings, films, and artifacts. By eliminating duplicates and material not directly related to previous hit fairs next hit as well as by transferring complete sets of serials and examples of fine printing about the various world previous hit fairs next hit to the book stacks in Special Collections, the collection was reduced to 88 boxes (129 linear feet) and one flat file. An additional gift in 1999 brought the collection to 95 boxes total.
    When the material was originally gathered by Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, no notice was given to provenance of the records so it was unclear from which office a folder originated. As well, records had not been kept in the order in which the creating office filed them. Before preparing this descriptive guide, the archival consultants attempted to determine the office of origin of the records and to recreate the filing system within each of these offices.
    Particularly difficult was the material donated by Louis S. Merrill, which was not designated as such. Merrill material dating before 1973 has been incorporated into Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association files since for the most part it was created in his role as head of that organization.
    It is expected that the users of the collection will include students in the previous hit fair next hit management course at Cal Poly as well as staff members of the agencies promoting previous hit fairs next hit and previous hit fair next hit personnel. Subjects which are strong in the collection include: history of previous hit fairs next hit in California and the West, the California legislative process, changes in emphasis of previous hit fairs next hit on agriculture and technology, horse racing and betting, promotion of vocational education through previous hit fairs next hit , the placement of previous hit fair next hit management courses within the university system, the use of public relations and marketing in administering a state-wide trade association, the history of concessions and entertainment, changes in public opinion toward the treatment of animals, previous hit fair next hit -site ecology, and youth activities like 4H. This list identifies some of the obvious research areas; many more exist.
    The previous hit Fairs next hit Collection is divided into eight series:
    Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association
    Division of previous hit Fairs next hit and Expositions
    Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocation and Classification
    Printed Materials
    Visual Media
    Audio Media
    Artifacts
    Additional Donations
    The archives of the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association is housed in 33 boxes with the most extensive portion being subseries 1, Office Files, 1940-1982, containing directors' files, financial records, subject folders and correspondence. Subseries 5, Mailings, 1945-1966, contains a copy of every mass mailing from the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association central office including press releases, memos and announcements. Copies of all Assembly and Senate bills relating to previous hit fairs next hit are found in subseries 06, which includes correspondence and position papers as well. There are four boxes for the Division of previous hit Fairs next hit and Expositions, mainly office files and copies of the annual Master Premium List from 1938 through 1980.
    Thirteen boxes contain material from the Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocation and Classification including hearing transcripts from 1954-1982. There are nine boxes of printed material including serials and publications from the International Association of previous hit Fairs next hit and Expositions, the Canadian previous hit fair next hit associations, and reports from California executive and legislative agencies. Printed materials relating to horse racing, Cal Expo and vocational education have been grouped together in each subject.
    Twenty-two boxes contain visual media material, mainly prints and slides relating to California previous hit fairs next hit . There are three boxes each of audio media and material culture. The audio media are mainly recordings of hearings of the Joint Committee and annual meetings of Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association. Items in the material culture files include posters, bumper stickers, buttons, ribbons and other memorabilia.
    An oral history interview with Louis S. Merrill was completed in the fall of 1985. The transcripts of these interviews are also housed in Special Collections at Cal Poly.
    Where possible, the provenance, or original organization, of the papers has been preserved. However, in order to simplify access to the collection for researchers, some materials in specific formats and topics were reorganized and refoldered to more accurately reflect their contents.

    The Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association partially funded the arrangement and description of this collection.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

    Subjects

    Merrill, Louis Strong -- Correspondence.
    Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association.
    Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association -- Correspondence.
    California. Division of previous hit Fairs next hit and Expositions.
    California. Legislature. Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocation and Classification.
    California State previous hit Fair next hit and Exposition.
    Agricultural exhibitions -- California.
    Agricultural exhibitions -- Economic aspects -- California.
    Agricultural exhibitions -- California -- Finance.
    previous hit Fairs next hit -- California.
    previous hit Fairs next hit -- West (U.S.)
    Exhibitions.
    Agricultural education -- California.
    Agriculture -- Study and teaching -- California.
    Horses -- Breeding -- California.
    Horse racing -- California.
    Printed ephemera -- California.
    Merrill, Louis Strong.
    McPhee, Julian A.
    California. Division of previous hit Fairs next hit and Expositions.
    California. Legislature. Joint Committee on previous hit Fairs next hit Allocation and Classification.

    Genre and Forms of Materials

    Printed material
    Visual materials
    Audio materials

    Related Material

    Materials Cataloged Separately
    The following titles have been cataloged with MARC records and transferred into the book stacks of Special Collections:
    Amusement Business. New York: BPI, 1961-
    College of previous hit Fairs next hit . previous hit Fair next hit Management. Sacramento: Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, 1946.
    previous hit Fair next hit Dealer . Sacramento: Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, 1945-1999.
    Forster, G.W., and Marc C. Leager. Elements of Agricultural Economics. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1950.
    Golden, Hal, and Kitty Hanson. The Techniques of Working with the Working Press. Dobbs Ferry [N.Y.]: Oceana, 1962.
    Merrill, Louis Strong. Interview with Gabrielle Morris. 1985. A Lifetime at the previous hit Fair next hit : California Local, District, and State previous hit Fairs next hit , 1920-1972 . Oral history ms. Regional Oral History Office, Bancroft Library, U of California, Berkeley, 1987.
    Security Pacific National Bank. The Financial and Economic Impact of the California previous hit Fair next hit Industry . 1975. Los Angeles: Dept. of Economic Research, Security Pacific National Bank, 1982. [Sponsored by the Western previous hit Fairs next hit Assoc.]
    Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association Update . Sacramento: Western previous hit Fairs next hit Association, 1985-1997.
    1045 Search hits
    Clear search hits
    Container List
    1. Western Fairs Association Records
    A. Office Files, [68 hits]
    B. Certified Public Accountant Statements,
    C. Judges' Conferences, [3 hits]
    D. Annual Meetings, [48 hits]
    E. Mailings, [1 hit]
    F. Assembly and Senate Bills, [4 hits]
    G. California Fairs, [95 hits]
    H. Out-of-State Fairs and Canadian Fairs, [52 hits]
    I. Foreign Fairs, [8 hits]
    J. World Fairs, [10 hits]
    K. Blue Books, [1 hit]
    L. Press Kits,
    M. Personnel Biographies, [2 hits]
    N. Horse Racing, [4 hits]
    O. Western Fairs Association Serials, [41 hits]
    2. Division of Fairs and Expositions Records
    A. Office Files, [7 hits]
    A. Office Files, Oversized, [4 hits]
    B. Audits, [1 hit]
    C. Master Premium Lists, [1 hit]
    3. Joint Committee of Fairs Allocation and Classification Records
    A. Office Files, [22 hits]
    B. Transcripts of Hearings, [2 hits]
    C. County Fairs, [42 hits]
    D. District Agricultural Association (DAA) Fairs, [53 hits]
    E. Horse Racing, [13 hits]
    F. Cal Expo, [7 hits]
    G. Vocational Education,
    4. Printed Materials
    A. Serials,
    B. Publications of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (International Association of Fairs and Expositions), [7 hits]
    C. Publications of the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification, [10 hits]
    D. Publications of Senate, Assembly, and Other Legislative Groups, [10 hits]
    E. Publications of the California State Executive Branch, [7 hits]
    F. Publications Relating to Cal Expo, [1 hit]
    G. Publications by Merrill Associates, [9 hits]
    H. Publications Relating to Vocational Education, [1 hit]
    I. Publications Relating to Horse Racing, [3 hits]
    J. Publications of Canadian Associations Relating to Fairs, [5 hits]
    K. Publications by Miscellaneous Organizations, [7 hits]
    L. Oversized Miscellaneous Publications, [7 hits]
    M. Publications from Vendors,
    5. Visual Media
    A. Photographic Prints – California Fairs, [65 hits]
    A. Photographic Prints – Out-of-State and Canadian Fairs, A-Z, [23 hits]
    A. Photographic Prints – Subjects, [4 hits]
    A. Photographic Prints – Western Fairs Association Events, [6 hits]
    A. Photographic Prints – Portraits, [1 hit]
    B. 35mm Color Transparencies – California Fairs, [4 hits]
    B. 35mm Color Transparencies – Out-of-State and Canadian Fairs, [12 hits]
    B. 35mm Color Transparencies – Subjects and Events, [3 hits]
    B. 35mm Color Transparencies – Staff Slide Shows,
    B. 35mm Color Transparencies – Lou Merrill's Fair Slides, [1 hit]
    B. 35mm Color Transparencies – State Fairs, [9 hits]
    C. Negatives – Western Fairs Association Meetings, [2 hits]
    C. Negatives – California Fairs, [5 hits]
    D. Oversized Photographic Prints, [3 hits]
    E. Motion Picture Film, [7 hits]
    6. Audio Media
    A. Audio Tapes from the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification, [7 hits]
    B. Audio Tapes from the Western Fairs Association, [6 hits]
    C. Audio Tapes from the Western Fairs Association, [6 hits]
    7. Artifacts
    A. Artifacts from California Fairs, [11 hits]
    B. Oversized Materials, [35 hits]
    8. Additional Donations
    A. Western Fairs Association Publications, [41 hits]
    B. Western Fairs Association Audiotapes, [7 hits]
    C. Golden Gate International Exposition Records,
    D. Legislative Reports, [2 hits]
    E. Amusement Industry Publications, [6 hits]
    F. Reports by Consultants, [13 hits]
    G. Fairs Management Courses at Cal Poly, [14 hits]
    H. Lou Merrill's Office Files, [21 hits]
    I. Festival at the Lake, Oakland, California,
    J. Cal Poly Agribusiness Project and Fair Dealer Magazine [38 hits]
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