Guide to the J. Paul Getty Assorted Building Plans, 1906, 1941-1967, and undated
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein
Descriptive Summary
Title: Assorted building plans
Date (inclusive): 1906, 1941-1967, undated
Number: IA20014
Creator/Collector:
Getty, J. Paul (Jean Paul), 1892-1976
Physical Description:
34.43 linear feet
(2 boxes, 8 flat files)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Institutional Records and Archives
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
archives@getty.edu
Abstract: Records consist of blueprints, architectural drawings, a photograph, and a manuscript, 1906, 1941-1967 and undated, that depict
and describe buildings having some relationship to J. Paul Getty, the Getty family and Getty businesses.
Request Materials: To access physical materials at the Getty, go to the
library catalog record for this collection and click "Request an Item." Click here for
general library access policy . See the Administrative Information section of this finding aid for access restrictions specific to the records described
below. Please note, some of the records may be stored off site; advanced notice is required for access to these materials.
Language: Collection material is in
English
Biographical Note
American oil tycoon and art collector Jean Paul Getty was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 15, 1892 to George Franklin
Getty (1855-1930) and Sarah Catherine McPherson Risher Getty. Around 1906 the Getty family moved to Los Angeles. Jean Paul,
called "Paul," attended a private military school before going on to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles
and the University of California, Berkeley. In 1911, Paul went to Oxford to study economics and political science, completing
his diploma in 1913. Afterwards he embarked on a year-long Grand Tour of Europe, which no doubt sparked his interest in art
and antiquities.
In 1914 Paul joined the family petroleum business and spent a year in the oil fields of Oklahoma. An astute investment in
160 acres near Stone Bluff, Oklahoma led to Paul’s announcement two years later that he had earned his first million dollars.
He returned to Los Angeles and took a break of more than a year before returning to the oil business. Paul then persuaded
his father to shift the focus of the family business to the Los Angeles basin. Paul continued to work for the family company
in addition to conducting oil drilling of his own, securing the family fortune by the time the stock market crashed in 1929.
Upon his death in 1930 George left controlling interest in the company to Sarah. In 1934 Paul forced Sarah out of control
of the company and gave her an annuity. His fortune grew as he acquired the controlling interest in several companies and
became the head of a vast organization with activities in oil exploration, transportation, production and marketing, as well
as minerals, manufacturing, real estate and agriculture. In the mid-1940s Getty bought the Saudi Arabian portion of the lease
on the mineral rights in the Neutral Zone between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; his wealth dramatically increased when this site
produced oil in 1953.
Beginning in the early 1930s Getty lived in a house he built next to William Randolph Hearst’s on the beach in Santa Monica.
During World War II he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma for four years to supervise wartime production of parts for Allied aircraft
at his Spartan Aircraft plant. In 1946 he purchased 64 acres in Malibu, California and renovated the existing hacienda, known
as the Ranch House, where he lived until 1951. When Getty departed the United States for Europe in 1951, he kept his Malibu
estate for the display of his art collection and for the possibility of his eventual return. Getty had been collecting art
since the 1930s. In 1938 he made his first major purchases: a group of furniture; a carpet that had belonged to Louis XIV,
often called "Ardabil Carpet"; and Rembrandt’s
Marten Looten (he donated the Ardabil Carpet and the Rembrandt to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1954). His other interest was
antiquities, fueled by visits to the Vatican Museums that began in 1939. He took pride in being knowledgeable in the areas
in which he was collecting and in finding bargains. Getty continued to collect art throughout his lifetime, despite occasional
assertions that he was no longer in the market. By 1968 his art collection had begun to outgrow the Ranch House and he began
planning a new building on the property to properly house these works. He chose to pattern this new museum building after
a first-century Roman country house, based primarily on the plans of the ancient Villa dei Papiri near Herculaneum. This museum,
often called the Villa, opened to the public on January 16, 1974.
After leaving the United States Getty lived in hotel suites in Europe until 1960 when he moved to Sutton Place, a historic
72-room Tudor manor located 25 miles southwest of London. In 1957
Fortune magazine designated Getty as the world’s wealthiest man, and he became the object of considerable public interest. For the
rest of his life, both the respectable press and the tabloids reported on his perceived eccentricities and his private life,
which included five marriages and divorces. J. Paul Getty died in England on June 6, 1976 without ever returning to California.
Although he never saw the museum, he is buried at the Getty Villa property, on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Much
to everyone's surprise Getty left the bulk of his fortune to the museum with a mission to promote “the diffusion of artistic
and general knowledge."
J. Paul Getty's publications include:
- Getty, J. Paul.
The history of the oil business of George F. and J. Paul Getty from 1903 to 1939. Los Angeles (?), 1941.
- Getty, J. Paul.
Europe in the eighteenth century. [Santa Monica, Calif.]: privately printed, 1949.
- Le Vane, Ethel, and J. Paul Getty.
Collector's choice: the chronicle of an artistic odyssey through Europe. London: W.H. Allen, 1955.
- Getty, J. Paul.
My life and fortunes. New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1963.
- Getty, J. Paul.
The joys of collecting. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1965.
- Getty, J. Paul.
How to be rich. Chicago: Playboy Press, 1965.
- Getty, J. Paul.
The golden age. New York: Trident Press, 1968.
- Getty, J. Paul.
How to be a successful executive. Chicago: Playboy Press, 1971.
- Getty, J. Paul.
As I see it: the autobiography of J. Paul Getty. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice-Hall, 1976.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
The records described in accessions 1986.IA.06 are available for use by qualified researchers.
The records in accession 1986.IA.19, subject to review for permanently closed information, are open to qualified researchers.
Requests for access will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The following records are permanently closed: records containing personal information, records that compromise security or
operations, legal communications, legal work product, and records related to donors. The J. Paul Getty Trust reserves the
right to restrict access to any records held by the Institutional Archives.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
[Cite the item and series (as appropriate)], Assorted building plans, 1906, 1941-1967 and undated, J. Paul Getty. Institutional
Archives, Research Library, Getty Research Institute, Finding aid no. IA20014.
Acquisition Information
The items in this finding aid originated in accession nos. 1986.IA.06 and part of 1986.IA.19 (transferred by the J. Paul Getty
Museum).
Processing History
Some items were rehoused and a preliminary inventory created by Institutional Archives part-time staff prior to 2005. In 2005
Sue Luftschein rehoused some of the material and encoded this finding aid. In 2009 Cyndi Shein revised the Biographical Note.
Scope and Content of Collection
Records consist of blueprints, blueline prints, architectural drawings, a photograph, and a manuscript, 1906, 1941-1967 and
undated, that depict and describe buildingsthat have some relationship to J. Paul Getty, the Getty family and Getty businesses.
These include the Melody Lane Building on Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, commissioned by Ada Oil, one of the Getty family
oil companies; One Wilshire, Los Angeles, which was the headquarters of a number of Getty family businesses; 624 S. Grand
Avenue, Los Angeles, the proposed site of a J. Paul Getty Museum; additions to houses owned by J. Paul and George Getty, both
in Los Angeles; and two projects, the Mobridge Municipal Swimming Pool and the Hot Creek Hatchery, locations unknown.
Organization
These records are organized in three series:
Series I. Commercial buildings, 1906, 1941, 1966-1967, undated;
Series II. Residential buildings, 1948, undated;
Series III. Other structures, 1939-1940, undated.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Getty, George F. (George Franklin), 1855-1930
Getty, J. Paul (Jean Paul), 1892-1976
Subjects - Topics
Architecture--California--Los Angeles
Genres and Forms of Material
Architectural drawings (visual works)
Blueline prints
Blueprints (reprographic copies)
Manuscripts
Photographs
Contributors
Ada Oil Corporation
Getty, J. Paul (Jean Paul), 1892-1976
Bibliography
Information in the biographical note on J. Paul Getty was adapted from:
-
Walsh, John and Deborah Gribbon.
The J. Paul Getty Museum and its collections: a museum for the new century. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1997.
Series I.
Commerical buildings,
1906, 1941, 1966-1967, undated
Physical Description:
14.0 linear feet
(1 box, 3 flat files)
Scope and Content Note
Records consist of blueline prints, photocopies of blueline prints, and a photograph, 1906, 1941, 1966-1967, and undated,
of three commercial buildings having some connection to J. Paul Getty and the Getty family businesses. The commercial building
with retail outlets proposed for the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue was commissioned by Ada Oil (listed as
"owner" on the first blueline print), one of the Getty family oil corporations. One Wilshire, Los Angeles, was the headquarters
of some of the Getty family businesses. 624 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, was the site of a proposed J. Paul Getty Museum.
Arrangement
These records are arranged by building and by date.
Melody Lane job, Wilshire and Western:
General note
[Photocopies of blueline prints.]
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Foundation plan,
November 1941
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Electrical, wiring, plumbing and fixture plan,
November 1941
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Plumbing diagram,
November 1941
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Section details,
November 1941
Physical Description:
[2 sheets.]
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Dining room details,
November 1941
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Elevation and scale details,
November 1941
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Details of Ingraham St. entrance hall,
November 1941
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Lobby details,
November 1941
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-16
Wall elevations,
November 1941
One Wilshire Building, 22nd floor, Nisso Pacific Corp., Saphier, Lerner, Schindler, Inc. Environetics:
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-15
Elevation,
November 28, 1966, December 2, 1966, February 7, 1967
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-15
Floor plan,
November 28, 1966, December 2, 1966, February 7, 1967
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-15
Technical specifications,
November 28, 1966, December 2, 1966, February 7, 1967
Box 1986.IA.19-18
Photograph of corner of Wilshire and Hobart,
1906
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-15
"Legends/Section/Detail – Suite proposed for: J.P. Getty Museum 624 So. Grand Avenue Los Angeles, Calif. 90017, " Paramount
Space Planning and Design,
undated
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-15
"Demo. and Const. Plan/Reflected Clg. Plan/Phone and Elect. Plan/Fin. Schedule Plan – Suite Proposed for: J. P. Getty Museum
624 S. Grand Avenue Los Angeles, Calif. 90017," Paramount Space Planning and Design,
undated
Series II.
Residential buildings,
1948, undated
Physical Description:
12.26 linear feet
(1 box, 3 flat files)
Scope and Content Note
Records consist of blueprints, blueline prints, and a typed manuscript, 1948 and undated, depicting various Getty family residences.
The records depict a garage addition to J. Paul Getty's house at 270 Ocean Front, Santa Monica, California; designs for pantries
for an unidentified J. Paul Getty residence; and alterations to an existing residence for George Getty.
Arrangement
These records are arranged by building type and by date.
Garage Addition to Residence of J. Paul Getty, 270 Ocean Front, Santa Monica, Macco Corp. – Builder:
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-13
Floor plan,
June 17, 1948
General note
[Approval date on verso. 4 copies.]
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-13
Plot plan,
undated
General note
[Pencil drawing on vellum.]
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-13
Floor plan, elevations,
undated
General note
[Pencil drawings on vellum; 2 versions.]
Unidentified J. Paul Getty residence:
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-13
"South Wall Pantry",
undated
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-13
"Pantry Cases; Getty Job",
January 15, 1948
General note
[4 views. One drawing is torn and has a piece missing from the lower right edge.]
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-14
Alteration plan for Mr. George Getty, Frank M. Tyler, Architect,
undated
Box 1986.IA.06-1, Folder 1
"Alterations to be made on Residence of George F. Getty, on north-west corner of Wilshire and Kingsley Street,"
undated
General note
[Typed manuscripts with handwritten notes on reverse.]
Series III.
Other structures,
1939-1940, undated
Physical Description:
8.17 linear feet
(2 flat files)
Scope and Content Note
Records consist of blueprints and blueline prints, 1939-1940 and undated, depicting a detail for the Mobridge Municipal Swimming
Pool and the Hot Creek Hatchery project, including general layout, details of cross dams, the supply pipeline, and the hatchery
building. The relationship of the buildings depicted in the drawings to J. Paul Getty or the Getty family and its businesses
is unclear.
Arrangement
These records are arranged by type of structure and by date.
Hot Creek Hatchery, State of California Division of Fish and Game:
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
"Hot Creek Project – General Layout",
January 25, 1940
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
“Hot Creek Project – General Layout”,
January 26, 1940
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
“Hot Creek Project – Details of Cross Dams On Pond Systems”,
January 18, 1940
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
“Hot Creek Project – Details of Center Flumes On Pond Systems”,
January 12, 1940
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
“Hot Creek Project – Hatchery Water Supply Dam”,
December 28, 1939
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
“Hot Creek Project – Details of Hatchery Supply Pipeline”,
January 14, 1939
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
“Hot Creek Project – Details of Hatchery Building”,
undated
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-11
“Hot Creek Project – Framing Detail [?] Building”,
February 16, 1940
Mobridge Municipal Swimming Pool:
Flatfile 1986.IA.19-14
"Municipal Swimming Pool for the City of Mobridge – Typical Wall Form Detail – National Swimming Pool Corp. 615 So. Oxford
Ave., Los Angeles, Calif.",
undated
