Oceanids Society records, 1954-2022 (RSS 3087)

Extent: 2 Linear feet (5 archives boxes and 1 oversized folder)

The Oceanids Society records document activities of the organization; including correspondence, event materials, member directories, meeting materials, financial reports, and photographs.

The Oceanids society, formally established in the spring of 1952, functions as both a social and service organization dedicated to fostering friendship and providing services to the UC San Diego community. Originally founded as a women's campus group, Oceanids has its origins in several informal clubs and meet-ups created primarily by the wives of Scripps Institution of Oceanography faculty. By the fall of 1952, the group had officially been named Oceanids.

With the founding of UC San Diego in 1960 the society evolved to address the emerging needs of the new upper campus with a refined focus on the service aspects of the group. This included welcoming new faculty and their families, offering sponsorships and emergency funds, and hosting community events.

The Oceanids society has maintained a variety of interest groups, one of which was the People to People program. This initiative began in 1961 through the efforts of Klara Eckart, who reached out to the United States Information Agency's People to People Program (originally established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower). The Oceanids worked to establish a chapter at UC San Diego with the purpose of bringing about cultural, scientific, and material exchanges between the UC San Diego campus and similar institutions in other countries. Due to the campus's close ties to universities in Mexico, the program placed particular emphasis on building international relationships in Mexico. Some activities related to this program include: Gathering supplies and books to send to developing universities abroad; offering English-language and driving courses; and organizing tours both on and off campus. Although the People-to-People program is no longer active, its legacy endures in the scholars it supported.

The Oceanids played a critical role in the establishment and development of an International Center at UC San Diego; working collaboratively with other UCSD service groups like the Friends of the International Center.

The society is led by a president or co-presidents, who are elected on a yearly basis. Early presidents of Oceanids included: Helen Raitt, Rhoda Bascom, Florence Hedgpeth, Audrey Smith, Aileen Morris, Delphine Walker, Marge Ahlstrom, Fran Frautschy, Marjorie Bradner, and Sally Spiess.

The Oceanids were officially registered as a support group at UC San Diego in 1996. Still active today, the Oceanids continue to welcome and assist newcomers and visitors, fund fellowships and awards recognizing scholarship and service, and sponsor interest groups to strengthen community.

For additional information, please search for "Thirty Years of Oceanids: A History from 1952 to 1982" by Elizabeth N. Shor on the Library's Digital Collections website.

The Oceanids Society records document activities of the organization; including correspondence, event materials, member directories, meeting materials, financial reports, and photographs. Of particular note are the two scrapbooks documenting the history of the society, as well as material documenting the founding of the People-to-People program.

Arranged in one series: 1) SUBJECT FILES.

Oceanids Society website: https://ccom.ucsd.edu/~oceanids/

For newsletters produced by the Oceanids, search for "Bear Facts" and "Oceanids News" in the Library's Digital Collections website or in the Library's catalog.

Container List

ADMINISTRATIVE FILES

Scope and Content of Series

Series 1) SUBJECT FILES: Arranged alphabetically; and in two subseries: A) Miscellaneous Files and B) People-to-People Program.

Miscellaneous Files

Box 1 Folder 1-2
40th Anniversary scrapbook, 1992

Contains photographs and event material from 1991-1992, including the memorial service of Frieda Dawn Urey. Also includes financial material found in the binder pocket from 1987.

Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence, 1979-1996
Box 1 Folder 4
Field Surgery Program, Division of Plastic Surgery, UC San Diego, ca. 1982
Box 1 Folder 5
Interest group list, ca. 1970-1977
Box 1 Folder 6-9
International Center, 1984-1987

Friends of the International Center and the Oceanids worked together to expand the Center’s building. Includes materials documenting the expansion of the Center, groundbreaking, and dedication ceremony.

Box 1 Folder 10
Newspaper clippings, 1954-1988
Box 1 Folder 11-12
Oceanids member directory, 1965-1989

Not included: 1969.

Box 2 Folder 1-2
Oceanids member directory, 1991-2022

Not included: 2005-2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014-2015, 2017, and 2019-2021. The 2011 directory has handwritten edits to use as a template for 2013.

Box 2 Folder 3
Oceanids: 40 years of service and comraderies 1952 to 1992, 1992 April

Booklet was written by Elizabeth N. Shor and dedicated to the editors of Bear Facts.

Box 2 Folder 4
Photographs, ca. 1961-1992

People include: Richard Atkinson, Lanna Cheng, Mabel Duntley, Seibert Quimby Duntley, Miriam Fox, MaryCarol Isaacs, Louise Knauss, Ellen Revelle, and Frieda Urey. Events include: First arbor day, Harold Urey’s birthday (1963), Revelle farewell party (1964), holiday parties, ballon ride event, and luncheon. Campus images include: Construction of bridge over the Highway 101 and general images of Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus.

People-to-People Program

Box 2 Folder 5
Annual reports and submissions to Bear Facts , 1961-1976
Box 2 Folder 6
Board of Directors, 1977-1978

Includes correspondence, budget materials, and activities report.

Box 2 Folder 7
By-laws, 1983-1997
Box 2 Folder 8-11
Correspondence, 1960-2004
Box 3 Folder 1
Cinco de Mayo celebrations, 1974-1978

Includes materials related to Tijuana tours and Escuela de Ciencias Marina (ESCM) visit.

Box 3 Folder 2
Driving and English courses, 1976-1977
Box 3 Folder 3-5
Escuela de Ciencias Marina (ESCM), Universidad Autonoma de Baja California - Correspondence and visits, 1961-1976
Box 3 Folder 6
Founding of the UC San Diego chapter, 1961-1963

Includes correspondence, notes, program proposal by Klara Eckart, and early draft of by-laws.

Box 3 Folder 7-10
Financial reports, account book, fundraising notes, and treasurer reports, ca. 1970-2007
Box 3 Folder 11
Library and textbook collection, 1962-1982
Box 4 Folder 1-5
Meetings - Agendas, minutes, and correspondence, 1966-1997
Box 4 Folder 6
Members, 1975-1977
Box 4 Folder 7
Notes, ca. 1962-1976

Includes notes planning events and potential projects.

Oversize FB-122 Folder 01
People-to-People scrapbook, 1973-1987

Compiled by Georgi Price. Includes photographs, newspaper clippings, flyers, and event materials.

Box 4 Folder 8
People-to-People: What we are all about, ca. 1978
Box 4 Folder 9
Photographs and negatives, 1976-1983
Box 5 Folder 1
Reports and proposal, 1966-1976

Includes special report to the Board of Regents of the University of California, with mentions of the People-to-People program.

Box 5 Folder 2
Sponsorship program, undated
Box 5 Folder 3-16
Tours, 1962-1997

Tours include regular visits to Tijuana, Mexico. Includes photograph of Doris Bailey, Mary Hanger and Joan Shneour (1978).