Index of American Design Records mssIndex

Suzanne Oatey

The Huntington Library

May 2020

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library

Title: Index of American Design records

Creator: Index of American Design

Identifier/Call Number: mssIndex

Physical Description: 7.76 Linear Feet (15 boxes and 1 oversize volume)

Date (inclusive): 1933-1943

Abstract: This collection contains the records of the Southern California chapter of the Index of American Design, which was a Federal Arts Project, 1933-1943, and consists of reports, correspondence, drawings, paintings, photographs, and ephemera.

Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Index of American Design records, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Works Progress Administration of Los Angeles, January 1949.

Biographical / Historical

The Index of American Design was a subunit of the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. The Index was a nationwide project whose mission was to document the evolution of American decorative, provincial and folk arts from the early 17th century to the close of the 19th century. The Southern California chapter of the Index was primarily focused on the pioneer art and design of native peoples and immigrant settlers with a particular emphasis on documenting the Spanish influence on art within California. Areas of interest included indigenous arts and crafts, Spanish-American art and design (including missions), the evolution of Califonia communities and the biographies of their founders, and the contributions made by Native Americans within the spheres of art, costume and storytelling.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains over 3,000 items from the files of the Southern California chapter of the Index of American Design, a Federal Arts Project, 1933 to 1943. The vast majority of the items are brief reports on a particular topic, many of which are accompanied by drawings and photographs. Also included are more in-depth reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and printed matter such as pamphlets on museum exhibits and political issues. Every aspect of California art from the 17th to 19th centuries is covered to varying degrees, including household embroidery, metal work and sculpture. Art and artifacts of nearly every type were meticulously studied and recorded for posterity. Topics covered with substantial depth are: art, architecture and history of California missions; Native American art and design; and Native American legends, which were written by artist White Bead Quann expressly for the Index, and are punctuated with Cherokee words and phrases. There is also a large amount of material on the proposed Ham and Eggs amendment of 1939, a pension movement in California during the 1930s. Most of the material was authored by the Southern California Citizens Against 30 Thursday group. The growth and development of California is represented through community studies that tracked regional demographics over time. The studies track the growing ethnic, social and economic diversity in Los Angeles County and small communities such as Inglewood and El Monte. The Los Angeles Negro Survey of 1935 is a notable in-depth study of the economic and social status of African Americans in Los Angeles.

Processing Information

Processed by Marisa E. Diehl in 2001. In 2020, Suzanne Oatey created this finding aid from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement

Organized in five series:

Pre-California: 17th to early-19th centuries
California: Mid-19th century to 1943
Spanish-American arts and crafts
Reports by topic
Special interest and political organizations

General

Former call number: mssIndex American Design.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

African Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century

Architecture -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th century

Art and society -- California

Art, American -- California

California -- History -- 20th century

California -- Politics and Government -- 1850-1950

Indians of North America -- California -- History

Los Angeles County (Calif.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century

Missions, Spanish -- California -- History

Old age pensions -- California

Spaniards -- California -- History

Business records -- California -- 20th century

Clippings (information artifacts) -- California

Ephemera -- California -- 20th century

Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century

Photographs -- California -- 20th century

Reports -- California, Southern

United States. Works Progress Administration

Federal Art Project

Index of American Design

Pre-California: 17th to early-19th centuries Series 1

Box 1, Folder 1-2

Alphabet: Egyptian and Chinese influence; printing; book-making

Box 1, Folder 3

Early American arts and crafts

Box 1, Folder 4

Early American powder horns, warming pans, etc.

Box 1, Folder 5

Early American ceramics, glassware, silver and furniture

Box 1, Folder 6

Early American sculpture: wooden Indians and cigar store figures

Box 1, Folder 7

Early American textiles and printed fabrics: quilts, coverlets, embroidery, needlework, hooked rugs

Box 1, Folder 8-9

United States flags and seals

Box 11, Folder 1

Mosaic brochure: drawings, etc.

California: Mid-19th century to 1943 Series 2

Box 2, Folder 1-2

Biographies of historical figures

Box 2, Folder 3

Community studies: Los Angeles County, various

Box 11, Folder 2-6

Community studies: El Monte pioneer days

Box 11, Folder 7-9

Community studies: El Monte biographical sketches

Box 2, Folder 4

Community studies: Inglewood

Box 2, Folder 5

Community studies: Los Angeles - Inception, history, development, etc.

Box 2, Folder 6-8

Community studies: Los Angeles - Civic center

Box 2, Folder 9-12

Community studies: Los Angeles - Parks and recreational centers

Box 2, Folder 13-15

Community studies: Los Angeles Negro Survey, 1935

Box 2, Folder 16

Community studies: Los Angeles Plaza Church

Box 2, Folder 17

Community studies: Los Angeles - Racial elements

Box 3, Folder 1

Community studies: Redlands

Box 11, Folder 10

Community studies: San Bernardino and Jedediah Smith

Box 3, Folder 2-3

Culture and customs

Box 3, Folder 4

Evolution as a state

Box 3, Folder 5

Flags, state seal, county seals

Box 3, Folder 6

Land grants (Ranchos)

Box 3, Folder 7

California place names: Imperial County

Box 3, Folder 8

California place names: Kern County

Box 3, Folder 9-10

California place names: Los Angeles County

Box 3, Folder 11

California place names: Orange County

Box 3, Folder 12

California place names: San Bernardino County

Box 3, Folder 13

California place names: San Diego County

Box 3, Folder 14

California place names: Santa Barbara County

Box 3, Folder 15

California place names: Ventura County

Box 4, Folder 1-3

Indian collection: Photographs and notes

Box 4, Folder 4

Indian pioneers

Box 4, Folder 5

Indian legends and commentary on visual works by White Bead Quann

Box 4, Folder 6

Indian art, chiefs, regalia, history (California and Idaho)

Box 4, Folder 7

Indian rock paintings (Southern California)

Box 4, Folder 8

Manufacturing in Spanish California

Box 4, Folder 9

Missions: Junipero Serra

Box 4, Folder 10

Missions: General information

Box 4, Folder 11-12

Mission La Purisima Concepcion

Box 4, Folder 13

Missions: Patron saints and modern miracles

Box 4, Folder 14

Mission San Antonio de Padua

Box 4, Folder 15

San Bernardino Asistencia (Redlands)

Box 5, Folder 1

Mission San Buenaventura

Box 5, Folder 2

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (Mission Carmel)

Box 5, Folder 3

Mission San Diego

Box 5, Folder 4

Mission San Fernando

Box 5, Folder 5

Mission San Francisco Solano

Box 5, Folder 6

Mission San Gabriel

Box 5, Folder 7

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Box 5, Folder 8

Mission San Luis Obispo

Box 5, Folder 9

Mission Santa Barbara

Box 5, Folder 10

Mission Santa Clara

Box 5, Folder 11

Rancho Camarillo: History

Box 5, Folder 12

Russia's contribution to California history

Spanish-American arts and crafts Series 3

Box 11, Folder 11

Branding irons and firearms

Box 11, Folder 12-14

Branding irons: Drawings

Box 5, Folder 13-14

Collections, Private: Early American and Spanish-Californian

Box 6, Folder 1

Costumes: Bibliography

Box 6, Folder 5-7

Costumes, Female: Sketches and layout

Box 11, Folder 15

Costumes, Female: Sketches and layout

Box 6, Folder 2-4

Costumes, Male: Sketches and layout

Box 6, Folder 8

Costumes: Spanish California

Box 12, Folder 1-4, Volume 1

Decorative art of Spanish-American design

Box 6, Folder 9

Dolls

Box 6, Folder 10

Figurines

Box 12, Folder 5

Original drawings

Box 6, Folder 11

Pony Express Museum, Arcadia

Box 6, Folder 12

Quilts

Box 7, Folder 1-4

Saddlery

Box 12, Folder 6

Saddlery

Box 7, Folder 5

Spanish-American arts of the Southwest

Reports by topic Series 4

Box 12, Folder 7

San Diego to Los Angeles

Box 12, Folder 8

Architecture

Box 12, Folder 9-10

Carving

Box 12, Folder 11

Ceramics

Box 13, Folder 1-4

Costume

Box 13, Folder 5

Drawings and photographs

Box 13, Folder 6-8

Furniture

Box 13, Folder 9

Glassware

Box 13, Folder 10-14

Metal work

Box 13, Folder 15-19

Miscellaneous

Box 13, Folder 20-21

Textiles

Box 14, Folder 1-2

Textiles

Box 14, Folder 3

Watercolor

Box 7, Folder 6

Receipts for plates of drawings and photographs sent to Washington D.C.

Box 7, Folder 7

Receipts for shipping to Washington D.C.

Box 7, Folder 8

Index of plates sent to Washington D.C.

Physical Description: Negatives and photographs

Box 9

Index of plates sent to Washington D.C.

Physical Description: File cards

Box 10

Index of plates sent to Washington D.C.

Physical Description: File cards

Special interest and political organizations Series 5

Box 8, Folder 1

Radio

Box 15, Folder 1

Newspaper: ATOLA Reporter (Affiliated Teacher Organizations of Los Angeles) 1939 October

Box 15, Folder 2

Newspaper: National Ham and Eggs 1939 November 11

Biographical / Historical

The Ham and Eggs movement was an old-age pension movement in California in the 1930s. It was founded by Robert Noble, a controversial radio personality.

Box 15, Folder 3-4

Newspaper: Noble News (2 issues) 1939 September 18 and 25

Biographical / Historical

Newspaper created by Robert Noble.

Box 15, Folder 5

Newspaper: San Diego Sun 1939 September 27

Box 15, Folder 6

Newspaper: San Francisco News 1939 August 5

Box 15, Folder 7

Newspaper: Townsend National Weekly 1939 September 8

Box 8, Folder 2

Typed and mimeographed articles

Box 8, Folder 3

Southern California Citizens Against 30 Thursday materials

Scope and Contents

Documents titled "Origin and Menace of 30 Thursday."

Box 14, Folder 7

Southern California Citizens Against 30 Thursday materials Part 1

Scope and Contents