Skip to main content

Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project (MOPREP) Records

 Collection
Identifier: RG-04

Scope and Contents note

This record group documents the activities of the Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project. The records are organized into 3 series. Adminstrative Records and Activities contains organizational documents, publicity materials, educational materials, and background materials on the mission olive.

Central to the activities of the organization was the DNA testing of trees at several California missions. Preservation and Restoration Projects documents the preservation of original trees as well as new planting of clones at various sites. The Photographs series consists of five photo albums documenting the organization's activities.

Dates

  • 1884 - 2011
  • Majority of material found within 1999 - 2011

Creator

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 Associate Director for Historical Resources. 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.

Administrative History

The Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project (MOPREP) was established in 1998 to preserve historical knowledge and provide horticultural expertise to the California missions about their heritage olive trees. Its goals were to preserve a cultural link to the California Mission olive tree for the purpose of general public education and enjoyment of the historical significance, culinary heritage, and health benefits of the Mission Olive tree and its oil.

MOPREP encouraged missions statewide to plant, prune and harvest their olives, to educate the public on how crucial olive oil was in daily mission life and to create a living link to California's culinary history.

MOPREP volunteers coordinated horticultural care, replanting, and olive harvests for oil making from olive trees located at the 21 California missions. They researched the history of the California Mission olive trees, locating and authenticating original groves and artifacts. Their displays educated mission visitors on the history, culinary heritage, health benefits and uses of olive oil in mission life.

MOPREP retired as an organization in December 2011 and its project manager, Ron Chapman, turned the records over to the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.

Extent

2 boxes

1 Scrapbook

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This record group documents the activities of the Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project and includes adminstrative records, organizational documents, publicity materials, photographs, and educational materials about growing and preserving mission olive trees.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in four series:

Series 1. MOPREP Administrative Records and Activities, 1999 -2007

Series 2. Preservation and Restoration Projects, 2005-2011

Series 3. Photographs, 2001-2011

Series 4. Media Coverage, 1884-2011

Creator

Title
Guide to the Mission Olive Preservation, Restoration, and Education Project (MOPREP) Records
Status
Completed
Author
Chris S. Ervin CA
Date
2020-01-06
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Presidio Research Center Repository

Contact:
123 East Canon Perdido St.
Santa Barbara CA 93101 USA
(805) 961-5369