Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial Counties
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Welcome
The Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial Counties is a networking organization that brings together representatives of all the historical societies, groups, museums and historical archives in California's San Diego and Imperial Counties. The Congress of History has over 200 member organizations.
We welcome individual memberships from those who are interested in the activities of the Congress of History, who want to keep posted on history-related events, and who support the preservation of local history. The Congress of History has over 200 individual members.
Unity and Joint Effort is our motto, and we strive to live up to this adage, offering a forum where local groups or individuals may express their concerns about local history, and work together toward mutual goals.
San Diego Historical Society
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 12, 2009
Contact: David M. Kahn
619-232-6203 x 101
To Avoid Shutdown, San Diego Historical Society Will Change Course
Reorganization to Stabilize Operations, Position Institution for Future Growth
Faced with the very real threat of closure, the San Diego Historical Society (SDHS), one of California's oldest and most distinguished historical organizations will undergo a dramatic reorganization. During 2009, its 80th Anniversary year, SDHS will eliminate costly ancillary activities while strengthening its core history museum and research center programs.
According to the new Executive Director, David Kahn, who accepted the position in August, 2008, following a nation-wide search for an experienced director with a proven track record in museum management, the change in course is intended to halt years of deficit spending and falling cash reserves that have brought the organization to the brink of insolvency.
Kahn believes over expansion during the 1970s and 1980s has been a direct cause of the institution's problems. He cited the fact that SDHS grew from a single-site museum and research library housed in the Serra Museum in Presidio Park to a complex of facilities including the original Serra Museum, the Museum of San Diego History and the Marston House, both in Balboa Park, as well as the Villa Montezuma in Sherman Heights. He went on to say the problem was compounded when SDHS accepted responsibility for overseeing facade preservation easements for 9 historic structures in downtown San Diego.
There has been a lack of strategic focus that we are finally going to address in a decisive manner said Kahn. As long ago as 1994 an outside consultant, W. James Green, observed that the SDHS was committed to sites and activities that collectively are beyond its means. According to Kahn, Now we are facing reality; the operation can either collapse under its own weight or it can become leaner and more focused so it can be stabilized and go on to thrive in our changing world. This is our opportunity to turn things around.
SDHS closed the city-owned Villa Montezuma to the public three years ago for structural repairs. On February 15, SDHS will close the other historic house it operates on behalf of the City of San Diego, the Marston House in Balboa Park. In addition to ending its leases on these two sites, SDHS will end its facade easement program and will temporarily close the Serra Museum.
By focusing on our core activities we will be returning to our roots, said Bob Adelizzi, SDHS board president. Clearly there are other organizations in the community that are far better positioned to be stewards of our built environment than SDHS. Sharing our unparalleled museum and research collections with the public via exhibitions and programs is a large enough mission for any one organization to pursue.
Adelizzi credits Kahn with helping the board envision a more viable business strategy. The daunting task of implementing that strategy has taken on increased urgency as the current, nationwide financial crisis has shifted into high gear.
As part of its goal of concentrating on core activities SDHS will:
Offer hands-on, family-oriented changing exhibitions, some borrowed from history museums in other parts of the country, while also pursuing the development of a permanent exhibition about San Diego and its people.
Expand services to public schools, implementing new and engaging programs for students K-12.
Make its spectacular collections more accessible to the public and address the collections' long-deferred conservation needs. The collections include 2.5 million photographs and one of the largest historical costume collections in the country.
Adelizzi and Kahn believe the implementation of difficult, but necessary, budget cuts as well as refocusing on core competencies will enable the SDHS to eventually join the ranks of the nation's leading urban history museums. As operations stabilize and new funds become available, resources will be directed towards new program development and much needed basic operating needs.
Our museum and research center have just unbelievable potential, said Adelizzi. The steps that we are taking today to reorganize and refocus our programs will enable us to do a superior job of serving our fellow citizens, and visitors to this great city, tomorrow. I think many of our supporters and donors through the years have been waiting for a signal that SDHS is serious about changing course. I believe the changes we are planning will give them that signal.
The San Diego Historical Society was incorporated in 1928, opened its doors to the public in 1929, and is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2008/2009. It is one of California's oldest historical organizations and is accredited by the American Association of Museums. SDHS is dedicated to helping people of all ages learn about, and enjoy, the history of San Diego, and to appreciate how our past, present, and future are interrelated. SDHS's Museum of San Diego History is centrally located on the Prado in Balboa Park and houses both permanent and changing exhibitions as well as an extensive research collection. SDHS serves an audience of approximately 85,000 people each year and an additional 2,000,000 individual web users.
Congress of History Meetings and Events
We meet every other month throughout the year (see our meeting and events page). Our meetings are moved to different locations, and are often held in the museums of our member organizations. The location of each meeting is also announced in our newsletter Adelante.
