Fair Oaks Ranch Photographs: Finding
Aid
Finding aid prepared by Lisa Janssen.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Photo Archives
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2015
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Fair Oaks Ranch Photographs
Dates (inclusive): approximately 1878-approximately 1900
Bulk dates: approximately 1889
Collection Number: photCL 6
Collector:
James F. Crank Family
Extent:
96 photographs (including duplicates) in 1 box : prints
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Photo Archives
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains one photograph album and thirty-five loose photographs depicting the Fair Oaks Ranch, in Altadena,
California, during the late 19th century.
The ranch, owned by businessman and rancher James F. Crank, encompassed a vineyard, winery, and citrus orchards, along with
a lavish residence and grounds.
Subjects include interior and exterior views
of the residence; the Crank family; Chinese agricultural
workers and ranch hands in the vineyard; winery operations; fruit orchards; and trees and plant life on the property. Photographs
in the album are cyanotype prints; the
loose photographs include cyanotypes, cabinet cards, and stereographs.
Language: English.
Note:
Finding aid last updated on 2015-06-15.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
Administrative Information
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 necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Fair Oaks Ranch Photographs, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of Mildred Crank, 1935-1938.
Historical Note
The Fair Oaks Ranch property (now in modern day Pasadena and Altadena, California) was originally part of the Rancho San Pasqual.
Eliza Griffin Johnston purchased
the property in 1862 from her brother Dr. John S. Griffin, who had large land holdings in the Los Angeles area. Eliza Johnston
named the ranch “Fair Oaks” after
her hometown in West Virginia, but left California after only two years following the death of her son, Albert S. Johnston
II. In 1877, Benjamin S. Eaton took
over the property , subdivided the ranch, and sold the northern parcel to businessman James F. Crank (1842-1935) in 1877.
Crank had recently moved to Los Angeles, California, from the East Coast with his wife,
Mary Agnes Crank (1846-1932), and son, Albert F. Crank (1870-1933).
Crank proceeded to plant vineyards and fruit
orchards and built a Victorian mansion on the property in 1882. In 1885, he constructed a winery and the next year started
the Sierra Madre Vintage Company.
Crank was also president of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad. He hit financial hard times and sold the ranch
around 1905.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of one photograph album with 48 photographs and 35 loose photographs (as well as some duplicates),
with images depicting the Fair Oaks Ranch in Altadena, California. The photographs in the album are cyanotype prints dating
from around 1889;
the loose photographs include cyanotypes, cabinet cards, and stereographs that date from the
late 1870s to about 1900.
The last page of the album contains a travel sketch in pencil, followed by sketches of a room interior and floor plan on two
pages laid in. Subjects include interior and exterior views of the residence,
landscaped grounds, trees, and plant life; members of the Crank family; ranch workers, including Chinese laborers, working
in the orchards and vineyard, harvesting and packing fruit, drying apricots, and loading fruit onto horse-drawn carts; workers’
quarters;
the operations of the winery and distillery; and
also a handful of sweeping views of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Altadena and Pasadena areas taken from vantage points
on the property.
The photographer of the album is unknown, but Item 46 shows a wood hutch with a mirror in which the photographer and camera
are reflected. Some of the cabinet
cards and stereographs have imprints from area photographers: C. McMurtrey (Item 80), C.B. Ripley (Items 73-74), and A.C.
Varela (Items 76-78).
Titles have been transcribed from captions on album pages and photo-mounts when present; titles devised by the cataloger
are enclosed in square brackets. Additional information was gathered from notes on the backs of
some photographs. Approximate dates for the collection were devised by the cataloger based on years noted on certain items,
the general history of the property and Crank family,
and also on a year visible on a calendar in Item 46. Thirteen photographs
have duplicates in the collection, which are noted in the inventory below.
Related materials in the Huntington Library
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Arrangement
The collection is arranged with the album first, followed by the loose photographs in order of image number.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Crank, James F. -- Photographs.
Crank Family -- Photographs.
Agricultural laborers -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Agriculture -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Architecture, Victorian -- California -- Altadena -- Photographs.
Chinese Americans -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Dwellings -- California -- Altadena -- Photographs.
Gardens -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Orchards -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Ranch houses -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Ranches -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Trees -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Upper class families -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Vineyards -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Wine and wine making -- California, Southern -- Photographs.
Altadena (Calif.) -- Photographs
California, Southern -- Photographs
Pasadena (Calif.) -- Photographs
San Gabriel Mountains (Calif.) -- Photographs
San Gabriel River Valley (Calif.) -- Photographs
Forms/Genres
Photographs.
Cabinet photographs.
Cyanotypes.
Stereographs.
Photograph albums.
Contributors
McMurtrey, C., photographer.
Ripley, C. B., photographer.
Varela, A. C. (Alexander C.), 1839-1915, photographer.
Volume 1
Fair Oaks Rancho Photograph Album, approximately 1889-approximately 1891
Physical Description:
48 photographs in 1 volume : cyanotype prints ; images various sizes 12.5 x 20 cm and smaller, album 22.5 x 29 cm + 3 drawings
Scope and Content
This photograph album contains cyanotype prints dating from about 1889. The title "Fair Oaks Rancho San Gabriel Valley, California"
is hand drawn on the cover.
Images are of interior and exterior views of the Crank residence; Chinese agricultural workers and ranch hands in the vineyard
and fruit orchards; winery
operations; and trees and plant life on the property. The last few pages of album feature three pencil sketches by an unknown
artist
of a rowboat scene on Lake Keuka, a room interior, and a floor plan.
Album date range supplied by cataloger based on 1889 year visible on a calendar in Item 46 and the 1891 date in the title
for the sketch of rowboats (Drawing 1).
Item 1
[Front lawn of Crank residence.]
Item 2
[Upper level of Crank Residence.]
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 3
[Three-quarters view of back of Crank residence.]
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 4
[Exterior view of front of Crank residence.]
Item 5
[Exterior view of back of Crank residence.]
Item 6
[Three-quarters exterior view of front of Crank residence.]
Item 7
[Porch of Crank residence.]
Item 8
[Interior of Crank residence.]
Item 10
[Road through shade trees.]
Item 14
Reservoir.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 15
[Fruit harvest.]
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 16
[Dirt road through trees.]
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 21
[Orchard and San Gabriel Mountains.]
Item 22
[Scenic view of mountains.]
Item 27
In the vineyards.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 28
In the vineyards.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 29
In the vineyards.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 31
Pickers filling the boxes.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 32
Pickers filling the boxes.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 38
Hauling to the wine press.
Item 39
On the endless belt going to the crusher.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 40
On the scales.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 44
A row in the wine cellar.
Item 47
Exterior of James F. Crank house.
Item 48
Chinese vineyard workers.
Drawing 1
Going to the corn roast, Lake Keuka [pencil sketch], Sept. 1, 1891.
Drawing 2
[Pencil drawing of a front room interior with fireplace].
Drawing 3
[Pencil drawing of a house floorplan.]
Loose Photographs, approximately 1880-approximately 1900
Physical Description:
35 photographs : prints ; images various sizes.
Scope and Content
These loose photographs include cyanotypes, cabinet cards, and stereographs.
Images are of the Crank residence, the Crank family, horses, and workers harvesting grapes and citrus fruit from the
vineyard and orchards on the property. One photograph shows a man painting in the "plein air" manner that was popular at the
time (Item 60).
Item 51
East porch and garden.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 53
Cactus plants and oak tree.
Item 54
Hall and staircase.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 56
Interior -- group playing cards.
Item 57
Three unidentified women.
Item 60
[Man painting watercolor.]
Item 61
Elderly man under huge live-oak tree.
Item 62
Adobe house of Chinese help.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 63
Chinese man before adobe house.
Note
Duplicate loose print in collection.
Item 64
White carriage house outside stable.
Item 65
Group of horses including Bert Ranks "Inyo."
Item 68
Drying apricots in the sun.
Item 73
House surrounded by young grape vines.
Stereograph by C.B. Ripley.
Item 74
Driveway to house.
Stereograph by C.B. Ripley.
Item 76
The vineyards of Fair Oaks Ranch.
Stereograph by A.C. Varela.
Item 77
Mexican help before adobe.
Stereograph by A.C. Varela.
Item 78
Crank family.
Stereograph by A.C. Varela.
Item 79
Pampas grass (18 feet) and umbrella tree.
Item 80
Grape picking, Cranks' ranch.
Photograph by C. McMurtrey.
Item 81
Grape vine -- Cranks' ranch.
Item 82
Gathering oranges, Mr. Crank at left.
