The Birch Aquarium records document the public aquariums maintained by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography since its founding, including: administrative files, correspondence, materials related to education programs and outreach, expeditions and collecting trips, exhibit planning, and photographs.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Records, 1905-2013 (bulk 1965-1993) (SAC 76)
OFF-SITE STORAGE: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW TWO TO THREE (2-3) WEEKS FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Restrictions: Documents containing protected information are restricted for 75 years from the date
of creation. Redacted versions are provided where possible. See the University Archivist
for more information.
Extent: 17.65 Linear feet (42 archives boxes, 1 card file box, and 3 map case folders)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography has maintained a public aquarium since before it was an institution. Starting in 1892, William Ritter began to keep display tanks for visitors at the summer research stations. The Marine Biological Association of San Diego was founded in 1903. From its founding, one of the objectives of the association was to build and maintain a public aquarium and museum. This association would later become the Scripps Institution for Biological Research once it was accepted as part of the University of California in 1912; and by 1925 it was renamed to Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The aquarium grew along with the institution, expanding to various buildings as needs changed.
In 1905, the "little green laboratory at the Cove," also known as "The Biological," was built with room for a public aquarium. By 1910, the George H. Scripps Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory or the "Old Scripps Building," was completed. It housed an aquarium on the first floor and a museum on the second floor. The first standalone aquarium was completed in 1915, a small wooden structure housing 19 tanks; the museum was housed in a nearby building. The Thomas Wayland Vaughan Aquarium-Museum was completed in 1950 and dedicated in 1951.
In 1965, aquarium Director Donald Wilkie realized the aquarium needed improvements. Wilkie worked to revitalize and expand the aquarium through new exhibits, educational programs and tours, and the developing funding opportunities. The docent program was established in 1966.
Planning began for a new aquarium and the Scripps Aquarium Associates were established in 1975 to promote funding. In 1984, the site of the new aquarium was selected. The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation donated $6 million towards the creation of the new aquarium in 1986. In total, $10 million was raised for construction and the creation of new exhibits. Construction began in 1990 and the Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum opened on September 16, 1992. Shortly afterwards, its name was changed to Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Curators have included: Percy S. Barnhart (1914-1946), Sam Hinton (1946-1964), Carr Tuthill (1964-unknown), Robert Snodgrass (unknown), and Ruth Shelly (unknown-1999).
Directors have included: Richard Rosenblatt (1961-1964), Donald Wilkie (1965-1993), Ned A. Smith (1995-2000), Jeffrey Graham (2000-2002), Nigella Hillgarth (2002-2014), and Harry Helling (2015- present). In addition, there were two interim directors: Ruth Shelly (circa 1993) and Deborah Zmarzly (2014).
The Birch Aquarium records document the public aquariums maintained by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography since its founding up through the early 2000s, including: including administrative files, correspondence, materials related to education programs and outreach, expeditions and collecting trips, exhibit planning, and photographs.
The bulk of the materials span the Directorship of Donald Willkie (1965-1993), focusing on the Thomas Wayland Vaughan Aquarium-Museum and the establishment of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Arranged in 8 series: 1) ADMINISTRATIVE; 2) CORRESPONDENCE; 3) EDUCATION; 4) EVENTS; 5) EXPEDITIONS AND COLLECTING TRIPS; 6) COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITS; 7) WRITINGS AND PRESENTATIONS; and 8) PHOTOGRAPHS.