Finding Aid for the SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of
Watts
Finding aid prepared by Dvorah Lewis with assistance from Angel Diaz; December
2015.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and
Archive
One Gateway Plaza
15th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Phone: (213) 922-4859
Fax: (213) 922-7955
Email: library@metro.net
URL: http://www.metro.net/library
©2016 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. All
rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts
Dates: 1952 - 1974
Bulk Dates: 1970 - 1971
Collection number: 45-DPGTL
Creator:
Southern California Rapid Transit District
Collection Size:
1.25 linear feet
3 boxes
Repository:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (LACMTA) Research Library and
Archive
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Abstract: 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. They were merged to create the Blue and White Bus Company of Watts (Blue
& White). The Blue and White Bus Company was an African-American owned company created
out of a merger of two local bus companies and operated from 1967 to 1971. After much
hardship, the bus company was taken over by the Southern California Rapid Transit District
(SCRTD) in September of 1971. The collection consists of materials related to the Blue and
White Bus Company of Watts collected by Rapid Transit District including correspondence,
Public Utilities Commission hearings, financial and service studies, and newspaper
clippings.
Physical location: LACMTA Research Library and Archive
Languages: Languages represented in the collection:English
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact LACMTA Research Library and
Archive to make an appointment.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
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
[Identification of item], SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts, 45-DPGTL. Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Research Library and Archive.
Acquisition Information
Blue & White Bus Lines and Eastern Cities Lines files assembled by SCRTD were
transferred to the SCRTD archives by Wayne Reinecke in the Planning Department on August 26,
1983, on the advice of Director of Schedules and Operations Planning Steve Parry. SCRTD was
merged into LACMTA in 1993.
Processing Information
Processed by Dvorah Lewis with assistance from Angel Diaz; December 2015.
Biography/Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Arrangement
There appears to be no intended order; materials seem have been placed together
arbitrarily. Original order was not maintained for this collection. The collection is
arranged in the following Series (and subseries when necessary):
- 1, Legal Proceedings, July 1969 - September 1971
- 2, Cessation and Acquisition, 1965-1974
- 3, General Operations, 1952-1971
- 4, Diversion Contract, 1970-1971
- 5, Public Relations, 1970-1971
Indexing Terms
Southern California Rapid Transit
District
Transportation--California--Los Angeles
Local transit--California--Los Angeles
Minority business enterprises--California--Los Angeles
Region
Local transit--social aspects--California—Los
Angeles
California Public Utilities
Commission
Related Material
Hidden History of Transportation in Los Angeles by Charles P. Hobbs
Collection of Kenneth Hahn. Huntington Library. Manuscripts Department
The Struggle for Transit Justice: Race, Space, and Social Equity in Los Angeles by
Mark Evan Garrett
1
Legal Proceedings
July 1969 - September 1971
1.1
Public Utilities Commission Hearings
1969-1971
box 1, folder 1
PUC Application No. 51244
1969 July 14
Scope and Content Note
Decision No. 76167 "…for an order granting permission to abandon certain portions
of its passenger stage lines…"
box 1, folder 2
PUC Application No. 51777
1970 March 18
Scope and Content Note
Decision No. 77328 "…for an order granting permission to re-route and extend
certain portions of its passenger stage lines…"
box 1, folder 3
PUC Application No. 52218
1970 October 1
Scope and Content Note
Decision No. 77867 "…for an order authorizing issuance of a Note and Security
Agreement in connection therewith, and for a permit to issue and sell capital stock
and for a permit to issue warrant for capital stock."
box 1, folder 4
Cal. PUC No. 3
1971 February 3
Scope and Content Note
In compliance with Decision No. 78274, issued by Mayme G. Davies, Blue & White
Project Administrator, "…local passenger tariff naming passenger fares and rules and
regulations governing the same…"
box 1, folder 5
PUC Application No. 52311
1970 November 13; 1971 April 23
Scope and Content Note
Amendment to application "…for an order granting permission to increase fares." and
a "report on results of operations of Blue & White Bus Company of Watts…"
box 1, folder 6
PUC Resolution No. PE-102
1971 June 29
Scope and Content Note
"Resolution ordering suspension of authority to operate as a passenger stage
corporation."
box 1, folder 7
PUC Case No. 9261
1971 August-September
Scope and Content Note
Decision No. 79147 "Report on order instituting investigation of Blue &
White..."
1.2
Conflict Between RTD and Blue and White
1971
box 1, folder 8
Materials regarding conflict
1971 February
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence, reports on Blue & White activities on February 8th, 9th, 10th
and 16th, origin & destination checks, copy of newspaper articles, legal advice,
as well as other materials
box 1, folder 9
Meeting with B&W Representatives
1971 March 8-10
Scope and Content Note
Materials regarding March 10, 1971 of representatives from Blue & White, RTD,
PUC, and the Transportation Employment Project, includes correspondence, notes,
attendance, and meeting minutes.
box 1, folder 10
Letter from Rev. Jesse L. Boyd Jr. to Wilson Kline
1971 August 30
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Reverand Jesse L. Boyd Jr of the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference sharing his concerns with Wilson Kline of PUC about Blue & White
being a victim of discrimination on the part of RTD.
2
Cessation and Acquisition
1965-1974
2.1
Blue and White Cessation
1965-1971
box 1, folder 11
Blue & White activities and related materials
1965, 1971, undated
Scope and Content Note
Route descriptions, headways, B&W line descriptions, fact sheets, trouble
report forms, copies of timetables, copies of newspaper articles, correspondence,
handwritten notes, and excerpts from “Violence in the City—An End or a Beginning?”
in a report by John A. McCone.
box 1, folder 12
RTD emergency services
1970-1971
Scope and Content Note
Materials regarding RTD emergency services to provide tranportation in the wake of
Blue & White cessation. Folder includes correspondence, passenger checks, route
maps, bulletins, handwritten notes, clipplings. Also included are copies of letters
from and to Augustus F, Hawkins and Carlos C. Villarreal regarding Blue & White
discontinuation of Line No. 6 in November 1970.
2.2
RTD Acquisition of Blue and White
1971-1974
box 1, folder 13
Service and financial studies (1 of 2)
1971-1972, undated
Scope and Content Note
Origin and Destination report, line decriptions including route maps, passenger
checks, proposal for fare increase, and a call for a turn-around study. Materials
mostly handwritten and mostly undated.
box 1, folder 14
Service and financial studies (2 of 2)
1971-1972, undated
Scope and Content Note
Survey of passenger opinion regarding RTD and its acquisition of former B&W
lines, proposed establishment of combined routes, run-time formulas, and passenger
check lists. Mostly handwritten.
box 2, folder 1
SCRTD Interim Study
1973 December 10
Scope and Content Note
The study's purpose is to "advise and inform District's management and Board of
Directors of the status of the former Blue & White…"
box 2, folder 2
Post-cessation of B&W
1971-1974
Scope and Content Note
Included is a study of former bw lines, one-way operation proposal, copy of interim
study, operating costs, study of revenues, passenger checks, origin and des report
and analysis, correspondence regarding bus improvement plan, and clipping. Materials
mostly handwritten.
box 2, folder 3
RTD's hiring of former B&W employees
1971-1972
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten memos and notes regarding hiring of former B&W employees, seniority
rosters, payroll adjustment, and an agreement between SCRTD and Amalgamated Transit
Union.
3
General Operations
1952-1971
3.1
Atkinson Transportation Company (ATCO) and South Los Angeles Transportation
Company
1952-1968
box 2, folder 4
ATCO service, financial, and PUC hearing materials (1 of 2)
1952-1966
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence regarding routes and changes, school service operation,
passenger checks, financial reports, route maps
box 2, folder 5
ATCO service, financial, and PUC hearing materials (2 of 2)
1952-1966
Scope and Content Note
Includes route maps, timetables, transcript of PUC hearing for application No.
35299, PUC Application No.35189, PUC Applicaton No. 48302 (Decision No. 70747), and
correspondence related to PUC
box 2, folder 6
ATCO services and RTD acquisition interest (1 of 3)
1954-1968
Scope and Content Note
Includes recommendations from the transportation employment project, correspondence
regarding PUC applications and hearings, timetables, materials related to connection
adjustments,
box 2, folder 7
ATCO services and RTD acquisition interest (2 of 3)
1954-1968
Scope and Content Note
Includes line schedules
box 2, folder 8
ATCO services and RTD acquisition interest (3 of 3)
1954-1968
Scope and Content Note
Includes route maps, timetables, and materials regarding RTD interest in
acquisition of ATCO and South LA Trans. Co: correspondence, and financial
records.
3.2
RTD Interest in Acquiring Blue and White
1969-1971
box 2, folder 9
RTD interest in B&W acquisition
1969-1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes study of B&W services, revenues, and expenses, lists of B&W
employees and equipment, and passenger checks
box 2, folder 10
RTD interest in B&W acquisition
1969-1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence regarding acquisition interest and B&W review
materials, proposed purchase agreement, copies of B&W study. Only one item is
dated from the year 1971; it is a letter calling for an update to estimates found in
the B&W study.
box 2, folder 11
Eminent Domain Valuation Law
1970 September-October
Scope and Content Note
Includes a legal memorandum and a complaint in Eminent Domain of SCRTD vs.
B&W
4
Diversion Contract
1970-1971
box 3, folder 1
Materials regarding diversion contract
1970-1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence regarding diversion billing and contract renewal, summary
of diversion payments, copy of SCRTD Line 100 contract, passenger checks, legal
opinion, Notice of Levy from the IRS, and handwritten notes.
5
Public Relations
1970-1971
box 3, folder 2
B&W publicity materials
1970-1971, undated
Scope and Content Note
Includes a timetable, a bulletin, press releases, and a flyer.
box 3, folder 3
B&W press releases
1970 July-1971 October
Scope and Content Note
Includes press releases and newspaper clipping regarding B&W.