Conditions Governing Access
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical / Historical
Preferred Citation
Related Archival Materials
Scope and Contents
Conditions Governing Use
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Jean Samwell Crawford Papers
Creator:
Jean Marie Glaser Samwell Crawford
Identifier/Call Number: 0175
Physical Description:
2.8 Linear Feet
(1 Hollinger Box, 3 Oversize Boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1918-2019 [bulk 1930-1940]
Abstract: Jean Samwell Crawford spent time between Los Angeles and her family's cabin called "The Hide-Away" at Malibu Lakeside during
the 1930s and 1940s. This collection includes a photograph album, guest books for "The Hide-Away," photographs, and newspaper
clippings.
Physical Location: Payson 260, Row 4
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was given to Pepperdine University by Jean Samwell Crawford on March 29, 2019.
Biographical / Historical
Malibu Lakeside is a small residential community located in the Santa Monica Mountains, adjacent to Malibu Creek State Park.
Los Angeles real estate developer H.L. Averil sold the first lots in 1924, two years after the foundation of nearby private
community Malibou Lake Mountain Club. Many early residents were middle class Angelenos, using their cabins as a weekend escape
from the city. Every homeowner held a stake in the Lakeside Mutual Water Company, which in turn helped fund the community
center, which boasted a large clubhouse, swimming pool, softball and tennis courts, and a playground. Jean Samwell's family
cabin, "The Hide-Away," was constructed between 1931-1932.
Jean's mother, Marie Elizabeth Benkert, married Stephen Glaser in 1920 who was in the Navy, and the couple had Jean in February
1921. Shortly after, Marie and Jean travelled to the Philippines in order to be with Stephen who was stationed there. Stephen
left the Navy in 1922 and the couple had another child, Ruth Nydine Glaser the following year, 1923. Marie and Stephen divorced
thereafter and Marie remarried Leo Samwell in October 1930. The Samwells lived in Culver City, Leo first worked worked at
Gaffers and Sattler appliance manufactures until layoffs during The Great Depression. He then worked for the Works Progress
Administration and then MGM Studios as a security guard in the 1930s. Jean attended Shenandoah Elementary School and then
Alexander Hamilton High School. On weekends, the Samwell family would drive to "The Hide-Away" and spend their weekends hiking,
swimming, and entertaining visiting friends and family. During World War II, Jean worked for the Lockheed Corporation in Burbank
where she did electrical work on B-17 bombers. At the time, Jean lived in Hollywood where she paid a mere $27 per month in
rent. Towards the end of the war, Jean met her husband, William Elmo Crawford. William was from Georgia and served in the
Navy during World War II and for a short time following the war. Jean and William were married during one of his leaves on
October 14, 1946. The newlyweds then had their honeymoon at "The Hide-Away" at Malibu Lakeside which was Jean's final trip
to the cabin. Leo Samwell passed away in December 1947, and the family sold the cabin shortly thereafter. Jean supported herself
as a seamstress, often for Hollywood stars, while she waited for William to finish his service in the Navy. Eventually, the
couple settled in Sacramento, California, where William worked at McClellan Air Force Base.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], [Jean Samwell Crawford Papers], Collection no. 0175, Malibu Historical Collection, Special Collections
and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Related Archival Materials
Annette and Doris Anderson Family Photographs
Scope and Contents
The majority of the collection documents the Samwell family's time spent at their cabin at Malibu Lakeside between 1931-1948.
The two guest books contain entries about what activities the family and their guests did while at "The Hide-Away" cabin.
The photograph album, which was made for Jean, contains some photographs of their cabin during construction, landscape photographs
of Malibu Lakeside, the Samwell family and friends, Jean at swimming competitions, and Jean with her friends in other areas
of Southern California like Balboa Island and Catalina. The Crawford Family Photograph Scrapbook contains photographs of "The
Hide-Away" Cabin while it was being built as well as photographs of the family.
The collection also contains a few newspaper clippings and photographs about Leo Samwell's military service in World War I,
photographs taken of Jean at various restaurants in Los Angeles in the 1940s, two photographs of Leo Samwell with fellow MGM
security guards in the 1930s, and three headshots of three Hollywood actresses (Clara Bow, Lila Lee, and Loretta Young).
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository
and the copyright holder.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Malibu (Calif.) -- History
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History
Santa Monica Mountains (Calif.)
Photograph albums
Newspapers
Photographs