This collection contains an unpublished manuscript, "California's Romantic Ranchos" (ca. 1962) by journalist and editor Verne Dyson (1879-1971), on the history of the privately-owned California rancho lands granted under Spanish and Mexican rule. The manuscript is complemented by 326 photographs, chiefly dating from the 1890s-1900s and acquired by historian and amateur photographer George W. Hazard (1842-1914), that document adobes, early homes and towns, missions and prominent pioneers of California. There is also a 19th century abstract of title, ca. 1855-1878, providing a history of A. W. Timms’ land transactions on Rancho Palos Verdes, California, as well as some additional illustrations.

Verne Dyson (1879-1971) was born in Calloway County, Missouri, and graduated from Central College, Fayette, Missouri. He started his career in journalism in 1907 as a feature writer at the Kansas City Star, then later the same year moved to Los Angeles to work as a writer and editor at the Los Angeles Times. Dyson became acquainted with historian George W. Hazard, who hired him to edit a work on the history of Los Angeles that Hazard had been working on for many years. Hazard died in 1914 before it was published. Dyson acquired Hazard’s vast collection of materials and photographs from his family.George W. Hazard (1842-1914) was a Los Angeles historian and amateur photographer. Between the 1890s and early 1900s, Hazard traveled throughout Southern California photographing locations of local historical significance.

7 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)

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