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Finding Aid for the SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of
Watts
45-DPGTL
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Table of contents
Title: SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts
Dates: 1952 - 1974
Bulk Dates: 1970 - 1971
Collection number: 45-DPGTL
Creator:
Southern California Rapid Transit District
Collection Size:
1.25 linear feet
3 boxes
Repository:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (LACMTA) Research Library and
Archive
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Abstract: On November 26, 1967, Dr. Thomas William Matthew of the National
Economic Growth and Reconstruction Organization (NEGRO) acquired two South Los Angeles bus
companies from Frank and Herbert Atkinson. Atkinson Transportation Company (ATCO) and the
South Los Angeles Transportation Company originally began in the 1920s as extensions of
streetcar lines. They were merged to create the Blue and White Bus Company of Watts (Blue
& White). The Blue and White Bus Company was an African-American owned company created
out of a merger of two local bus companies and operated from 1967 to 1971. After much
hardship, the bus company was taken over by the Southern California Rapid Transit District
(SCRTD) in September of 1971. The collection consists of materials related to the Blue and
White Bus Company of Watts collected by Rapid Transit District including correspondence,
Public Utilities Commission hearings, financial and service studies, and newspaper
clippings.
Physical location: LACMTA Research Library and Archive
Languages: Languages represented in the collection:English
Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact LACMTA Research Library and
Archive to make an appointment.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the LACMTA Research Library and
Archive. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the LACMTA
Research Library and Archive as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all
responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of
materials from the LACMTA Research Library and Archive collections.
[Identification of item], SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts, 45-DPGTL. Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive.
Blue & White Bus Lines and Eastern Cities Lines files assembled by SCRTD were
transferred to the SCRTD archives by Wayne Reinecke in the Planning Department on August 26,
1983, on the advice of Director of Schedules and Operations Planning Steve Parry. SCRTD was
merged into LACMTA in 1993.
Processed by Dvorah Lewis with assistance from Angel Diaz; December 2015.
Biography/Administrative History
On November 26, 1967, Dr. Thomas William Matthew of the National Economic Growth and
Reconstruction Organization (NEGRO) acquired two South Los Angeles bus companies from Frank
and Herbert Atkinson. Atkinson Transportation Company (ATCO) and the South Los Angeles
Transportation Company originally began in the 1920s as extensions of streetcar lines and
were merged to create the Blue and White Bus Company of Watts. This new bus company was
African-American owned and ran from 1967-1971.
Blue & White’s Route #1 was abandoned in 1968 and shortly after another route, #6, was
discontinued resulting in SCRTD enacting emergency services in 1970. At one point in 1969,
SCRTD did have interest in acquiring the bus company, but did not carry through with the
acquisition. On February 8, 1971 SCRTD created a new route, #123, that crossed four of the
Blue & White routes. In response, Dr. Matthew had Blue & White operating along
SCRTD’s route #3 giving passenger free rides while informing passengers of the conflict
between the two companies. In May 24, 1971, Dr. Matthew created a new route, Route #9,
without gaining permission first from the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). One
month later the PUC suspended Blue & White’s operating certificate after finding out the
company failed to pay insurance premiums resulting in a loss of coverage. Ignoring the
suspension, Blue & White continued to run, but on July 17th Blue & White employees
went on strike when the bus company held insufficient funds to pay them. The buses were
impounded by county marshals on August 10th for two days until drivers were paid. A month
following this, the buses were impounded again but this time by the Internal Revenue Service
when Blue & White failed to pay federal taxes. SCRTD immediately took over Blue &
White’s routes and hired their bus drivers and mechanics. Dr. Matthew attempted to
reestablish Blue & White only this time providing services in downtown Los Angeles and
to Disneyland, but in 1972 the bus company officially went out of business.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists of materials related to the Blue and White Bus Company of Watts
collected by the Southern California Rapid Transit District including correspondence, Public
Utilities Commission hearings, financial and service studies, and newspaper clippings. Most
of the correspondence is from Howard Beardsley, Assistant Manager of Rapid Transit and
Surface Planning as well as Jack Gilstrap, the General Manager of SCRTD. The majority of
materials are correspondence and studies related to PUC hearings, SCRTD’s interest to
acquire Blue & White in 1969, conflict between SCRTD and Blue & White in 1971, and
SCRTD’s takeover of Blue & White in September 1971.
There appears to be no intended order; materials seem have been placed together
arbitrarily. Original order was not maintained for this collection. The collection is
arranged in the following Series (and subseries when necessary):
- 1, Legal Proceedings, July 1969 - September 1971
- 2, Cessation and Acquisition, 1965-1974
- 3, General Operations, 1952-1971
- 4, Diversion Contract, 1970-1971
- 5, Public Relations, 1970-1971
Southern California Rapid Transit
District
Transportation--California--Los Angeles
Local transit--California--Los Angeles
Minority business enterprises--California--Los Angeles
Region
Local transit--social aspects--California—Los
Angeles
California Public Utilities
Commission
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