Pate (Charles) Photograph Collection, 1860s-1920s

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Background

Scope and content:

The Charles Pate Photograph Collection consists primarily of photographs taken by Charles Pate, with some images collected by Pate, in 3 albums, 97 individual photographs, and 7 oversize photographs dating between the 1860s and the 1940s. Notable in the collection are the three albums that are hand annotated by Charles Pate and consist of photographs taken of the La CaƱada Valley (Calif.) and surrounding valleys, including the local people, homes, businesses, and landmarks. Of particular interest are Pateā€™s photographs taken while hiking in the nearby Angeles Crest Forest and the San Gabriel Valley with his friends. The numerous health camps that he documents show how keen an interest people of the era had in fresh air and the desire to be outdoors for health reasons, particularly respiratory concerns. His travels back to his homeland of England to document the Jubilee of Queen Victoria is an interesting juxtaposition that places events in the valley into a larger, international context. The collection is arranged thusly: 1. Charles Pate Album: Views of Early La CaƱada (Box 1) 2. Charles Pate Album: Views of La CaƱada and 1897 trip to Queen Victoriaā€™s Jubilee (Box 2) 3. Charles Pate Album: Views of La CaƱada and 1897 Visit to Cornwall England (Box 3) 4. Individual Photographs of La CaƱada and Surrounding Area (Box 4) 5. Oversize Photographs (Box 5).

Biographical / historical:

Charles Pate (1874-1961) was an early settler and photographer in the La CaƱada Valley in California as well as a member of the La CaƱada Congregational Church, the first established church in the Valley. As a local photographer, he is known as one of a few known to have documented the Valley during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His photographs capture many aspects of everyday life in his community during this period. Images include the people, homes, and lands of other early pioneers in the area, landscape photographs, street photography, bridges, and landmarks. Charles Pate was born in England, having been raised as a privileged child, attending some of the countryā€™s finest boarding schools. He sailed to America in 1892, moving to the La CaƱada Valley in the summer of 1893, working first as a fruit picker, carpenter, and water-line layer. He then worked for one of the founding fathers of La CaƱada, Jacob Lanterman, before establishing his own ranch on five acres of land planted with peaches, prunes, and pumpkins. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1915. He married one of the first schoolteachers in La CaƱada, Mary E. Wilber from Illinois. They had one child, Mary Florence, who was a florist as well as a musician and singer. The Lanterman House has had a very close relationship with the La CaƱada Congregational Church, who owns this collection, since the Lanterman Family helped found it in the late 19th century.

Acquisition information:
The Charles Pate Photograph Collection was inherited by the La CaƱada Congregational Church upon the death of Charles Pate in 1961. The collection was a bequeath by Mr. Pate to the Church. The collection has physically resided at the Lanterman House, while remaining the property of the Church, for research and preservation purposes, for over 20 years.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Lanterman House History Center and Archives staff.
Date Prepared:
1860s-1920s
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to the public for research. Use is restricted by rules intended to protect and preserve the materials in good condition for the future. Contact the Lanterman House Archives at least 48 hours in advance to ensure access to the materials. For additional information, please contact the Lanterman House Archives.

Terms of access:

Use of the materials is governed by applicable copyright law. The La CaƱada Congregational Church reserves the right to restrict any materials from reproduction at any time. Property rights reside with the La CaƱada Congregational Church. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. The La CaƱada Congregational Churchā€™s physical ownership of the materials in its collection does not imply ownership of copyright. It is the userā€™s responsibility to resolve any copyright issues related to the use and distribution of reproduced materials. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the La CaƱada Congregational Church.

Preferred citation:

Charles Pate Photograph Collection . Lanterman House History Center and Archives

Location of this collection:
4420 Encinas Drive
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011, US
Contact:
(818) 790-1421
lantermanhouse@gmail.com
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