Inventory of the Dept. of Public Works. Division of Highways. District VII Records
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California State Archives
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Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2000
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the Dept. of Public Works. Division of Highways. District VII Records
Inventory: F3790
California State Archives
Office of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, California
Contact Information:
- California State Archives
- 1020 "O" Street
- Sacramento, California 95814
- Phone: (916) 653-2246
- Fax: (916) 653-7363
- Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
- URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
- Processed by:
- The California State Archives staff
© 2000 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Dept. of Public Works. Division of Highways. District VII Records
Inventory: F3790
Creator:
California. Division of Highways
Repository:
California State Archives
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Dept. of Public Works. Division of Highways. District VII Records, F3790, California State Archives.
Agency History
The California Highway Commission created District VII, encompassing the counties of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego,
San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial in 1911. In 1924 the Highway Commission changed District VII boundaries with the transfer
of San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial counties to District VIII. Additional boundary changes occurred in 1933 with the
transfer of San Diego County to District XI.
District headquarters were located in Los Angeles, under the direction of a District Engineer. Aided by an Assistant District
Engineer, along with section units consisting of Right of Way, Maintenance, Survey, Accounting, and Construction, the District
Engineer was responsible for all State Highway activity within his district. For details of district structure and description
of positions and duties, see Dept. of Public Works, Management Survey of Responsibilities and Authorities, Headquarters Records
Series entry #17.
District Engineer's Records
Folder F3790:1-16
1. CONTRACTS. 1912-1919, 1925-1926.
Physical Description: 16ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by county, route, section, and chronologically thereunder.
Incoming memoranda, correspondence, and copies of outgoing memoranda and correspondence between the District Engineer, State
Highway Engineer, contractors, subcontractors, and residents dealing with construction--lack of materials and workmen, and
bad weather; complaints over workmanship, and living conditions at road construction camps; requests for extra work orders,
and extension of construction time. See Headquarters Records, series entry #22 CONTRACTS, and below, series entry #22 CONTRACT
PHOTOGRAPHS.
Included in this series are:
Folder F3790:17-19
2. MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS. 1912-1935, 1937, 1941-1943.
Physical Description: 3ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Copies of reports prepared by the District Engineer for the State Highway Engineer listing the current status of construction
projects, whether road surveys have started, or are completed; construction plans drawn; date contract awarded; current construction
progress; and estimated date of completion. This series is incomplete. See also series entry #1 CONTRACTS.
Folder F3790:20-22
3. REPORTS AND ESTIMATES. 1913-1917, 1919, 1921, 1925-1928, 1930-1934, 1936, 1957-1959.
Physical Description: 3ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Copies of reports to District Highway Engineer, preliminary and final
of work proposed or completed on various sections of roadway providing a description of work to be done--change in grade,
realignment, or resurfacing; detailed statistical information concerning quantities of excavation, concrete, steel, and pipe,
use of labor, and engineer's cost of project.
Folder F3790:23-43
4. DISTRICT ENGINEER'S GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 1912-1939, 1941-1944.
Physical Description: 21ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Letters received and copies of letters sent, as well as memoranda between Headquarters, district employees, city and county
officials, contractors, and local citizens pertaining to all District VII activities. These include accounting procedures,
personnel matters, requests for supplies, highway planning, design, complaints and requests from contractors for extra work
orders and payments, and from residents over damage to property caused by construction work.
Folder F3790:44
5. EARTHQUAKE RELIEF. 1933.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence between the District Engineer and various city and county officials assessing
road damage, amount of funds needed for repairs, and actual funds each locality received, in response to the Long Beach earthquake
of March 10, 1933.
Folder F3790:45
6. WINTER STORM RELIEF. 1934, 1938.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Consists of incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence and memoranda between the District Engineer, Maintenance Superintendents
and Headquarters relating to highway damage, and estimated cost of road repair caused by heavy winter rains and flooding of
1934 and 1938. See series entry #24, WINTER STORM PHOTOGRAPHS.
Folder F3790:46
7. FLIGHT STRIP RECONNAISSANCE REPORTS. 1942.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically.
Copies of reports prepared by the District Engineer for the State Highway Engineer describing possible locations for emergency
runways, detailing prevailing winds, remoteness or availability to military bases and cities, estimated cost of right of way,
and amounts of grading, cement, and asphalt needed for construction. See also series entry #8, FLIGHT LANDING STRIPS.
Folder F3790:47-48
8. FLIGHT LANDING STRIPS. 1941-1943, 1946.
Physical Description: 2ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence, and memoranda between the District Engineer, Headquarters, Army Air Corps,
and contractors pertaining to the selection of landing site locations, construction progress, use of landing strips, maintenance,
and disposal of strips after World War II. See also series entry #7, FLIGHT STRIP RECONNAISSANCE REPORTS.
Folder F3790:49
9. JOURNAL REPORTS. 1916.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Copies of reports prepared by the District Engineer at the request of the State Highway Engineer highlighting special construction
problems in District VII for possible publication in highway journals. Topics include highway construction in the Imperial
Valley Desert, preliminary steps involved in general highway construction, and maintenance of highways after completion.
Folder F3790:50-53).
10. PROPOSED HIGHWAY HEARINGS. 1961, 1964.
Physical Description: 4 Vols.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by county, route and section, and chronologically thereunder.
Transcripts of testimony, both pro and con, by the general public, local government officials, special interest groups, and
District VII highway planning teams over the selection of new highway routes. Includes maps, exhibits, and copies of correspondence
from people unable to attend meeting. See Headquarters Records, series entry #81, HEARING TRANSCRIPTS.
Included in this series are:
Folder F3790:54-77
11. APPRAISAL REPORTS. 1944, 1946-1950, 1961-1963.
Physical Description: 24ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by county and route, and chronologically thereunder.
Reports prepared by the District Right of Way Agent for the District Engineer listing the appraised value of structures, or
unimproved land, giving details as to improvements--swimming pools, carpeting, drapes, or landscaping; complete interior descriptions
of structures, and a general social and economic analysis of the area--lower, middle, or upper class housing. See also series
entry #23, APPRAISAL PHOTOGRAPHS for accompanying photos.
Included in this series are:
Folder F3790:78
12. DEMOLITION FILE. 1945, 1948-1952.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Letters received, copies of outgoing letters, and memoranda between the District Right of Way Agent, District Engineer, Headquarters,
contractors, and property owners concerning the acceptance of bids, value of salvage, complaints of safety and labor infractions,
requests for payment from contractors for the removal of structures on freeway rights of way.
Folder F3790:79
13. VETERAN LOAN FILE. 1947-1948.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Letters received and copies of outgoing letters between the District Right of Way Agency, Headquarters, and the American Right
of Way Association pertaining to combined efforts to influence Congress to amend Title III of the Servicemen's Readjustment
Act of 1944 (G.I. home loans) in order to allow a veteran the right, in case of condemnation, to transfer his low interest
loan to a new house.
Folder F3790:80-82
14. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 1934-1935, 1941-1944.
Physical Description: 3ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Letters received and copies of outgoing letters along with memoranda between the District Right of Way Agent, Assistant Right
of Way Agent, District Engineer and Headquarters pertaining to the current status of right of way projects, the acquisition
of new freeway rights of way, procedures to follow in determining fair market values, and problems with reluctant sellers.
Folder F3790:83-88
15. SHOP SUPERINTENDENT'S CORRESPONDENCE. 1925, 1926, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1946.
Physical Description: 6 Vols.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically one year to a volume.
Copies of outgoing letters (green sheets) from the Superintendent of Shop 7 to the District Engineer, Maintenance foremen,
State Highway Engineer, State Equipment Engineer, and various part suppliers pertaining to shop accounting procedures; personnel
matters, promotions, raises, and layoffs; description of damage to highway equipment and cost of needed repairs; requests
for parts, and inventories of District VII equipment.
Folder F3790:89-92
16. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF CAMPS. 1930-1931.
Physical Description: 4ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by camp letter, county, route, and section with correspondence placed first and reports second, and chronologically
thereunder.
Consists of two sections: incoming letters and copies of outgoing letters between the Camp Engineer, District Engineer, Headquarters,
laborers, and local citizens concerning relief camp construction costs, personnel matters, requests for employment, and complaints
of camp life; and
Monthly Reports of Day Labor giving a narrative of project descriptions with statistical data on quantities and costs of excavation, clearing, grading,
and cement work; complete camp expenditures for the month including meals, supplies, salaries, equipment upkeep, and a daily
count of personnel See also series entry #25, PHOTOGRAPHS OF RELIEF CAMP C.
Camps included in this series are:
Prison Labor Projects: Cedar Springs Honor Camp #37
Folder F3790:93-95
17. MONTHLY REPORT OF DAY LABOR WORK. 1951-1957.
Physical Description: 3ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Consists of statistical data from Camp Engineer to District Engineer, on quantities of excavation, clearing, grading, asphalting,
cement work, estimated and actual cost to date; detailed analysis of camp equipment, and camp maintenance costs; description
of work assignments given to convict and free labor; list of new inmates; reasons for removal of prisoners; and average inmate
population per month. See also series entry #18, CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS.
Folder F3790:96
18. CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS. 1947-1951, 1954-1955.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Consists of memoranda, reports, and blueprints sent by the Assistant District Engineer to Prison Camp Engineer describing
changes on contract work--grades, road alignments, detours, and construction of camp buildings, giving detailed financial
data concerning additional costs of savings caused by the change. See also series entry #17, MONTHLY REPORT OF DAY LABOR WORK.
Folder F3790:97
19. AIRPORT TRAFFIC SURVEY. 1954-1961.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Letters received and copies of letters sent, along with copies of reports (frequently containing maps) between the District
Engineer, Headquarters, Los Angeles city and county officials, business leaders, and concerned residents pertaining to airport
traffic congestion, traffic counts, and recommendations for widening streets servicing Los Angeles International Airport.
Folder F3790:98
20. L.A. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY. 1960-1961.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
The Los Angeles Regional Transportation Study (LARTS) comprised of State Highway employees, Los Angeles city and county officials
and business leaders was formed to determine future Los Angeles transportation needs.
This series consists of letters received, reports, minutes and copies of outgoing letters from the District Engineer to all
of the above pertaining to traffic counts, future land use patterns, and population density in the greater Los Angeles region.
See Headquarters Records series entry #111, CENTRAL FILE for additional LARTS material.
Folder F3790:99-102
21. LOS ANGELES TRAFFIC COMMITTEE REPORTS. 1956-1957.
Physical Description: 4ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically; sampled two reports per month.
This committee, comprised of the Automobile Club of Southern California, California Highway Patrol, California Division of
Highways, and the Los Angeles County Road Department, normally met weekly to discuss traffic problems--need for stop signs,
traffic lights, pedestrian crosswalks, speed zones, or no parking signs, and recommendations to the proper agency for correction.
Folder F3790:103-106
22. CONTRACT PHOTOGRAPHS. 1912-1917.
Physical Description: 4 Vols.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by county, route, section and chronologically thereunder.
This series consists of prints taken by the Resident, or District Engineer of road construction projects throughout District
VII, normally showing equipment, workmen, and in the background, houses, stores, garages, and other miscellaneous structures
along the roadway. See series entry #1, CONTRACTS.
Included in this series are:
LA-4-A,B,C,D,E SBd-9-A,B,C,D
LA-9-A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J SBd-19-A,B
Folder F3790:107-123
23. APPRAISAL PHOTOGRAPHS. 1944, 1946-1950, 1961-1963.
Physical Description: 17ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by county, route and section, and chronologically thereunder.
Prepared by the District Right of Way Agent to accompany his appraisal reports, this series includes pictures of houses, buildings,
stores, barns, and vacant land purchased or condemned for highway right of way purposes. See series entry #11, APPRAISAL REPORTS,
for financial background and highway routes included in this series.
Folder F3790:124-140
24. PHOTOGRAPHS--WINTER STORMS. 1934, 1938.
Physical Description: 4ff. and 13 Vols.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Photographs prepared by District VII to accompany reports of road damage from the winter storms of 1934 and 1938. Typical
views include sections of roadways, bridges, and houses washed out by flooding and mud slides. See series entry #6, WINTER
STORM RELIEF.
Folder F3790:141
25. PHOTOGRAPHS--RELIEF CAMP C. 1931.
Physical Description: 1ff.
Scope and Content Note
43 photographs mounted on 8 × 11 paper, showing construction of camp bunkhouse, cook house, and other camp buildings, along
with photos of various road construction projects undertaken by Camp C. See series entry #16, UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF CAMPS.
Folder F3790:142-143
26. MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS. 1915, 1920's, 1929.
Physical Description: 2ff.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
1915. 78 photographs mounted on 8 × 11 paper of various road sections in Los Angeles showing workmen repairing sections of highway,
highway equipment, cars, bridges, and countryside.
1920's. 12 photographs of the road between Los Angeles and Imperial Valley showing the need for widening of the roadway, cars, trucks,
and surrounding countryside.
1929. 20 photographs taken along Foothill Blvd. between Pasadena and Arcadia, and along Ora-2-E between Fullerton and Anaheim showing
various architectural styles of hot dog stands and other eating establishments.
