Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts
- Dates:
- 1952-1974
- Creators:
- Southern California Rapid Transit District Blue and White Bus Company of Watts
- Abstract:
- Extent:
- 3 boxes (1.25 linear ft.)
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of materials related to the Blue and White Bus Company of Watts collected by the Southern California Rapid Transit District including correspondence, Public Utilities Commission hearings, financial and service studies, and newspaper clippings. Most of the correspondence is from Howard Beardsley, Assistant Manager of Rapid Transit and Surface Planning as well as Jack Gilstrap, the General Manager of SCRTD. The majority of materials are correspondence and studies related to PUC hearings, SCRTD’s interest to acquire Blue & White in 1969, conflict between SCRTD and Blue & White in 1971, and SCRTD’s takeover of Blue & White in September 1971.
- Biographical / historical:
-
On November 26, 1967, Dr. Thomas William Matthew of the National Economic Growth and Reconstruction Organization (NEGRO) acquired two South Los Angeles bus companies from Frank and Herbert Atkinson. Atkinson Transportation Company (ATCO) and the South Los Angeles Transportation Company originally began in the 1920s as extensions of streetcar lines and were merged to create the Blue and White Bus Company of Watts. This new bus company was African-American owned and ran from 1967-1971. Blue & White’s Route #1 was abandoned in 1968 and shortly after another route, #6, was discontinued resulting in SCRTD enacting emergency services in 1970. At one point in 1969, SCRTD did have interest in acquiring the bus company, but did not carry through with the acquisition. On February 8, 1971 SCRTD created a new route, #123, that crossed four of the Blue & White routes. In response, Dr. Matthew had Blue & White operating along SCRTD’s route #3 giving passenger free rides while informing passengers of the conflict between the two companies. In May 24, 1971, Dr. Matthew created a new route, Route #9, without gaining permission first from the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). One month later the PUC suspended Blue & White’s operating certificate after finding out the company failed to pay insurance premiums resulting in a loss of coverage. Ignoring the suspension, Blue & White continued to run, but on July 17th Blue & White employees went on strike when the bus company held insufficient funds to pay them. The buses were impounded by county marshals on August 10th for two days until drivers were paid. A month following this, the buses were impounded again but this time by the Internal Revenue Service when Blue & White failed to pay federal taxes. SCRTD immediately took over Blue & White’s routes and hired their bus drivers and mechanics. Dr. Matthew attempted to reestablish Blue & White only this time providing services in downtown Los Angeles and to Disneyland, but in 1972 the bus company officially went out of business.
- Acquisition information:
- This collection was assembled by the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) and then passed to the LACMTA after its creation in 1993 by the California State Legislature through a merger of SCRTD and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission.
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- 1952-1974
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the LACMTA Research Library and Archive to make an appointment.
- Terms of access:
-
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the LACMTA Research Library and Archive. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the LACMTA Research Library and Archive as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the LACMTA Research Library and Archive collections.
- Preferred citation:
-
SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive
- Location of this collection:
-
One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop: 99-15-1Los Angeles, CA 90012, US
- Contact:
- 213.922.4859