Calvin S. Hamilton Papers Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Li Wei Yang.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Architecture Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2191

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Descriptive Summary

Title: Calvin S. Hamilton Papers

Dates (inclusive): 1959 - 1990

Collection Number: 605981

Creator: Hamilton, Calvin S.

Extent: Approximately 842 items.

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Architecture Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2191

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection contains professional papers generated by Calvin S. Hamilton during his tenure as planning director for the City of Los Angeles from 1960 to 1985.

Language: English.

Note:

Finding aid last updated on April 22, 2014.

Administration Information

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Publication Rights

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 permission rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Calvin S. Hamilton Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

The Calvin S. Hamilton Papers were donated by Glenda Hamilton in 1997.

Biographical Note

Calvin S. Hamilton (Dec. 12, 1924 – May 27, 1997) was an American city planner and landscape architect based in Southern California. From 1964 to 1986, he served as director of the Department of City Planning in Los Angeles. Prior to that, Hamilton was the director of planning in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1960 – 1964) and Indianapolis, Indiana (1955 – 1960). Hamilton was born in 1924 in Lakeland, Florida. In 1931 his parents, Calvin Ralph and Francelia Hamilton, relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana, to seek better economic opportunities. After completing his high school education in Indianapolis, Hamilton was drafted in 1942 and worked in radio intelligence with the US Air Force. In 1946 Hamilton studied Fine Arts in Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois and graduated in 1949. From 1950 to 1952, he completed the Master of City Planning program at Harvard University.

Hamilton’s planning and landscape architecture career started in 1947 as a planning consultant in Indianapolis. Over the next eight years, he has held several planning positions in the private sector. In 1955 he was appointed director of Metropolitan Planning Department for the City of Indianapolis, one of the first planning agencies in the US. Hamilton developed several designation and rezoning programs for the metropolitan area’s 24 cities and towns. In 1960 he left Indianapolis to become the planning director for the City of Pittsburgh. Hamilton was instrumental in the preparation of a master plan and developed a federally funded community renewal program, an urban simulation model to analyze the impacts of city-wide renewal efforts. He also initiated a citizen planning participation program and 13 urban renewal projects.

In 1960 Hamilton left Pittsburgh to take up the post of planning director at the Department of City Planning in the City of Los Angeles. One of his major projects was the Goals Program, a participatory planning project that involved more than 80,000 Angelenos in formulating goals for the general plan. In addition, in 1970, Hamilton prepared Concept Los Angeles, the first citywide general plan that set long-range policy for the social, economic, and physical aspects of Los Angeles. The plan also called for radical changes to Los Angeles’s zoning system, such as creating business centers like Century City and Westwood in West Los Angeles and halting commercial development adjacent residential areas. Hamilton’s tenure with the City of Los Angeles ended when he resigned in late 1985, after an eight-month investigation by the California Attorney General’s Office found that he exercised questionable judgment but had not violated any law, as Hamilton was accused of using city staff and resources to promote a private firm that he had founded. After his resignation, Hamilton worked as a planning consultant for many years. In 1997 Hamilton passed away in San Diego, California.

Scope and Content

This collection contains professional papers generated by Calvin S. Hamilton during his tenure as planning director for the City of Los Angeles. The papers were organized into two series: 1) Bound Volumes Series 2) Correspondence, Manuscripts, and Ephemera Series.

The Bound Volumes Series contains 45 scrapbooks of newspaper clippings on subjects such as Calvin S. Hamilton and planning issues related to Los Angeles during the period of 1964 to 1986. This series also contains an area plan of Los Angeles (1963 to 1975), land use community plan, City of Los Angeles employees’ telephone directory, and a zoning code book.

The Correspondence, Manuscripts, and Ephemera Series contains a range of unbound materials that were generated by Hamilton. Most prominently are periodicals that featured Hamilton and the City of Los Angeles’s planning endeavors and projects, various planning reports, transcripts of speeches given by Hamilton, and subject files on earthquake preparedness and Olvera Street in Los Angeles, California.

The Los Angeles City Archives also holds a large collection of Calvin S. Hamilton’s professional papers.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following two series:

Series I. Bound Volumes Series
Series II. Correspondence, Manuscripts, and Ephemera Series

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Hamilton, Calvin S.

City planning--California--Los Angeles.

City planning--California--Los Angeles--History--20th century.

Housing policy--California--Los Angeles.

Land use --California --Los Angeles --Planning.

Landscape architecture.

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Los Angeles (Calif.). Department of City Planning.

Neighborhood planning--California--Los Angeles.

Olvera Street (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Zoning--California--Los Angeles.

Forms/Genres

Reports.

Scrapbooks.

Speeches (documents).

Series I. Bound Volumes 1963-1986.

Physical Description: approximately 49 items.

Arrangement

The volumes in this series are arranged chronologically by date and described in the following format:

Item Number. Author. Title. Date.

Volume 1

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1964-1965.

Volume 2

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1966.

Volume 3

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1967.

Volume 4

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1967.

Volume 5

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1967.

Volume 6

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1968.

Volume 7

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1968.

Volume 8

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1969.

Volume 9

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1969.

Volume 10

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1970.

Volume 11

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1970.

Volume 12

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1970.

Volume 13

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1971.

Volume 14

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1971.

Volume 15

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1972.

Volume 16

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1972.

Volume 17

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1973.

Volume 18

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1973.

Volume 19

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1974.

Volume 20

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1974.

Volume 21

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1975.

Volume 22

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1976.

Volume 23

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1976.

Volume 24

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1977.

Volume 25

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1977.

Volume 26

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1978.

Volume 27

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1978.

Volume 28

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1979.

Volume 29

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1979.

Volume 30

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1980.

Volume 31

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1980.

Volume 32

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1981.

Volume 33

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1981.

Volume 34

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1982.

Volume 35

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1982.

Volume 36

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1983.

Volume 37

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1983.

Volume 38

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1984.

Volume 39

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1984.

Volume 40

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1985.

Volume 41

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1985.

Volume 42

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. 1986.

Volume 43

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks. Undated.

Volume 44

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks -- TRAICE: history of legal troubles. Undated.

Volume 45

Los Angeles (Calif.). Department of City Planning.

Area plans -- Master plan, City of Los Angeles. 1963-1975.

Volume 46

Los Angeles (Calif.). Department of City Planning.

Community plans -- Land use element. 1979-1986.

Volume 47

Los Angeles (Calif.).

Telephone directory. 1985.

Volume 48

Los Angeles (Calif.).

Zoning code. 1986.

Volume 49

Hamilton, Calvin S.

Scrapbooks (oversize). 1960s.

Series II. Correspondence, Manuscripts, and Ephemera 1959-1990.

Physical Description: approximately 793 items.

Box 1

Box 1, Folder 1

American Planning Association award -- Candidate evaluation. 1988.

Box 1, Folder 2

Articles -- Chunichi Shimbun. 1975-03-18.

Box 1, Folder 3

Articles -- Yomiuri Shimbun. 1975-03-19.

Box 1, Folder 4

Brochures -- Los Angeles region Goals project. 1970s.

Box 1, Folder 5

Correspondence. 1959, 1970 to 1971.

Box 1, Folder 6

Institute for Participatory Planning -- Citizen participation handbook. 1981.

Box 1, Folder 7

Maps -- Concept Los Angeles. 1970; 1973.

Box 1, Folder 8

Memorandums -- Analysis of Los Angeles County regulation XV plan. 1990-05-28.

Box 1, Folder 9

Memorandums -- Mulholland scenic parkway specific plan. 1986-01-22.

Box 1, Folder 10

Miscellaneous documents. 1980s to 1990s.

Box 1, Folder 11

News releases -- Mayor announces new plan to significantly reduce future city air pollution. 1988-01-04.

Box 1, Folder 12

Newspaper clippings. 1973 to 1974.

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clippings. 1974-11 to 1974-12.

Box 1, Folder 14

Newspapers -- Pittsburgh Press. 1963-01-15.

Box 1, Folder 15

Periodicals. 1963 to 1983.

Box 2

Box 2, Folder 1

Periodicals. 1969; 1988 to 1989.

Box 2, Folder 2

Periodicals -- American Right of Way Association. 1973-09.

Box 2, Folder 3

Periodicals -- Century City Centurion. 1967-08 to 1967-09.

Box 2, Folder 4

Periodicals -- Church in Metropolis. 1967 Spring.

Box 2, Folder 5

Periodicals -- Coast. 1972-04.

Box 2, Folder 6

Periodicals -- El Pueblo. 1983-06.

Box 2, Folder 7

Periodicals -- Impact in the News. 1968-03.

Box 2, Folder 8

Periodicals -- Journal of the American Industrial Real Estate Association. 1971 to 1972.

Box 2, Folder 9

Periodicals -- Landscape Architecture. 1960 Spring.

Box 2, Folder 10

Periodicals -- Landscape Architecture. 1972-04.

Box 2, Folder 11

Periodicals -- Los Angeles Magazine. 1965-02.

Box 2, Folder 12

Periodicals -- Los Angeles Magazine. 1967-06.

Box 2, Folder 13

Periodicals -- Los Angeles Times West. 1968-05-12.

Box 2, Folder 14

Periodicals -- National Geographic. 1979-01.

Box 2, Folder 15

Periodicals -- Newsweek. 1959-12-14.

Box 2, Folder 16

Periodicals -- Presbyterian Life. 1967-07-01.

Box 2, Folder 17

Periodicals -- Sigma. 1973 Winter.

Box 2, Folder 18

Periodicals -- Town Hall Reporter. 1981-05.

Box 2, Folder 19

Photos -- Hamilton, Calvin S. and city officials. 1979 to 1985.

Box 2, Folder 20

Planning seminars. 1969.

Box 3

Box 3, Folder 1

Press releases -- Density adjustment study. 1972-07-16.

Box 3, Folder 2

Reports -- City planning study tour of German cities sponsored by West German Federal Foreign Office, Cultural Relations Division. 1971.

Box 3, Folder 3

Reports -- Collective dimensions in interracial behavior. 1959 after.

Box 3, Folder 4

Reports -- Density adjustment study. 1972-05.

Box 3, Folder 5

Reports -- Draft baseline projection: subregional breakdown. 1986-12.

Box 3, Folder 6

Reports -- El Pueblo de Los Angeles state historic park. 1981-08.

Box 3, Folder 7

Reports -- Environmental impact reports and transportation, urban design, and historic preservation studies for the proposed community plan revision program. 1988-04-18.

Box 3, Folder 8

Reports -- Housing plan: an element of the general plan, City of Los Angeles. 1985-01-01.

Box 3, Folder 9

Reports -- The importance of the built environment to the quality of American life. 1980.

Box 3, Folder 10

Reports -- Institutions for better urban growth. 1959-09.

Box 3, Folder 11

Reports -- Land use development code: comprehensive zoning plan revision. 1971-08.

Box 3, Folder 12

Reports -- Oikoumene, Los Angeles style. 1968-12-12.

Box 3, Folder 13

Reports -- Outmigration study. 1986-11.

Box 3, Folder 14

Reports -- Prevention, detection, and correction of corruption in local government. 1978-11.

Box 3, Folder 15

Reports -- Population estimate and housing inventory for the City of Los Angeles. 1976 to 1988.

Box 4

Box 4, Folder 1

Reports -- Population estimate and housing inventory for the City of Los Angeles. 1978; 1985.

Box 4, Folder 2

Reports -- Population estimate and housing inventory for the City of Los Angeles. 1979 to 1984.

Box 4, Folder 3

Reports -- Population estimate and housing inventory for the City of Los Angeles. 1983; 1985.

Box 4, Folder 4

Reports -- Preliminary geo-economic analysis of alternative concept plans. 1968-03.

Box 4, Folder 5

Reports -- Progress of the rebuilding and restoration sub-committee. 1985-10-08.

Box 4, Folder 6

Reports -- Public transportation and land use policy. 1970s c..

Box 4, Folder 7

Reports -- Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historical Monument plan. 1984-09.

Box 4, Folder 8

Reports -- Regional growth and infrastructure. 1986-02.

Box 4, Folder 9

Reports -- Social, economic, and demographic statistics. 1985.

Box 4, Folder 10

Reports -- Statistical areas of the City of Los Angeles. 1982-02-18.

Box 4, Folder 11

Reports -- Tujunga Valley business park and homes. 1970s or after.

Box 4, Folder 12

Reports -- Zone change, height district change, and plan amendment. 1986.

Box 4, Folder 13

Resumes. 1980s.

Box 4, Folder 14

School integration. 1976 to 1977.

Box 5

Box 5, Folder 1

Southern California Association of Governments -- 208 programs. 1970s.

Box 5, Folder 2

Southern California Association of Governments -- Response to the conditions of designation for 208 Agency as proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board's action. 1976-04-21.

Box 5, Folder 3

Southern California Association of Governments -- SCAG Section 208 areawide waste treatment management planning: grant application and work plan outline. 1970s.

Box 5, Folder 4

Speeches. 1963-10-10 to 1964-01-17.

Box 5, Folder 5

Speeches. 1964-02.

Box 5, Folder 6

Speeches. 1964-04-25 to 1964-09-24.

Box 6

Box 6, Folder 1

Speeches. 1964-10-08 to 1965-01-27.

Box 6, Folder 2

Speeches. 1966-09-30 to 1966-10-30.

Box 6, Folder 3

Speeches. 1967-01-31 to 1967-03-20.

Box 6, Folder 4

Speeches. 1967-03-27 to 1967-07-26.

Box 6, Folder 5

Speeches. 1967-08-01 to 1967-10-08.

Box 7

Box 7, Folder 1

Speeches. 1968-06-08 to 1969-03-19.

Box 7, Folder 2

Speeches. 1969-04-08 to 1969-09-30.

Box 7, Folder 3

Speeches. 1970 to 1973-11-16.

Box 7, Folder 4

Speeches. 1970; 1985 to 1989.

Box 7, Folder 5

Speeches. 1973-12-12 to 1974-05-03.

Box 8

Box 8, Folder 1

Speeches. 1974-09-20 to 1977-02-15.

Box 8, Folder 2

Speeches. 1980-03-15 to 1981-10-13.

Box 8, Folder 3

Speeches. 1981-10-16 to 1982-05-09.

Box 8, Folder 4

Speeches. 1982-05-17 to 1982-11.

Box 8, Folder 5

Speeches. 1982-11 to 1983-04-13.

Box 9

Box 9, Folder 1

Speeches. 1983-05-11 to 1984-11-30.

Box 9, Folder 2

Subject files -- Earthquake preparedness. 1981 to 1985.

Box 9, Folder 3

Subject files -- Earthquake preparedness. 1982 to 1985.

Box 9, Folder 4

Subject files -- Earthquake preparedness. 1982 to 1988.

Box 10

Box 10, Folder 1

Subject files -- Earthquake preparedness. 1983 to 1988.

Box 10, Folder 2

Subject files -- Earthquake preparedness. 1985.

Box 10, Folder 3

Subject files -- Hollywood P.A.C. 1969 to 1989.

Box 10, Folder 4

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1979 to 1988.

Box 10, Folder 5

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1984 to 1985.

Box 10, Folder 6

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1985 to 1987.

Box 10, Folder 7

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1986.

Box 11

Box 11, Folder 1

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1986 to 1987.

Box 11, Folder 2

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1986 to 1987.

Box 11, Folder 3

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1986 to 1987.

Box 11, Folder 4

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1986 to 1987.

Box 11, Folder 5

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1986 to 1988.

Box 11, Folder 6

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1987 to 1988.

Box 11, Folder 7

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1987 to 1988.

Box 11, Folder 8

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1987 to 1988.

Box 12

Box 12, Folder 1

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1987 to 1988.

Box 12, Folder 2

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1988.

Box 12, Folder 3

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1988.

Box 12, Folder 4

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1988 to 1990.

Box 12, Folder 5

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1980s.

Box 12, Folder 6

Subject files -- Olvera Street. 1980s.