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Southern California Construction Projects Photograph Albums
SPC.2021.008
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Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Southern California Construction Projects Photograph Albums
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2021.008
Physical Description:
1 box
(two photograph albums comprised of 328 black-and-white photographs and photo postcards)
Date (inclusive): 1917-1938; undated
Abstract: This collection contains 328 black-and-white photographs and photo postcards in two photograph albums. Images were taken during
various construction projects in Southern California. The first album is comprised of images taken mostly at various bridge
construction projects such as: Brand Ave Bridge, Glendale, CA.; Glen Oakes Bridge; Walnut Grove Bridge; Del Amo Bridge; Overland
Bridge, Culver City, CA.; and others. Other images include construction of the arch for the Grauman's Million Dollar Theater
(originally known as the Stability Building) located at 3rd and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles; images of inspectors, surveyors,
welders, and steel, pipe, and water company employees; images of steel beams, tension bars, girders; as well as other images
taken at various construction sites. The second album is comprised mostly of images of the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company- a shipbuilding and repair facility that was located in San Pedro, CA. until 1989 (under the name Todd Pacific
Shipyards, Los Angeles Division). Photographs depict shipyards, boats, docks, a marine railway, wharfs, tankers, cranes, bridges,
cables, and dredgers. Also included in this photograph album are images of surveyors, City of Long Beach Engineering Department
car, City of Long Beach Water Department employees and presumably their offices, and others.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
The Southern California Construction Projects Photograph Albums Collection (1917-1938; undated) contains two photograph albums
of images taken during various construction projects in Southern California. The first album is comprised of 153 black-and-white
photographs and photo postcards taken mostly at various bridge construction projects such as: Brand Ave Bridge, Glendale,
CA.; Glen Oakes Bridge; Walnut Grove Bridge; Del Amo Bridge; Overland Bridge, Culver City; and others. Other images include
construction of the arch for the Grauman's Million Dollar Theater (originally known as the Stability Building) located at
3rd and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles; images of inspectors, surveyors, welders, and steel, pipe, and water company employees;
images of steel beams, tension bars, and girders; as well as other images taken at construction sites. Some of the photographs
have inscriptions such as: "Arch form and structural steel. Looking towards Broadway"; "taken from the North side of Arch.
Showing [procenian] arch, stage, dressing room and north wall, concrete tower; "network of steel on the Arch. Showing loops
and ties"; "Stability Bldg arch and supports showing tension bar floor and forms. Concrete tower 8' crosses; "Stability Blding
located S.W. corner 3rd and Broadway Los Angeles, Calif. R.H. Arnold cons. Co- Contractor- Alta Planning Mill CO. 'Grauman'
leassee Vaudaville + Movie Story- studio + Theatre"; "West 10th Extension"; and others.
The second album is comprised of 175 black-and-white photographs and photo postcards mostly regarding Los Angeles Shipbuilding
and Dry Dock Company- a shipbuilding and repair facility located in San Pedro, CA. Photographs depict shipyards, boats, docks,
steel tanks, a marine railway, wharfs, tankers, cranes, bridges, cables, and dredgers. Also included in this photograph album
are images of surveyors and their cars, divers, laborers, City of Long Beach Engineering Department employees, City of Long
Beach Water Department employees and presumably their offices, and others. Some of the photographs have inscriptions such
as: "Guard House- Tool and Office- Shear legs"; "U.S. Dredge 'San Pedro' 'West Basin'"; "bulkhead and area to be filled by
dredger"; "Laying Rail- Marine Railway"; "The Mexicans Cleaning Tanks S&S Olympic"; "Martinez, Perez, Morales, Gregg Mexican
Gang Leaders"; "Mooring Wharf No.1"; "Old Alamitos Plant Pump"; and others.
Photographs have been removed from both albums for preservation purposes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Pedro (Los Angeles, Calif.) -- Harbor
Port of Los Angeles
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Million Dollar Theatre
Shipyards
Bridges -- Design and construction
Construction projects
Surveyors
Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
Long Beach (Calif.). Water Department
Long Beach (Calif.). Department of Engineering