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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Scope and Contents
  • Biography
  • Arrangement
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Separated Materials
  • Custodial History
  • Related Materials
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: William H. Hannon Library, Archives & Special Collections, Manuscripts
    Title: T.O. McCoye Papers
    source: McMahon, Tom
    Identifier/Call Number: MS.134
    Physical Description: 2.25 Linear Feet 3 document boxes,1 artifact box, 1 oversized box
    Date (inclusive): 1893-1964
    Abstract: This collection consists of photographs, negatives, maps, brochures, notary books, newspapers, and miscellaneous office materials related to T.O. McCoye Co., Dickinson & Gillespie Real Estate, and the overall development of the Playa Del Rey area in the 1920s-30s.

    Scope and Contents

    The materials in this collection were kept by T.O. McCoye throughout his career and reflect the steady development of the Playa del Rey area of Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s. In addition to personal office papers, this collection includes maps of Los Angeles and brochures that could have been used to entice buyers to the rapidly expanding cityscape. Included in these brochures are materials from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and various entertainment events that took place in the area, including programs from Santa Anita Park, the Del Rey Palisades Amphitheater, Camp Loyola, and the 1932 Olympics games.
    Ranging from 1925 to 1964, the newspapers included in this collection primarily focus on politics and events relating to the development of the Playa del Rey area. Occasionally there are mentions of historically significant people or Los Angeles events. Many of the clippings are advertisements for T.O. McCoye Co.
    The large collection of photos and negatives are largely unidentified but depict infrastructural development of the Playa del Rey area, homeowners, and daily activities in the area. Many of the homes depicted in the photos were demolished with the creation and expansion of Los Angeles International Airport.

    Biography

    Thurlow Orrin (T.O.) McCoye was born in Los Angeles in 1893 and began working as a real estate salesman for the developer Dickinson & Gillespie Corporation in 1921. When Dickinson & Gillespie closed in 1929 due to the economic struggles of the Great Depression, T.O. decided to open his own real estate sales and building contractors company. With the help of his mother-in-law, T.O. McCoye opened T.O. McCoye Co. in 1930. In addition to running this company, McCoye also owned the Arden Farms Market on Culver Boulevard and was a volunteer firefighter.
    In 1960 McCoye retired, moved to Malibu, and built the Escodido Canyon Retreat, a large botancial garden with accompanying redwood and fruit tree groves that are now a part of the Santa Monica Conservancy. T.O. McCoye died in 1981 and his ashes were skattered throughout Escodido Canyon Retreat.

    Arrangement

    The collection is arranged by item type in folders. See the box and folder list for the contents.

    Access

    Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University.

    Publication Rights

    Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or executors.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Box and Folder number, Loyola Marymount University T.O. McCoye Papers, MS134, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

    Separated Materials

    1 hard drive 1 notary notebook (poor condition. facsimile may be available)

    Custodial History

    Many of the materials in this collections were found by Brad Fowler in a trailer at T.O. McCoye's Escondido Canyon Retreat. These materials were later given by Mr. Fowler to Mr. Tom McMahon to oversee the donation to Loyola Marymount University.

    Related Materials

    The materials in this collection pertaining to T.O. McCoye's time with Dickinson & Gillespie may overlap with the Fritz Burns papers, also located within the Loyola Marymount University Special Collections and Archives. Fritz Burns was vice-president of Dickenson & Gillepsie real estate firm in the 1920s, and oversaw the development of Palisades Del Rey (now Playa Del Rey).

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Tom McMahon. Accession number: 2017.42.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Rancho La Ballona
    Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History
    Ballona Creek (Calif.)
    Ballona Wetlands (Calif.)
    Boards of trade
    Olympics--History
    Olympics programs
    California - Maps
    Real estate development
    Real estate developers -- California, Southern -- Biography -- Sources
    Real estate development -- California, Southern -- History -- Sources
    McMahon, Tom