Description
This collection contains the research materials of Frank F. Latta (1892-1983) from his five decades of researching
the history and development of California's San Joaquin Valley and Miller & Lux, in particular dry farming known as skyfarming.
Subjects include: agriculture and farming in the San Joaquin Valley, the development of agricultural machinery (combines,
plows, reapers,
scrapers, threshing machines, tractors and various types of harvesters), livestock, ranches, cattle, and crops, mostly wheat.
The collection is made up of articles,
Miller & Lux business records, catalogs, brochures,
clippings, legal document, oral interviews, correspondence, manuscripts for
publication, newspapers, notes, official reports, receipts, and research material in
general. The collection also contains hundreds of photographs, both color and black
and white, slides, panoramas and glass plates.
Background
Frank Forrest Latta (1892-1983), son of Presbyterian minister Eli C. Latta and
teacher Harmonia Campbell, was born September 18, 1892, in Stanislaus County,
California. As a young boy, Latta worked on several ranches in the San Joaquin
Valley and became interested in the stories of the early pioneers, and in 1906 began
interviewing people and gathering research regarding early life and early farming in
California. Latta also spent much time researching the farming corporation Miller
& Lux and its founders Henry Miller and Charles Lux.
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.