Widney (Joseph Pomeroy) Scrapbooks, 1870-1890, 1902

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Title:: Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890
Dates:: 1870-1890, 1902
Creators:
Abstract:
Extent:: (Boxes: ½ legal; 1 ov; 1 scrapbook in ov)
Language:
Preferred citation:: Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Scope and content:: Scrapbooks contain correspondence and clippings, including many speeches made by Widney, on a variety of topics. Includes material pertaining to proposals to divide California into two states, Wilmington/San Pedro harbor improvements, education (including a proposal of a State university at Elysian Park), medicine and climate in California, and transportation development in Southern California. Correspondents include Leland Stanford. Additional items filed with the collection (however not contained in the scrapbooks) include a property title search for the Widney property at First Street between Spring and Main Streets. The title search was performed by the Title Insurance & Trust Co. in 1902, and shows title ownership back to 1849. Also a clipping of a "Map of the Southern Pacific Railroad" from a newpaper, 1876. See also P-43 Joseph P. Widney Collection, ca. 1880-1903.
Biographical / historical:: Widney arrived in Los Angeles in 1868. He was community leader, from his founding of the city's first horse car road to his being an integral part of USC since its conception and having served as the school's second president from 1892 to 1895. Widney was Los Angeles' first health officer; he joined his brother (Judge Robert M. Widney) in founding the University of Southern California. He also worked to develop San Pedro as the city's harbor, and served as President of the Los Angeles Board of Education and of the Los Angeles County Medical Association.

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid created by Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County staff.
Date Prepared:: 1870-1890, 1902
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:: Research is by appointment only
Terms of access:: Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder

Preferred citation:: Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Location of this collection:: Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

900 Exposition Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90007-4057, US