William Henry Thrall Papers: Finding Aid mssThrall
Brooke M. Black
The Huntington Library
April 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on March 6, 2024 by Kelly Kress.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: William Henry Thrall papers
Creator:
Thrall, William Henry, 1874?-1963
Identifier/Call Number: mssThrall
Physical Description:
7.17 Linear Feet
(12 boxes)
Date (inclusive): approximately 1873-1960
Abstract: Papers belonging to Los Angeles conservationist William Henry Thrall.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. William Henry Thrall papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of William Henry Thrall, April 1949, March 1951, September 1952, and purchased from Mrs. William Henry Thrall, May 1963.
Biographical / Historical
William Henry Thrall, conservationist and editor came to California from Connecticut in 1888. Thrall loved to hike and became
an authority on the trails and history of the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. From 1933 to 1938 he served as
head of the Division of Mountain Education of the Los Angeles County Department of Recreation. He wrote many articles about
the San Gabriel Mountains and was publisher of Trails magazine from 1934 to 1939. Thrall married Olive J. Fryer (1880-1952)
in December 1898. Thrall died in February 1963.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of letters, manuscripts, documents, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings related to William Henry Thrall,
the San Gabriel Mountains, hiking and outdoor recreation in Southern California, and the publication of Trails magazine. There
is also secondary source material on Los Angeles County water supply, flood control, sewage disposal, and conservation in
the mountain areas.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library staff. In 2022, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.
Arrangement
Organized in the following series: 1. Correspondence and personal papers; 2. Subject files; 3. Miscellaneous items.
Related Materials
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Conservation of natural resources -- California -- Los Angeles County
Conservationists -- California, Southern -- Archives
Flood control -- California -- Los Angeles County
Hiking -- California
Hiking -- California -- San Gabriel Mountains
Outdoor recreation -- California -- Los Angeles County
Outdoor recreation -- California -- San Gabriel Mountains
Periodical editors -- California, Southern -- Archives
Sewage disposal -- California -- Los Angeles County
Trails -- California
Trails -- California -- San Gabriel Mountains
Water-supply -- California -- Los Angeles County
San Gabriel Mountains (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
San Gabriel Mountains (Calif.) -- Recreational use
Letters (correspondence) -- California, Southern
Manuscripts (documents) -- California, Southern
Research (documents) -- California, Southern
Box 1
Correspondence and personal papers
1930-1960
Subject files
approximately 1910-approximately 1950
Box 7
Los Angeles County
Scope and Contents
Floods, flood control, sewage disposal, water supply, weather, etc.
Box 8
Los Angeles County
Scope and Contents
Water supply, irrigation, etc.
Box 10
Clippings, printed material, etc.
Box 11
Scrapbook
Scope and Contents
Contains clippings, programs, loose material, correspondence, and notes.
Box 12
Roll
Scope and Contents
Contains two National Guard certificates for Henry W. Thrall, 1896 and 1897, and certificate for Henry W. Thrall for service
in the Spanish American War.
