Chester Place photographs, circa 1900

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Abstract:
12 mounted photographs depicting Chester Place and the surrounding area. The photographs include streetscapes (of Chester Place and Figueroa Street), lawns and gardens. Many of the photographs are identified only generally, but some can be positively identified as no. 7 Chester Place, the home of Judge Charles Silent, the founder of Chester Place. Chester Place was founded by Judge Silent in 1899, when he moved his family to the old home of real estate speculator Nathan Vail and extended a private street through the middle of the property, from Adams to 23rd Street, and subdivided the land into 23 lots on either side of the road. Chester Place was one of the first gated communities in Los Angeles. Among its residents were Estelle and Edward Doheny, whose 24,000 square foot mansion soon became one of the most extravagant in the city. Today, Chester Place is part of the campus of Mount St. Mary's University.
Extent:
1.17 linear feet. 1 box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Chester Place photographs, Collection no. 7070, Regional History Collection, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Background

Scope and content:

12 mounted photographs depicting Chester Place and the surrounding area. The photographs include streetscapes (of Chester Place and Figueroa Street), lawns and gardens. Many of the photographs are identified only generally, but some can be positively identified as no. 7 Chester Place, the home of Judge Charles Silent, the founder of Chester Place, and a veiw of Figueroa Street with the Stimson House in the background.

Biographical / historical:

Chester Place was founded by Judge Charles Silent in 1899, when he moved his family to the old home of real estate speculator Nathan Vail and extended a private street through the middle of the property, from Adams Bioulevard to 23rd Street, and subdivided the land into 23 lots on either side of the road. Vail's property was originally surveyed by Henry Hancock (of Rancho La Brea) in 1853; Hancock purchased this land for himself in 1855, and sold it to Vail in 1867. By the time Judge Silent purchased the property, the area was growing increasingly popular, thanks to the streetcar line that connected Agricultural Park (present day Exposition Park) to downtown. Chester Place was one of the first gated communities in Los Angeles. Among its residents were Estelle and Edward Doheny, whose 24,000 square foot mansion soon became one of the most extravagant in the city. Today, Chester Place is part of the campus of Mount St. Mary's University, thanks to the philanthropy of Estelle Doheny.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Chester Place photographs, Collection no. 7070, Regional History Collection, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Location of this collection:
Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library, Room 209
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182, US
Contact:
(213) 740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Website