Catherine Rose Mulholland, granddaughter of William Mulholland, former Chief Superintendent of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, was a historian, writer, civic leader, and public speaker in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area, where she spent much of her life. The Catherine Mulholland Collection documents her personal and professional life, chronicles the life of her grandfather, William Mulholland, and provides a unique perspective for considering the early social, political and economic history of the greater Los Angeles area. Most significantly, materials contained in this collection demonstrate the many complex issues involved in Los Angeles water history, as well as the important roles played by politicians and political movements, private business and industry, civic organizations, and local, state, and federal governmental agencies in the quest to provide water to the ever-expanding population of Los Angeles.

Catherine Rose Mulholland was born at Hollywood Methodist Hospital in Hollywood, California on April 7, 1923, the first of three children born to William "Perry" and Addie Camelia Haas Mulholland. Perry (1892-1962) was the eldest son of William Mulholland (1855-1935), former Chief Superintendent of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Lillie Ferguson Mulholland (1867-1915), daughter of James (1831-1910) and Francis Ann Fish Ferguson (1837-1926). Addie (1896-1980) was the eldest daughter of John (1867-1917) and Katie May Ijams Haas (1877-1968), early settlers in the San Fernando Valley. Catherine was raised on a citrus and walnut ranch known as the Mulholland Orchard Ranch, located at the west end of the San Fernando Valley between the towns of Chatsworth and Northridge, an area formerly known as Zelzah.

208.34 linear feet

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

This collection is open for research use.