Mercedes Prado Ferrell Photograph Collection

Finding aid created by Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County staff using RecordEXPRESS
Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007-4057
(213) 763-3359
seavercenter@nhm.org
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/seaver-center
2019


Descriptive Summary

Title: Mercedes Prado Ferrell Photograph Collection
Dates: 1905-1950
Collection Number: P-280
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 42 images
Repository: Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, California 90007-4057
Abstract: A digital collection of photographs from the Ferrell and Prado family. The Prados lived in Simons, a company town that formed out of the operation of Simons Brick Company’s plant number three.
Language of Material: English

Access

Research is by appointment only

Publication Rights

Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder

Preferred Citation

Mercedes Prado Ferrell Photograph Collection. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Biography/Administrative History

Simons Brick Company had a well-publicized plant in present-day Montebello, California, from 1905 to 1952. Their common red bricks were used to construct many well-known extant structures, including the original 1913 building of the Natural History Museum and UCLA's Royce Hall. Known as plant number three, it operated as a company town, whereby workers and their families lived on site. The town, Simons, had a school, post office, stores, restaurants, and cultural outlets, such as musical groups.

Scope and Content of Collection

A digital collection of photographs from the Ferrell and Prado family. The Prados lived in Simons, a company town that formed out of the operation of Simons Brick Company’s plant number three. Genaro Romero Prado (Dec. 2, 1883-Sept. 12, 1958) was the town sheriff and foreman. The collection includes family portraits, snapshots, and portraits of the Simons band and orchestra. Several images provide glimpses at the surroundings of daily life and work. Also images of newspaper clippings from El Correo de Los Angeles; a stock certificate for the Montebello Land and Water Company, 1950. English and Spanish. ca. 1905-1950, undated

Indexing Terms

Simons Brick Company
Montebello (Calif.)