Photographs of Los Angeles and Vicinity by W.H. Fletcher, approximately 1880s-1890s

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Summary

Creators:
Fletcher, W. H. (William H.)
Abstract:
This collection of 25 William H. Fletcher commercial card photographs focus mainly on Los Angeles, California, during a period of industrial expansion and population growth in the late 1800s, with special attention on Los Angeles Street (which passes through Downtown Los Angeles) and what is now the Historic Core and Civic Center districts. There are also town and nature views of Pasadena, Santa Monica, Ventura, Redondo Beach, and Burbank. Images of Missions San Fernando Rey, San Luis Rey, and San Juan Capistrano are also included.
Extent:
25 photographs in 1 box; prints 12.5 x 19.5 cm (5 x 7.5 in.), mounts 14 x 22 cm (5 1/4 x 8 1/2 in.)
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection of William H. Fletcher commercial card photographs focus mainly on Los Angeles, California, during a period of industrial expansion and population growth in the late 1800s. The images depict various views around Los Angeles, which include Los Angeles Street and some of its intersections, the Main and Spring Streets junction, Old Chinatown, the College of Medicine at University of Southern California (in its second incarnation on Buena Vista Street, now North Broadway), Llewellyn Iron Works, Elysian Park, the Hollenbeck Home for retirees, and what may be William H. Fletcher’s residence (see item 6). Also included are photographs of Colorado Boulevard, Fair Oaks Avenue, and Devil’s Gate in Pasadena; the Los Angeles River; the Hotel Arcadia in Santa Monica; the Point Fermin Lighthouse in San Pedro; Ventura; Redondo Beach; and the California missions San Luis Rey, San Juan Capistrano, and San Fernando Rey.

Biographical / historical:

William H. Fletcher was born in Hollis, New Hampshire, in 1838, shortly before his family moved to Lyndon, Vermont, that same year. He learned photography while working in the pharmaceutical and jewelry industries. Fletcher moved to Los Angles, California, in 1885, planning to establish himself as a druggist; however, an overabundance of pharmacies obliged him to turn to photography. Fletcher went into commercial photography but did not establish a formal studio or gallery of his own. The subjects of his photographs focused on Los Angeles just when it began to expand with immigrants and new businesses. He also traveled through the areas surrounding Los Angeles, photographing scenes from San Pedro, Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, Pasadena, and Ventura, aiming to tempt New Englanders to vacation out west. Many of Fletcher’s photographs were sold as card photographs to curio dealers to sell to tourists. Sometime after 1900, Fletcher retired from professional photography and went into the oil business; he died in 1922.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Mead Kibbey on December 30, 1999
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2129
reference@huntington.org
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