Los Angeles city water rights collection
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2015
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Los Angeles city water rights collection
Dates: 1775-1974
Dates: bulk 1966-1967
Collection Call Number: mssLos Angeles water rights collection
Extent:
133 items
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: Research material used by historians in the water rights case of the City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando as well
as copies of legal documents from the court case.
Language of Material: The records are in English, although there are several items in Spanish.
Administration Information
Access
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to following
web site .
Publication Rights
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], Los Angeles city water rights collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Acquisition Information
The collection was a gift of Andrew F. Rolle, April 1985.
History
The city of Los Angeles brought a case against San Fernando, Burbank, Glendale and 30 other defendants over use of underground
water in September 1955 (the trial took place in 1966-1967). Historians Andrew Rolle, Iris Higbie Wilson Engstrand, John W.
Caughey, other others, did research, presented evidence, and testified in the court case on behalf of the defendants.
Scope and Content
The collection includes the research material used by Andrew F. Rolle and others to create the evidence used in the water
rights case City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando, et al, including copies of original land deeds, journal articles,
maps, and original manuscripts by Rolle (including A History of Hispanic-American Rights and Usage with Respect to Land and
Water in California). It also includes copies of several of the legal documents from the case including the decision by Judge
Edmund M. Moor, the defendants' combined trial brief, the reporters' daily transcripts, as well as the manuscript prepared
by Rolle and Engstrand entitled: A Study of Laws and Customs Pertaining to the Use of Water in California and Spain Mexico
(3 volumes). There are a few letters between Rolle and the lawyers involved in the case. Many of the items have Andrew F.
Rolle's handwritten comments and edits. Subjects in the collection include: history of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County,
San Fernando, Burbank, Glendale; water rights and sources in the area; the Indians of the area; the missions in California;
original land tenure and ranchos.
Arrangement
The original order was kept by the cataloger. The collection is housed in six boxes.
Indexing Terms
Personal Names
Caughey, John Walton, 1902-1995
Engstrand, Iris Wilson
Rolle, Andrew F.
Corporate Names
California. Superior Court (Los Angeles County)
San Fernando, Rey de España (Mission : San Fernando, Calif.) -- History
Subjects
Subjects
Indians of North America -- California -- Los Angeles County -- History
Land tenure -- California, Southern
Missions -- California -- History
Ranches -- California, Southern -- History
Water rights -- California -- Los Angeles
Water rights -- California -- San Fernando
Water rights -- Cases
Water-supply -- California -- Los Angeles
Geographic Areas
Burbank (Los Angeles County, Calif.) -- History
California, Southern -- History
Glendale (Calif.) -- History
Los Angeles (Calif) -- History -- 18th century
Los Angeles (Calif) -- History -- 19th century
San Fernando (Calif.) -- History
Genre
Legal documents -- California -- 20th century
Research (document genres) -- California -- 20th century
Box 1
Copies of Land Deeds and Legal Documents
Folder 1
Antonio María Lugo land deeds and legal documents (copies)
(1874)
Folder 2
Report of the Secretary of the Interior…to examine the subject of land titles in California (facsimile)
(1851)
Folder 3
Final findings and judgment in City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando et al
(1968)
3 items. Includes letter by Wallace R. Peck to Andrew F. Rolle, 1968, Mar. 15.
Folder 1
Miscellaneous letters, documents and research material
(1860-1966)
Folder 2
Mission San Fernando - translation of deed of grant
(1846-1852)
Folder 3
Rancho Grants (facsimiles)
(1775-1830)
Folder 4
Rancho San Rafael - translation of deed of grant
1797-1852
Folder 9
California Indians
[approximately 1966]
Folder 10
Secularization
(1840-1965)
Folder 12
The Water Rights of the Pueblo Los Angeles: written testimony of William B. Stern
[1966]
Folder 14
Some Account of the Pious Fund of California and the Litigation to Recover It by John T. Doyle
(1880)
Folder 1
Rolle Miscellaneous; Live Exhibits
(1795-1966)
Folder 2
Unsused Photostats
(1795-1966)
Folder 3
Mission San Fernando
(1852-1974)
Folder 4
Excerpts from Transcripts of the Proceedings of the Board of Land Commissioners in the San Rafael and La Canada Cases
(1829-1855)
Folder 5
Petitions, Grants and Other Documents as filed on Proceedings before the Board of Land Commissioners
(1842-1852)
Folder 6
Miscellaneous Notes and Manuscripts re: Los Angeles
1966
Folder 7
Decision in City of San Francisco vs. The United States, No. 280
(1856, Feb. 5)
Folder 8
A History of Hispanic-American Rights and Usage with Respect to Land and Water in California: first draft
[1966]
Folder 9
A History of Hispanic-American Rights and Usage with Respect to Land and Water in California: second draft
[1966]
Folder 10
A History of Hispanic-American Rights and Usage with Respect to Land and Water in California: next to last draft
[1966]
1 item. Comments by Andrew F. Rolle in red.
Box 4
Memorandum Decision by Judge Edmund M. Moor and Study of Laws and Customs Pertaining to the Use of Water in California under
Spain and Mexico
Folder 1
Memorandum Decision by Judge Edmund M. Moor in City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando et al
(1967, Oct. 30)
Folder 2
Addenda to Memorandum Decision by Judge Edmund M. Moor in City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando et al
[1967, Oct. 30]
Folder 3
A Study of Laws and Customs pertaining to the Use of Water in California under Spain and Mexico Volume I prepared by Andrew
F. Rolle and Iris Wilson Engstrand
(1966, May 27)
Folder 4
A Study of Laws and Customs pertaining to the Use of Water in California under Spain and Mexico Volume II prepared by Andrew
F. Rolle and Iris Wilson Engstrand
[1966, May 27]
Folder 5
A Study of Laws and Customs pertaining to the Use of Water in California under Spain and Mexico Volume III prepared by Andrew
F. Rolle and Iris Wilson Engstrand
[1966, May 27]
Box 5
Defendants' Combined Trial Brief
Folder 1
Defendants' Combined Trial Brief in City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando et al Volume I
(1967, July 10)
Folder 2
Defendants' Combined Trial Brief in City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando et al Volume II
(1967, July 10)
Box 6
Reporters' Daily Transcripts
Folder 1
Reporters' Daily Transcript: copy
(1966, June 22)
Folder 2
Reporters' Daily Transcript: copy
(1966, June 23)
Folder 3
Reporters' Daily Transcript: copy
(1966, July 12)
Folder 4
Reporters' Daily Transcript: copy
(1966, July 13)
Folder 5
Reporters' Daily Transcript: copy
(1966, July 14)
Folder 6
Reporters' Daily Transcript: copy
(1966, July 18)
