Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890

Finding aid created by Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County staff using RecordEXPRESS
Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007-4057
(213) 763-3359
seavercenter@nhm.org.
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/seaver-center
2015


Descriptive Summary

Title: Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890
Dates: 1870-1890, 1902
Collection Number: GC 1127
Creator/Collector:
Extent: (Boxes: ½ legal; 1 ov; 1 scrapbook in ov)
Repository: Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, California 90007-4057
Abstract: Scrapbooks contain correspondence and clippings, including many speeches made by Widney, on a variety of topics.
Language of Material: English

Access

Research is by appointment only

Publication Rights

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

Biography/Administrative History

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.

Scope and Content of Collection

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.

Indexing Terms

Widney, J. P. -- (Joseph Pomeroy), -- 1841-1938.