Paul Chadbourne Mills Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-05

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These papers document civic and preservation activities conducted by Paul Mills while he was director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and after his retirement when he was active on the board of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. Series I contains files on a number of projects that Mills worked on as a member of various Trust committees. Most notable was his work on the restoration of Casa de la Guerra and the design of the Presidio Chapel burial tiles. A small file of material about the flagpole at the Presidio and the Flags Project is also included in this series. Series II contains substantial files on Mills' relationship with the royal family of Spain and his tireless efforts in 1981 to work with the City of Santa Barbara and the Landmarks Committee to find a permanent home for a statue of King Carlos III, a gift from Juan Carlos I. Included is correspondence, speeches and news clippings that document the placing of the statue and the controversy that surrounded its location.

Dates

1981 - 1997

Creator

Mills, Paul Chadbourne, 1924-2004 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist and Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Biographical / Historical

After a long career as curator and director of three West coast art museums, Paul Chadbourne Mills , joined the board of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation in 1981. After retiring from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art in 1982, Mills became active in the preservation and restoration efforts of the Trust until his death in 2004.

He chaired the Casa de la Guerra Committee to restore the Casa to the 1855-period of the Jose de la Guerra family and designed the de la Guerra memorial banner. He was also a key player in the 1994 design and installation of the tile memorial honoring the founding families buried in the Presidio Chapel. He also chaired the Artifacts and Exhibits committee and was active on the Restoration Committee.

Mills’ interest in flag design and heraldry led him to create the Santa Barbara Flag Project in 1977 and design the flag for Santa Barbara County, which hangs at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. While researching flag history, he came upon the city of Santa Barbara’s flag, which had the rosette and ribbon of the Royal Order of Carlos III on it. He and Mayor David Shiffman visited King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1978 and gave him a copy of Santa Barbara’s flag. In return, Mills arranged to receive for Santa Barbara an original casting of an 18th century statue of King Carlos III. Mills worked tirelessly with the City over ten years to find the statue a home, first in Storke Placita, and finally at the Presidio behind the Chapel.

Extent

0.8 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Paul Mills papers document civic and preservation activities conducted while Mills was director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and served on the board of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. Most notable was his work on the restoration of Casa de la Guerra, the design of the Presidio Chapel burial tiles, the Flags Project and the statue of King Carlos III.