A Guide to the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records, 1962-1995 (bulk 1964-1968)
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Descriptive Summary |
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| Creator | San Antonio Fair, Inc. | |
| Title: | San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records | |
| Dates: | 1962-1995 | |
| Creator Abstract: | San Antonio Fair, Inc., incorporated in December 1962 to formally organize the planning, fundraising and designing of HemisFair '68 (the 1968 World's Fair) in San Antonio, Texas. | |
| Content Abstract: | The records of the San Antonio Fair, Inc., document the planning, lobbying, financing and construction of HemisFair '68. The records consist of correspondence, meeting minutes, committee reports, financial records, newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, photographic materials, blueprints, maps and plats, artwork, oral history interview transcripts, scrapbooks of clippings and ephemera, and audiovisual materials (film and sound recordings). Most of the records predate the opening of the fair. | |
| Identification: | MS 31 | |
| Extent: | 276.4 linear feet (560 boxes) | |
| Language | Materials are primarily in English, with some materials in Spanish, French, and Portuguese. | |
| Repository: | Archives, The University of Texas at San Antonio Library | |
Historical Note
San Antonio Fair, Inc., incorporated in December 1962 to formally organize the planning, fundraising and designing of HemisFair '68. When HemisFair '68 opened on April 6, 1968, it held the honor of being the only "world's fair" that year to be sanctioned by the Paris-based Bureau of International Expositions and the first world's fair ever to be held in Texas. The fair, held in downtown San Antonio, Texas, was open for six months from April 6, 1968 to October 6, 1968.
The idea for HemisFair '68 originated in 1958, with a handful of San Antonio businessmen who had a vision of a world's fair in San Antonio, Texas. Department store executive Jerome K. Harris proposed a fair to be held in 1968 to celebrate 250th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio and the shared cultural heritage of San Antonio and its Latin American neighbors. His idea gained the support of San Antonio Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, and local businessmen William R. Sinkin, H. B. (Pat) Zachry, and James Gaines, who soon began to cultivate support for HemisFair '68.
The organizing of the fair demanded years of planning, coordinated investment, the support of all levels of city, state, and federal government, and massive time and commitment from the persons involved. HemisFair '68 was financed by: 450 San Antonio underwriters (local business firms and individuals); voter-approved San Antonio City bonds; Urban Renewal Agency funds; an appropriation of $4,500,000 by the Texas State Legislature; and two appropriations ($125,000 in 1965 and $6.75 million in 1966) by the U.S. Congress.
In keeping with Jerome K. Harris's original idea of celebrating the shared cultural heritage of San Antonio and its neighbors, the theme of HemisFair '68 was "The Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas." Approximately twenty governments and ten corporations participated and sponsored educational and entertainment pavilions communicating the theme to visitors.
Figures for attendance fell short of the initial predictions of 7.2 million persons, and were actually closer to 6.4 million people. Contributing factors which may have influenced the lower-than-expected attendance included the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King two days before the fair opened and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968.
Despite the organizers' disappointment regarding attendance, hosting and constructing HemisFair '68 had a broad impact on San Antonio, including fostering urban renewal in the downtown area, retail development along the San Antonio River Walk, and expansion of the local tourism industry.
HemisFair '68, the 1968 World's Fair, was the only formally sanctioned world's fair held in the world during 1968 and was the first officially recognized world's fair ever held in the southern half of the United States.
Following is a chronology of the events related to the planning of the HemisFair.
Chronology of Events, 1962-1968
| January 28, 1962 | U.S. Representative Henry B. Gonzalez meets with William Sinkin, a leading local department store executive to discuss a "Fair of the Americas" to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of San Antonio. | |
| February 15, 1962 | Gonzalez and William R. Sinkin meet with 38 other leading civic leaders at the Grenada Hotel. A nine-man Planning Council is established and spends the remainder of the year collecting and analyzing data and meeting with, and lobbying, local business, political and commercial leaders. | |
| December 29, 1962 | San Antonio Fair, Inc., is granted a charter by the State of Texas. Incorporators for the organization are Sinkin, James M. Gaines (a broadcasting executive with WOAI radio and television stations), and H. B. (Pat) Zachry (industrialist, construction magnate and philanthropist). | |
| January-March 1963 | Economics Research Associates (ERA) of Los Angeles is commissioned by the San Antonio Fair, Inc., to conduct a preliminary economic feasibility study of a fair in San Antonio. Favorable results are released on April 3. ERA conducts a series of subsequent studies as well. | |
| April 1963 | Underwriting campaign under the direction of businessman Marshall T. Steves is officially launched. National Bank of Commerce makes the initial pledge of $100,000 on March 23. | |
| April 11, 1963 | The first Executive Committee of San Antonio Fair, Inc., is formed. Permanent officers are: Honorary Co-Chairmen of the Board, Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez and Mayor Walter W. McAllister; Chairman of the Board, H.B. (Pat) Zachry; President, William Sinkin; Vice-Presidents, Marshall Steves and James M. Gaines; Secretary, John Daniels; and Treasurer, Bill Flannery. | |
| October 9, 1963 | The original underwriting goal of $6 million is surpassed. More than $7.5 million in pledges had been received by the end of September 1963. | |
| December 23, 1963 | Ewen C. Dingwall, former Vice-President and General Manager of Century 21, the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, is named Executive Vice-President. | |
| January 23, 1964 | The historic German-English School, built in 1868, is chosen as headquarters for HemisFair executive offices. | |
| January 28, 1964 | A seven-proposition $30 million bond issue, which includes provisions for a new civic center and the city's portion of the Urban Renewal land purchase price is overwhelmingly approved by local voters in every city precinct. | |
| February 1, 1964 | A 90-acre site in downtown San Antonio is selected and approved and site architects engineers begin correlating designs. | |
| February 18, 1964 | First annual meeting of Board of Directors. | |
| March 11, 1964 | Frank Manupelli is named General Manager. | |
| April 1964 | O'Neil Ford and Allison Peery are named as coordinating and site planning architects. | |
| April-May 1964 | Robert Benjamin, of InfoPlan, a Mexico City public relations firm, tour Central and South America and begin cultivating contacts for HemisFair. | |
| June 29, 1964 | HemisFair staff moves from temporary quarters to the newly renovated top floor of the north building of the German-English School. | |
| August 1964 | Promotional tours begin in major Mexican cities. | |
| October 1, 1964 | Formal discussions regarding federal participation begin at a seminar in Washington D.C. featuring keynote speaker Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Mann, President Lyndon Baines Johnson's top Latin American expert. | |
| October 1, 1964 | William W. Phillips of Paris, France, appoint HemisFair European Coordinator and official liaison to the Bureau of International Expositions (B.I.E.), the official governing body recognizing and regulating world's fairs. | |
| October 28, 1964 | Urban Renewal Agency allocates nearly $12.5 million for purchase of the fair site. By the end of October 1964, a total of nearly $50 million had been pledged to support HemisFair. | |
| November 24, 1964 | William Sinkin resigns as President due to business pressures. He remains as an advisor and is named an additional Honorary Co-Chairman and head of the Opening Events Coordinating Committee. | |
| November 26, 1964 | The initial land purchase of the fair site is made. | |
| December 8, 1964 | Marshall Steves is elected President to replace Sinkin. John H. White is elected First Vice-President. Seven other vice presidents are named in a radical realignment of the board structure. | |
| January 1, 1965 | Architectural offices open in HemisFair headquarters. | |
| February 9, 1965 | Texas Secretary of State Ben Barnes addresses the second annual Board of Directors meeting. | |
| March 2, 1965 | Formal application for U.S. participation and endorsement is submitted. | |
| April 6, 1965 | Official rules and regulations conforming to B.I.E. standards are adopted. | |
| May 4, 1965 | Ewen C. Dingwall resigns as Executive Vice-President over a difference of opinion on policies with the Executive Committe. Dingwall remains actively involved with the fair, becoming a Washington consultant and publishing a weekly newsletter for HemisFair executives regarding federal participation. | |
| May 12, 1965 | William Phillips gives preliminary presentation to B.I.E. in Paris. Texas State Senate passes HemisFair Bill appropriating $7.5 million. | |
| May 27-28, 1965 | Texas State House of Representatives passes bill of $4.5 million at request of Governor John Connally. | |
| June 21, 1965 | Companion Bills are introduced in U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez and the U.S. Senate by Senate Ralph Yarborough requesting funding for a study of federal participation in HemisFair. | |
| August 2, 1965 | Fair dates (April 6 through October 6, 1968) are set by Executive Committee. | |
| August 12, 1965 | James Gaines is named Executive Vice-President. | |
| September 14, 1965 | Governor John Connally accepts appointment as Commissioner General of Fair. | |
| September 28, 1965 | Senate Passage of HemisFair bill. HemisFair symbol is developed and officially adopted. | |
| October 1965 | Marshall Steves, Paul Howell and Carlos Freymann tour 13 European capitols lobbying for B.I.E. support. | |
| October 6, 1965 | HemisFair bill passes unanimously by House. | |
| October 21, 1965 | Favorable review of HemisFair application by B.I.E. classification committee. | |
| October 22, 1965 | House and Senate agree on HemisFair bill. President Johnson signs the bill officially recognizing the HemisFair and appropriating $125,000 for a preliminary study and architectural fees. | |
| November 11, 1965 | President Johnson signs a proclamation authorizing Secretary of State Dean Rusk to invite foreign countries to participate in the HemisFair and also recognizing Governor Connally as Commissioner General of the Fair. | |
| November 17, 1965 | Official approval by the Bureau of International Expositions. | |
| December 29, 1965 | Secretary of State Rusk sends invitations to 114 countries to participate in HemisFair. | |
| January, 1966 | Urban Renewal Agency turns site over to the city. | |
| January 15, 1966 | Governor Connally unveils plans for Institute of Texan Cultures (Texas State Pavilion) at press conference. | |
| January 28, 1966 | Pearl Brewing Co. becomes the first of 19 industrial exhibitors to announce participation. | |
| March 1966 | HemisFair medal is signed into law by President Johnson. | |
| April 1, 1966 | Lady Bird Johnson visits fair site. | |
| April 7, 1966 | Mexico becomes the first of 23 foreign governments to announce participation. | |
| July 24-August 1, 1966 | Governor Connally leaves for a Latin American good will tour. He signs Panama on July 26. On August 1, he has to cut his trip short because of the Charles Whitman sniper shootings at the University of Texas at Austin. | |
| August 9, 1966 | Agreement is reached on preservation of 20 historic homes on fair site. Tower of the Americas construction let to H.A. Lott, Inc. and Darragh & Lyda, Inc. ("Lyda-Lott"). | |
| September 1, 1966 | House passes $10 Million HemisFair bill. | |
| September 14, 1966 | James Gaines resigns. | |
| September 15, 1966 | Official visiting B.I.E. delegation arrives. | |
| October 6-7, 1966 | Senate and House pass $7.5 million HemisFair bill. | |
| October 8, 1966 | Final home on site is turned over to the fair. | |
| October 16, 1966 | President Johnson signs HemisFair bill. | |
| October 21, 1966 | Senate-House Committee vote $6.75 million appropriation for federal participation. | |
| October 26, 1966 | President Johnson signs appropriation bill. | |
| November 16, 1966 | Frank Manupelli named Executive Vice-President, replacing Gaines. | |
| December 3, 1966 | Bonds for Tower of the Americas construction is approved 2-1 by voters. | |
| December 6, 1966 | Mural by Carlos Merida is commissioned. | |
| February 15, 1967 | Pearl Pavilion groundbreaking | |
| February 20, 1967 | Institute of Texan Cultures groundbreaking | |
| February 28, 1967 | James Gaines recalled (he would later resign again). | |
| March 2, 1967 | New York Press Conference | |
| March-April 1967 | Latin American Ambassadors Visit | |
| April 8, 1967 | Federal Pavilion groundbreaking | |
| September 19, 1967 | Texas International Trade Center is announced. | |
| September 26, 1967 | Woman's Pavilion is announced. | |
| April 6, 1968 | HemisFair '68 opens. | |
| October 6, 1968 | HemisFair '68 closes. |
Scope and Content Note
The records of the San Antonio Fair, Inc. span the years 1962 through 1995 and document the planning, lobbying, financing and construction that resulted in HemisFair '68. The records consist of correspondence; minutes of meetings; committee reports; financial records; newspaper and magazine articles; press releases; photographic materials; audio recordings; oversized maps and plats; artwork; and scrapbooks of clippings and ephemera. The bulk of the records are correspondence to and from Fair executives. Also well documented in the records is demolition on the site and construction of the fairgrounds. Most of the records predate the opening of the fair, with the bulk dates 1964-1968. There are a few materials from after the Fair, particularly from the 20th anniversary in 1988.
Arrangement |
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| Due to size, this inventory has been divided into 12 separate units which can be accessed by clicking on the highlighted text: | ||
| Homepage [this page] | ||
| Series 1: Executive Officers | ||
| Series 2: Comptroller's Office | ||
| Series 3: Legal Department | ||
| Series 4: Entertainment Department | ||
| Series 5: Visitor and Exhibitor Relations Department | ||
| Series 6: Site Development Department | ||
| Series 7: Public Relations Department | ||
| Series 8: Printed Materials and Scrapbooks | ||
| Series 9: Trinity University Archives | ||
| Series 10: Ephemera | ||
| Series 11: Oversize Architectural Drawings, Blueprints, and Plans | ||
| Series 12: Audiovisual Materials | ||
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials.
Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Some use copies are available in the collection.
Otherwise, there are no restrictions on these materials.
Usage Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records must be obtained from the University of Texas at San Antonio Archives.
Index Terms |
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| Personal Names | ||
| Gaines, James. | ||
| Gonzalez, Henry B. (Henry Barbosa), 1916- | ||
| Harris, Jerome K. | ||
| Sinkin, William, 1913- | ||
| Steves, Marshall T. | ||
| Zachry, Henry Bartell, 1901-1984 | ||
| Organizations | ||
| HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex.)--Buildings. | ||
| HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex.)--History. | ||
| HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex.). Woman's Pavilion. | ||
| San Antonio Fair, Inc. | ||
| Subjects | ||
| Exhibitions--Texas--San Antonio--Planning. | ||
| Fairs--Texas--San Antonio. | ||
| Tourism--Texas--San Antonio. | ||
| Urban renewal--Texas--San Antonio. | ||
| Locations | ||
| San Antonio (Tex.)--History. | ||
| Genres/Formats | ||
| 45 rpm records. | ||
| Audiotapes. | ||
| Audiovisual materials. | ||
| Black-and-white film. | ||
| Blueprints (reprographic copies). | ||
| Clippings. | ||
| Color film (film). | ||
| Correspondence. | ||
| Maps. | ||
| Minutes. | ||
| Oral histories. | ||
| Photographs. | ||
| Reports. | ||
| Scrapbooks. | ||
| Sound recordings. | ||
| Videocassettes. | ||
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records, 1962-1995 (Bulk 1964-1968), MS 31, University of Texas at San Antonio Archives, Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.
Acquisition Information
The San Antonio Fair, Inc. Records were donated to the Trinity University Library in October 1968, immediately following the closing of HemisFair '68. The records came to Trinity from the executive offices of San Antonio Fair, Inc., at the fair's headquarters in the German-English School. They remained at the Trinity University Library until May 1985. During this time, many records were lost due to mold and a lack of proper preservation. When the records were transferred to the San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) in 1985, they were stored in the Library's Hertzberg annex, where they were reboxed and given some preservation treatment. The SAPL donated the records to the University of Texas at San Antonio Library, Special Collections and Archives Department, in 1992 (Acc. 1992-05).
Processing Information
Processed by T. Matthew De Waelsche, April 1998, and Angela McClendon, October 2007.
This collection was processed with support from Marshall Steves of San Antonio, Tex. Preservation reformatting of audiovisual materials was completed in 2007 with support from the National Film Preservation Foundation and the Institute of Texan Cultures.
Accessions described in this finding aid: 1992-05, 1998-06, 1998-42, 2001-41, 2004-27.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, and TARO 2 EAD Editing Instructions.
Click on the headings above for a detailed description of these papers.
Click here to proceed to Part 1 of the finding aid. |
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