William A. Peschelt Collection
Finding aid prepared by Erin Chase.
Rare Book Department, Architectural Collections
© 2011
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: echase@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Title: William A. Peschelt
Collection
Dates: c. 1905-1912
Bulk dates: c. 1905-1912
Collection Number: Consult
repository.
Creator:
Peschelt, William A.
Extent:
1 flat folder
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens,
Rare Book Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: echase@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The collection documents the landscape
work of William A. Peschelt during the early part of the 20th century, with a focus
on his work for Arthur Letts’ Holmby Park residence.
Language of Material: The records are in English.
Collection is open to qualified researchers. For more information, please contact
echase@huntington.org.
All requests for permission to publish or reproduce in any format must be
submitted in writing to the Curator of Rare Books.
[Identification of item], William A. Peschelt Collection, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
This collection was purchased in 2009.
William Peschelt was born in Berlin, Germany in 1853, and came to Los Angeles in 1880
at the beginning of the population boom. Not much is known about the early part of
his career, but in the first decade of the century he went into private business
with Adolph Scheffler as a nurseryman and landscape designer. By 1905, Peschelt had
likely gained a reputation as a landscape designer and ornamental horticulturalist
because in the same year he was hired to work on possibly the largest and most
elaborate residential garden in the city of Los Angeles. In 1904, English born
Arthur Letts (1862-1923), founder of the Broadway Department Store, purchased 60
acres in the Los Feliz area, built his residence Holmby House, and began
transforming the landscape. His collection of trees, plants, shrubs, and succulents
was unrivaled, and his formal garden with deodor-lined roads, fountains, statuary,
terraces, and sweeping lawns made it one of the most beautiful in Los Angeles. In
addition to the Letts estate, Peschelt created a residential garden plan for Isaac
Millbank of Santa Monica, and an elaborate cemetery plan for Inglewood Park
Cemetery.
Collection consists of five renderings in total, including three of the Letts
residence. In addition to the Letts estate, Peschelt created a residential garden
plan for Isaac Millbank of Santa Monica, and an elaborate cemetery plan for
Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Peschelt, William
A.
Landscape Architects –-
California.
Landscape Architecture -- California --
Los Angeles.
Landscape Architecture -- Designs and
plans.
Architectural drawings.
Series Description
I. PROJECT PLANS AND DRAWINGS, 1905-1912
Physical Description:
1 flat folder
Scope and Content Note
• Original Map for Sunken Garden at Holmby Park [home of Arthur Letts], c.
1905.
• Original Contour Map for Holmby Residence of Arthur Letts, Esq., c.
1905-1907
• “Holmby,” Arthur Letts Home, ca. 1908.
• Inglewood Park Cemetery, 1912.
• Plot plan for house and drive for I. Millbank at Palisades, Santa Monica,
1911.