Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Ingram (Selena Gray Galt) Papers
mssHM 31060
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Selena Gray Galt Ingram papers
Creator:
Ingram, Selena
Gray Galt, 1859-1942
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 31060
Physical Description:
6.34 Linear Feet
(8 boxes)
Date (inclusive): approximately 1862-1938
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.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
For more information, contact Reader Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. Selena Gray Galt Ingram papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Selena Pope Ingram McKinley, June 1968 and December 1977.
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.
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).
Processed by Huntington Library staff, circa late-20th century. In 2020, Suzanne Oatey
created a finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Organized in three series:
- Diaries, 1900-1938
- Memoirs and family correspondence, 1884-1935
- Photograph albums, approximately 1862-1919
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Empalme (Mexico)
Imperial Valley (Calif. and Mexico) -- History -- 20th century --
Sources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th
century
Mill Valley (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Saint Albans (Vt.) -- Description and travel
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Description and travel
San Rafael (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Yosemite National Park (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Diaries -- California -- 20th century
Diaries -- Mexico -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California
Photograph albums
Photographs
Women -- California -- Diaries
Ingram, Robert Hord,
1860-1934
Banning family
Patton family
Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods
Railroad Co
Southern Pacific Railroad Company