Collection of materials related to the City of Palos Verdes Estates, ca 1939 - 1998 w/gaps; bulk in 1950s

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Summary

Creators:
Palos Verdes Estates (Calif.) and Palos Verdes Library District (1928-)
Abstract:
Collection includes City records and materials on the incorporation of the City of Palos Verdes Estates.
Extent:
.5 Cubic Feet 1 legal document box
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Collection of materials related to the City of Palos Verdes Estates (Collection 077). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

Includes city newsletters, ordinances, resolutions, and proclamations, reports of the City Clerk, resident handbooks, and campaign materials supporting and opposing incorporation. Bulk of material collected by PVLD's first librarian Agnes McMillan.

Biographical / historical:

The City of Palos Verdes Estates incorporated on December 20, 1939 and is the oldest of the four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The modern development of the Palos Verdes Peninsula started with the purchase of just over 16,000 acres in 1913 by New York financier, Frank A. Vanderlip, Sr. The original concept was to create a planned residential community for the whole Peninsula. Experts from across the country including landscape architects, city planners, architects and even a meterologist were hired to plan and develop the area.

Development slowed due to WWI. However, by 1923 the first subdivision of 3,200 acres with 800 acres of dedicated parklands was subdivided and roads, residential areas, schools, town centers (Malaga Cove and Lunada Bay), and amenities were under construction. The first lots to be sold and developed were mostly in the Malaga Cove area. The Palos Verdes Homes Association and Art Jury governed the unincorporated area and guided the early development of the subdivision.

The Great Despression had a signficant impact on lot sales which left the Palos Verdes Homes Association with a substantial tax burden particuarly on its parklands. The Homes Association was given a partial reprieve on its debt when the State of California implemented a moritorium on tax collection. In the mid 1930s, it tried to cancel its debt by offering Los Angeles County approximately 120 acres of parkland to develop a regional park. The park plan failed and in 1939, citizens concerned that they might lose the parklands voted for city incorporation which would ensure the parklands would be protected. The 800 acres of parkland were deeded by the Homes Association to the new city in 1940.

Librarian Agnes McMillan was the first librarian for the Palos Verdes Library District. She worked for the District from 1930 until her untimely death in 1956. As the Library served as a library, art gallery and community center, Ms. McMillan played and important role during the early formative years of the City of Palos Verdes Estates and the community prior to city incorporation.

Acquisition information:
Materials donated to the Library by city staff and collected by Library staff.
Processing information:

Initial rehousing and stabilization of materials by Local History Center volunteers. Final arrangement and description by Monique Sugimoto January 2025.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by folder title; thereunder chronologically.

Physical location:
Local History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.

Terms of access:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Collection of materials related to the City of Palos Verdes Estates (Collection 077). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Location of this collection:
701 Silver Spur Road
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274, US
Contact:
(310) 377-9584
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