Widney Family Papers, 1856-1964, bulk 1868-1935

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Summary

Title:
Widney family papers
Dates:
1856-1964, bulk 1868-1935
Creators:
Widney (Family)
Abstract:
A collection of 19th and 20th century diaries and legal documents related to the Widney family of Los Angeles, California.
Extent:
2.4 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Widney family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection of 45 items consists primarily of diaries, reminiscences and legal documents that relate to Widney family history and the history of Los Angeles and its environs during the last quarter of the 19th century. Subjects include: Widney-Workman family history, the Mormons in Illinois, an overland journey to California in 1856 (recorded in a journal kept by Sarah Johnston Barnes), the anti-Chinese riot of November 1871 in Los Angeles, and education and religion in late 19th century Los Angeles. There is also a typescript copy of Boyle Workman's book, The City that Grew, which traces the history of Los Angeles from the time of the Workman-Rowland party to 1935; additionally, there is a scrapbook of newspaper clippings related to the book. Persons represented in the collection include Sarah Johnston Barnes, Robert Maclay Widney, Mary Barnes Widney, Martha Frances Widney Workman, and Boyle Workman.

Biographical / historical:

The Widney family, through their business affairs and their civic involvement, played a significant part in the development of Los Angeles beginning in the 1860s through the early part of the 20th century.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Mrs. Frances Widney Workman, 1958-1969.
Processing information:

Processed by Peter Blodgett, August 1985. In 2021, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy in-house finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-09-04 13:16:03 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. Widney family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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