Selena Gray Galt Ingram papers, approximately 1862-1938

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Summary

Creators:
Ingram, Selena Gray Galt, 1859-1942
Abstract:
A collection of diaries and photograph albums related to Selena Gray Galt Ingram (1859-1942), chiefly documenting early-20th century Los Angeles and ranch living in Imperial Valley, California.
Extent:
6.34 Linear Feet (8 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Selena Gray Galt Ingram papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of a series of diaries (37 volumes, 1900-1938) and 8 photograph albums (approximately 1862-1919) related to Selena Gray Galt Ingram. (There are no diaries for 1934 or 1937.) The diaries reflect the social life and customs of the Los Angeles area, 1902-1938, including descriptions of the Banning family, the Patton family, Santa Catalina Island, and ranch life in Imperial Valley. There are also passing references to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railroad Company. Some diaries also document the few years Ingram spent in St. Albans, Vermont; Empalme, Mexico; and Berkeley, Mill Valley, San Francisco, and San Rafael, California. The photograph albums depict many of the same people and places listed above, as well as some photographs of Yosemite, 1903. An album dating from 1908-1914 contains many images of Imperial Valley and the Ingram ranch near Holtville, California. Some of the diaries also contain photographs, including George S. Patton Sr., George S. Patton Jr., the Patton home, and other family (1911 diary), and a photograph of Captain William Banning (1913 diary).

Biographical / historical:

Selena Gray Galt Ingram (1859-1942) was born in Louisville, Kentucky. She married Robert Hord Ingram (1860-1934), also from Louisville, who began working for the Pullman Car Company at 17, and eventually became an executive with Southern Pacific Railroad Co. in Los Angeles, California from 1901-1908, and then in Mexico, 1908-1911. The Ingrams moved from Vermont to California in 1901. They first went to the Bay Area, then Los Angeles, where Mrs. Ingram was active in society and formed close friendships with the Bannings and Pattons, and enjoyed outings to Santa Catalina Island and Lake Vineyard ranch. In 1908, Mr. Ingram accepted a position for Southern Pacific in Western Mexico under the supervision of Epes Randolph. They lived at Emplame, near Guaymas, where Ingram dealt with railroad strikes and labor problems. He resigned in 1911 and they returned to Los Angeles. He continued his interest in the Imperial Valley, where in 1905, he had purchased property near Holtville to develop a ranch. In 1916, Ingram became general manager of the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railroad Company, and the family moved to the Bay Area. They continued there until 1925 when they returned to Los Angeles and retirement.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Selena Pope Ingram McKinley, June 1968 and December 1977.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library staff, circa late-20th century. In 2020, Suzanne Oatey created a finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Organized in three series:

  • Diaries, 1900-1938
  • Memoirs and family correspondence, 1884-1935
  • Photograph albums, approximately 1862-1919

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

Terms of access:

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]. Selena Gray Galt Ingram papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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