This collection contains surveyors' field books, plat maps and other maps from counties of Southern California, spanning the years from 1855 to 1968.

A number of surveyors appear in the collection. The most prominent are Joseph A. Hurley, E(dward) T(homas) Wright and his partner, Nicholson. Although the partner's Christian name is unidentified in the collection he is most likely W. B. Nicholson, who is cited as Wright's partner in Nicholson's obituary in the Los Angeles Herald of 21 August 1901. Wright was married to Nicholson's sister, Lucy, until her death in 1900. Also, a Mary Perry Nicholson learned the profession of engineering in the office of E. T. Wright, according to a Los Angeles Herald article of 12 July 1903. She may have been a relative of W. B. Nicholson.

1749 maps, 7 tables, 16 archival document boxes, 10 flat oversize boxes

Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or executors.

Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University.