The Finding Aid of the Adelia Hawkins Papers 0002
Caitlin White and Katie Richardson
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives
February 2016
3801 West Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
speccollections@cpp.edu
Title: Adelia Hawkins Papers
Creator:
Hawkins, Adelia Victoria, 1884-1945
Creator:
O'Melveny, Henry, 1859-1941
Identifier/Call Number: 0002
Contributing Institution:
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description:
.42 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1900-1940
Abstract: Adelia Hawkins was secretary to Los Angeles attorney and civic leader Henry O’Melveny (1859-1941). The collection includes
newspaper clippings, photographs, and printed materials related to O’Melveny and his experience in Southern California collected
by Hawkins.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Adelia Hawkins Papers, Collection no. 0002, Special Collections and Archives, University Library,
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was given to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by Adelia Hawkins' great-niece, Betty Webster
on February 11, 2016.
Biographical / Historical
Adelia Victoria Hawkins was born in Minnesota on December 23, 1884 to Swedish immigrant parents. She trained as a stenographer
and by 1921 was living in Los Angeles. For many years, Hawkins worked as the personal secretary to Henry O’Melveny, a Los
Angeles attorney and civic leader. She never married, had no children, and devoted much of her time to Temple Baptist Church,
where she actively served as a choir member until her death on August 19, 1945.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes materials written by or pertaining to the life of Los Angeles attorney and civic leader Henry O’Melveny
(1859-1941). The materials were collected by his former personal secretary Adelia Hawkins and include photographs, newspaper
clippings, his personal writings, and programs from events he attended.
Henry O’Melveny was born on August 10, 1859 in Central City, Illinois. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1869 and O'Melveny
was later part of Los Angeles High School's first graduating class. After high school, he attended the University of California
at Berkeley and graduated in 1879. In 1885, he founded the law firm Graves & O'Melveny with Jackson A. Graves. The firm would
undergo a total of nine name changes (always including the name O'Melveny) before becoming O'Melveny & Myers in 1939.
Although devoted to the practice of law, O’Melveny’s greatest passion was being in nature and he spent much of his time hiking
and fishing in the San Gabriel Mountains. In 1897, he bought an abundantly forested 350-acre lot for his retreat. In addition,
O’Melveny held several civic positions and was a member of the California Club. He died in 1941, having practiced law for
almost 60 years.
Apart from items on O’Melveny, the collection also contains a letter from and two photographs of J. Whitcomb Brougher, former
pastor of the Temple Baptist Church, where Hawkins was an active member.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series: 1. Printed Materials and 2. Photographs.
Related Materials
Henry William O'Melveny Collection. The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Processing Information
The collection was arranged and described by Caitlin White under the supervision of Katie Richardson in February 2016.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles, California
California Club (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Los Angeles High School (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Brougher, Whitcomb
Hawkins, Adelia Victoria, 1884-1945
O'Melveny, Henry, 1859-1941
box 1, folder 1-10
Series 1:
Printed Materials
box 1, folder 1
Anecdotes by Henry O'Melveny
circa 1930s
box 1, folder 2
History of Los Angeles Railroads by Henry O'Melveny
circa 1930s
box 1, folder 3
Letter from Michael J. Phillips to Adelia Hawkins
1930 May 7
Scope and Contents
Includes information on the history of Santa Barbara, California, anecdotes, and recommendations on places to visit and eat.
box 1, folder 4
Newspaper Clippings: Henry O'Melveny Obituaries
1941 April 15
box 1, folder 5
Program: A Dinner Menu in Honor of Henry W. O'Melveny Given by His Partners Upon the 70th Anniversary of His Arrival in Los
Angeles (California Club)
1939 November 15
box 1, folder 6
Program: Our Sixth Yule Night of the Sunset Club
1900 December 28
box 1, folder 7
Recollections by Henry O'Melveny
1940
box 1, folder 8
Solitude by Henry O'Melveny
1940 June 30
box 1, folder 9
Spanish and Mexican Land Grants by Henry O'Melveny (California Institute of Technology)
1935 May 9
box 1, folder 10
The Los Angeles High School by Henry O'Melveny
circa 1930s
box 1, folder 11
Henry O'Melveny
circa 1930s
Scope and Contents
Contains two photographs, one of O'Melveny in hiking boots with walking stick standing on a trail, and one portrait.
box 1, folder 12
J. Whitcomb Brougher
circa 1920s
box 1, folder 13
Kellogg Ranch Presentation Ceremony
1932 May 17
Scope and Contents
Contains two photographs. One is of Will Rogers behind a bank of microphones and O'Melveny is in the lower right-hand corner.
The other is a group photograph of O'Melveny, Will Rogers, California Governor James Rolph, W.K. Kellogg, and Captain Banning.
box 1, folder 14
Salvation Army Mt. Crags Gilmore Camp Conference Center
1939 September 6
Scope and Contents
Photograph is of Marion Sayle Taylor, Mrs. Jackson, Henry O'Melveny, Fred Stone, Mrs. Will Rogers, and Col. A.D. Jackson.
box 1, folder 15
"Sunny Slope" Bel-Air
1934 March 10
Scope and Contents
Photograph is of O'Melveny and his wife seated and surrounded by a group of women. Adelia Hawkins is standing behind Mrs.
O'Melveny with her hand on her shoulder.
