Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Processing Information
Custodial History
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington LibraryPhoto Archives
Title: Philip B. Harris photographs of Los Angeles railway surveys and World War I
France
Identifier/Call Number: photCL 187
Physical Description:
2.76 Linear Feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1901-1920s
Abstract: A collection of photographs compiled or
created by Philip B. Harris of railroad construction and survey work in the Los Angeles
area, 1901-1920s, and photographs of soldiers, ruins, and other scenes in World War I
France.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Philip B. Harris photographs of Los Angeles railway surveys and
World War I France, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Roger S. Rees, August 1967.
Biographical / Historical
Philip B. Harris (1879-1955) studied civil engineering at the University of California,
Berkeley and in 1901 started working for the Pacific Electric Railway Company. In 1903, he
became Assistant Engineer of the Los Angeles Railway, where he would spend almost his entire
career. In 1906, he transferred briefly to the San Bernardino Traction Company and the Los
Angeles & Redondo Railway Company. In 1910, he returned to the Los Angeles Railway as
Superintendent of Construction and Maintenance. During World War I he left to serve as a
captain with the U.S. Army's 22nd Engineers in France. After the war he returned to the Los
Angeles Railway as Chief Engineer, then eventually rose to President and General Manager
from 1939 until his retirement in 1945.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains photographs taken or compiled by Philip B. Harris, related to his
42-year career with the Los Angeles Railway and his service as a captain in the U.S. Army
Engineers, World War I. The majority of railroad construction scenes are related to the Los
Angeles Railway, approximately 1905-1920s. Images include: construction and engineering work
on railroads in the Los Angeles area; Harris and other men working on surveying projects,
1902, in Mount Lowe and Garvanza; survey parties in the California Sierras and San
Bernardino Mountains. Some images appear to depict the Pacific Electric Railway construction
surveying party that Harris was put in charge of soon after he graduated, in 1901. A
photograph album, 1901-approximately 1919, includes views of Redondo Beach; personal images
of Harris and family members; San Pedro Harbor; and railroad tracks being laid for a
streetcar line. Several images show Latino workers digging and laying tracks, approximately
1903. The album has handwritten captions for several photographs, but many scenes are
unidentified. The images of World War I France include 52 photographs by Harris, with some
commercial photographic postcards. Images show war ruins; decorated graves; battlefields;
soldiers; people at train stations; countryside scenes, and a group portrait of Harris and
other uniformed soldiers at Roymeaux Field, May 21, 1919. There are also photographic
postcards of various tourist scenes in France and war-damaged buildings. Box 3 contains a
rolled panoramic photograph of over 100 soldiers, including Harris, of the U.S. Army 22nd
Corps of Engineers, 1918, at Fort Harrison, Indiana. The collection also includes a
typewritten biographical sketch of Harris and a list of names and addresses of engineers and
railroad workers from Harris' address book.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library staff, circa late-20th century. In 2020, Suzanne Oatey
created a finding aid derived from a collection file.
Custodial History
The donor's mother, Edna Rees, was Philip B. Harris' executor. Donor Roger S. Rees was an
employee in the Power Department of the Los Angeles Railway.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Railroad construction workers
Railroads -- California -- Los Angeles -- History
Railroads -- Design and
construction
Redondo Beach (Calif.)
San Pedro (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Street-railroads -- California -- Los Angeles -- History
World War, 1914-1918 -- France
Panoramic photographs
Photograph albums
Photographs
Los Angeles
Railway
Pacific Electric Railway Company