Hotel del Coronado Records,1887-1977

Special Collections

Library and Information Access

San Diego State University

5500 Campanile Drive

Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.

Administrative Information

Extent
Approximately 55 linear feet.

Copyright
The copyright interests in the materials found in this collection have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Special Collections and University Archives can only grant permission to publish materials for which it is the copyright holder. For further information, please consult the section on copyright in the rules for using collections, or contact the United States Copyright Office at (202) 707-3000 or http://www.copyright.gov.

Preferred Citation
Identification of item, folder title, box number, Hotel del Coronado Records, Special Collections and University Archives, Library and Information Access, San Diego State University.

Processing Information
Re-processed by Aislinn Sotelo and Jennifer Martinez, Spring 2005.

Encoded by
Jossie Chavez, 2006

Contact Information
Special Collections and University Archives
Library and Information Access
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8050

Email: scref@rohan.sdsu.edu
Phone: (619) 594-6791
Fax: (619) 594-0466

Abstract

Since its opening in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado has served as one of the leading resort hotels in the United States and has been a major catalyst in the development of the City of Coronado. In 1970, the Hotel was designated a California State Historical Landmark and in 1971 was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Coronado Historical Landmark and a San Diego County Historical Landmark. Owners of the Hotel have included such prominent San Diegans as John D. Spreckels, John Alessio, and M. Larry Lawrence.

The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, registers, financial and personnel records, photographs, and published miscellany. The collection documents not only the development of the Hotel del Coronado but contains valuable materials for the study of the history of the greater Southern California and Northern Baja California region.

The collection is organized into the following series:

The majority of the volumes of bound correspondence are copies of letters from the Hotel del Coronado’s President and Manager, Elijah S. Babcock (1849-1922) and are mostly profession in content, thought there are a few letters which are labeled “personal.” Beginning in 1904, we begin to see letters from the new Manager, Morgan Ross. The bound outgoing correspondence deals with a majority of topics, including the running of the early Hotel del Coronado such as letters to personnel, as well as much information on the early San Diego Water Company, the building of the Otay dam, streetlights, the ferry, Coronado Railway, as well as letters to guests about reservations, and Hotel promotion throughout the country.

The earlier registers are were under the manager John B. Seghers, Jr. but quickly change to E.S. Babcock and then to Morgan Ross. Volume number 107 contains the signature of the famous Hotel del Coronado ghost, Kate Morgan. She signed in under the name of “Miss Lottie A. Bernard” from Detroit, room 308 on November 24, 1892. In addition, this register series houses volume 152 which on March 28, 1905 was signed by Henry James (1843-1916), the American writer known for such works as A Portrait of a Lady.

Of note, volume number 193 contains a chart of Hotel rates, “The ‘HW’ Hotel Rate Table for sale only by ‘The World Hotel,’ Chicago” in the front cover of the book. Volume 198 contains a “Southern California Coupons” with hotel rates posted in the front cover. Also some of the books contain handwritten lists of discounts for services allowed to certain guests only, such as boarders. In addition, volume 201 contains newspaper clippings about the train schedule.

Interesting to note is that volume number 209 contains European post cards and volume 210 on page 203 has evidence of “white-out” to cover ink. Though there are few books in this series, they provide insight into the daily management of the Hotel.

Series VI. Mail Books (Volumes 218-220)
These mail books are arranged as one large bound index in alphabetical order with dates, guests’ names and addresses or hotel addresses where they can be reached or their mail forwarded to. Of note is that volume 218 contains a book plate in the front cover which reads, “Coronado Stables Rates, In Effect February 18, 1901,” followed by corresponding rates. In addition, there is also a handwritten paper pasted into the front cover with more rates dated “11/23/00” (that it “00” = 1900).

Series VIII. Miscellaneous Guest Records (Volumes 226-229)
Volume 226 of this series contains delinquent records of outstanding bills recorded in an index by delinquent’s last name. Volume 227 contains departures and room changes and is organized by date and spans across the page to include room number, departure, and number of persons in party, time, the room from which the guest is changing, a category labeled changes, and the new room number. Volumes 228 and 229 are arranged in chronological order. Of note is that volumes 228 and 229 allow a glimpse in to what foods people were eating at the Hotel del Coronado during the turn of the century as these contain bills for food from grocers which include mushrooms, oatmeal, graham flour, pineapple, turkey, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, green peas, canned milk, cream, veal, onions, eggs, and powdered sugar. Each grocery list is organized by date and under the name of the grocer.

Series IX. Boarder’s Ledgers (Volumes 228-232)
These volumes are arranged so that each entry spans across two pages and includes the following information: name, time of arrival, number of room, rates, wine account, telegrams, meals sent to room, fires, sundry accounts, total credit, and remarks. Some of the expenses listed for guests include laundry, drugs and baths as well. Volume 232 contains a paper pasted in the front endpaper which lists various drinks such as Absinthe, Apricot Brandy, Bourbon Whisky, Egg Lemonade, Gin and Whisky sours, Horkes Neck Cooler, Orangeade, and Rock & Rye Whisky with each drinks corresponding price.

Series X. Room Books of Financial Records (Volumes 233-251)
This series of financial records allows much research on the everyday administration of the Hotel del Coronado, including how the Hotel spent its money, how many hours Hotel personnel worked and how much they were paid, as well as what daily life was like for guests at the Hotel in volumes such as 238 which includes cash receipts of expenses such as board, bar, billiards, slot machines and bath house and volume 239 which includes cash register tickets and ticket orders for things such as 25¢ movies, bar orders, and billiards. Volume 233 is a ledger organized by guest name at the top of the page, then by date with a list of numbers and payment types. Volume 234 a ledger, is arranged by date, then names and umbers and sums with expenses such as tea room, laundry, and board. Volume 235 is an oversized ledger arranged by date while others such as volume 236 of accounts receivable is organized as a large index and includes deposit accounts. Of note is that volume 237 is compiled of a list of vendors including Pacific Laundry Dry Cleaners, and Allen’s Press Clipping, who is responsible for most of the newspaper clippings found in the Hotel del Coronado Collection. Volume 240 is in the form of a large bound index in the front of the volume, although it is almost entirely empty except for one loose leaf with information of slot machines. The rest of the volume is comprised of copies of letters on onion skin paper which provide information on Tent City café and band, as well as Hotel del Coronado “Monthly Statement of Earnings and Expenses.” The cover of this volume is labeled “Statement Reports and Exhibits.”

Series XI. Miscellany (Volumes 252-256)
This miscellany series consists of a log book, a lost and found book, two Bell Boys’ records books, and a laundry record book. Of note is that pasted on the cover of volume 256 laundry record book is a listing of employee discounts for laundry services, however, much of this volume is blank except for some writing on one of the front end pages which mentions Tent City Café, and page 40 which is filled out. Similar to some of the other series, these materials provide information on the everyday workings of the Hotel del Coronado.

Series XII. Coronado Tent City (Volumes 257-259)
The Coronado Tent City series consists of a general ledger, a cash book and an account book. Interesting about this collection is that since Tent City no longer exists, for those who have never been there will never have the chance. The closest to Tent City one can get is through their records, of which a small portion is housed in this series.

Series XIII. Coronado Country Club (Volumes 260-262)
The Coronado Country Club series consists of a book of the Official Polo scores from 1912-1925, a book which contains resignation of membership dating 1913-1920 which also includes some information on resigning members such as their membership date, and a register.

Series XIV. Scrapbooks (Volumes 263-303)

Series XV. Photographs (Box 1)
This box consists of a collection of 110 photographs, of which the majority date to the 1880’s and early 1900’s, however there are also numerous pictures commemorating the opening of the Coronado Bridge in1962 including pictures of the then California Governor, Ronald Reagan, as well as a few photographs dating to the 1970s. Older prints are business-trade postcard advertisements. Many of the photographs contained in this collection have been copied as a print and are included in the same folder with the original photograph. The subject of the photos varies, however they all have the common theme of the Hotel del or the surrounding Coronado area. Included are scenery pictures of the lovely Pacific coast as well as pictures of the construction and interior of the Hotel del Coronado, Tent City, the historic Coronado Methodist Church, as well as local homes and city buildings of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the early city of Coronado Beach.

Series XVI. Incoming Correspondence from 1911 (Box 2)
The incoming correspondence found in Box 2 I and II is arranged alphabetically by sender’s last name; however, when there are replies to the sender they are included next to the corresponding letter and are found in the folder under the sender’s last name. Much of the content of the correspondence in Box 2 concerns payment of bills or requests for accommodations at the Hotel del Coronado, guests’ lost personal items, and requests for forwarding guests’ mail. This box also includes 3 forwarding address folders with no date which include the original index dividers.

Hotel Del Coronado (Coronado, Calif.)
Coronado (Calif.) – History
San Diego (Calif.) – History
California, Southern – History
Baja California (Mexico: State) – History

Hotels – California – Coronado
Tourism – California, Southern.

Related Collections at other Repositories
http://www.hoteldel.com/
http://www.coronadohistory.org
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/histsoc.html

Series I: Bound Correspondence

Series II: Guest Registers

Series III: Room Books

Series IV: Reservation Records

Series V: Alphabetical Listings of Guests by Name

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