Peter Major aerial photograph and map collection, 1971-1985

View only results with digital items
Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Peter Major aerial photograph and map collection
Dates:
1971-1985
Creators:
Foster Air Photo and Major, Thomas, 1917-1987
Abstract:
The Peter Major aerial photograph and map collection contains aerial photographs and geographic maps of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and surrounding area and documentation of the landslide in the Portuguese Bend area.
Containers:
box: Roll 1
box: SC 7
folder: 1
Extent:
0.55 Cubic Feet 1 oversized legal document box, 1 oversized map folder, and 1 box roll
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Peter Major aerial photograph and map collection (Collection 078). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is primarily made up of black and white and color aerial photographs from the 1970s and 1980s. Also includes geographic maps of Portuguese Bend area and geotechnical reports related to the landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Biographical / historical:

The collection was compiled by Thomas Major, father of donor Peter "Pete" Major. Thomas Major was born in Nashville, Tennessee and moved to the Portuguese Bend area of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the late 1950s. A real estate developer, Major worked at Plaza Realty in the 1960s and Wright Realty in Lunada Bay in the 1970s. In 1980, Major opened his own office, Thomas C. Major and Associates, where he worked on the La Cima development in Rancho Palos Verdes. Active in the community, Major was a member of the Palos Verdes Estates Board of Realtors, the Rolling Hills Board of Realtors and the Palos Verdes Rotary Club. He also served on the board of the Portuguese Bend Community Association. Major was also an instructor at South Bay Union and Torrance Unified school districts' adult education departments.

The aerial photos in the collection were commissioned by Major through Foster Air Photo. Major died in 1987 in a car accident at the age of 69.

Acquisition information:
Donated to the Local History Center by Peter "Pete" Major.
Processing information:

Initial rehousing and stabilization of materials by Michele Fricke and Sianna Bethune. Final arrangement and description by Sianna Bethune and Monique Sugimoto, March 22, 2025.

Arrangement:

Arranged into three series: geotechnical reports, aerial photographs, and maps. Aerial photographs arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Physical location:
Local History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Sianna Bethune
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-03-22 12:20:28 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.

Terms of access:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Peter Major aerial photograph and map collection (Collection 078). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Location of this collection:
701 Silver Spur Road
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274, US
Contact:
(310) 377-9584
Website