Inventory of the Judson Grenier Research Collection SPC.1900.011
Deena Marie Santos
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2024
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Judson Grenier Research Collection
Creator:
Grenier, Judson
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.1900.011
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
Physical Description:
3 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1812-2014; undated
Abstract: The Judson Grenier Collection (1812 – 2014, undated) documents Dr. Judson Grenier's research into families connected to the
Rancho San Pedro. Located in the South Bay of Los Angeles County, the Rancho San Pedro is one of the first great land grants,
held by Juan Jose Dominguez and his heirs from 1874 into the 21st century. The materials in this collection focus largely
on the Watson family and the Carson family, who are among the later heirs to the Rancho San Pedro lands. This collection gathers
Grenier's research for two books,
>California Legacy: the Watson Family and George Carson: Los Angeles Pioneer. It also includes materials about Robert Gillingham, the main historian of the Rancho San Pedro, the Banning Family, and
California State University, Dominguez Hills, where Grenier served as founding professor of the History Department. The collection
includes personal notes, letters within and between families, financial materials, photographs, maps, publications, and more.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Judson Grenier.
Scope and Contents
The Grenier Research Collections contains the research material used by Dr. Judson Grenier for his many books including:
California Legacy: The Watson Family and
George Carson: Los Angeles Pioneer. It also includes research material for
Reminiscences of the Dominguez Ranch and the Carson Family: An Oral History by John Victor Carson and interviewed by Judson Grenier. Materials include biogaphical information, estate maps, invitations,
letters, maps, notes, photographs, publications, sketches, and more.
Arrangement
Contains 7 Series:
- Series I: Banning Family Research
- SSeries II: California State University, Dominguez Hills Research
- Series III: Carson Family Research
- Series IV: Dominguez Family Research
- Series V: Personal Materials
- Series VI: Publications
- Series VII: Other Reference Material
Content Alert
The materials in this collection help create a valuable historical record, but they often reflect the times in which they
were created, and they may use disturbing racial language and exhibit racist attitudes, including: Documents and photographs
in the collection that note a site on Rancho San Pedro lands with an offensive, racist term is its name. Though the site no
longer exists, the name appears throughout the collection.
Separated Materials
Contains materials that have been catalogued separately that relate to the materials within this collection such as
California Legacy: The Watson Family and
George Carson: Los Angeles Pioneer.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Judson Grenier was born in Indiana in 1930. His education includes a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Minnesota
(1951), a Master's Degree at the University of Southern California (1952), and Doctorate in History at University of California,
Los Angles (circa 1956). During his academic training he interviewed author Upton Sinclair. After a few years as a journalist
for the Los Angeles Mirror-News, he began his teacher career at El Camino College in Torrance, CA in 1956. In 1966 he began
working at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) as the first chairman of the History Department. He taught
at CSUDH for 27 years where he co-directed the California State University Oral History Project. At CSUDH he conducted research
on several topics including the Dominguez Family lands on the Rancho San Pedro, the 1910 International Aviation Meet at Dominguez
Field, the California State University and several other topics. He published the first history of CSUDH entitled "The Rainbow
Years (1960-1985). With Donald R. Gerth, he published
A History of the California State University and Colleges (ca. 1982). Additionally, he published works included the following:
California Legacy: The Watson Family and George Carson: Los Angeles Pioneer (2014). Dr. Grenier was also edited the second edition of Robert Gillingham's 1961 book,
The Rancho San Pedro in 1983. In 1981 he published the pamphlet,
Reminiscences of the Dominguez Ranch and the Carson family : an oral history.
A longtime Manhattan Beach resident, Dr. Grenier also wrote or edited several pamphlets relating to Manhattan Beach including
A Capsule History of Manhattan Beach, 1912-1976,
The Streets of Manhattan Transportation at the Beach and Manhattan Beach Yesterdays . In 2005 he was honored for his research with a Fellows Award by the Historical Society of Southern California. Dr. Grenier
was instrumental in promoting and advancing the Gerth Archives and Special Collections in the University Library at CSUDH.
This work included locating and preserving many Dominguez Family Collections that remain in the Archives.
Related Materials
For related material please consult the Judson Grenier Photograph Collection, Rancho San Pedro Collection, Rancho San Pedro
Reference Collection, and Robert Gillingham Papers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Watson family
Dominguez family
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Series I: Banning Family Research
undated
Language of Material: Latin.
Scope and Contents
Series I: Banning Family Research contains matieral curated by Dr. Judson Grenier used to research the Banning Family such
as articles, letters, and photographs.
box 1, folder 1
Materials Regarding Phineas Banning
undated
Language of Material: Latin.
Scope and Contents
Contains research material such as portraits, short biographical articles regarding Phineas Banning, two maps of Phineas Banning's
Reserve, and one letter regarding the Banning house.
Series II: California State University, Dominguez Hills Research
1983 - 2007
Scope and Contents
Series II: California State University, Dominguez Hills Research contains material used by Dr. Judson Grenier to research
California State University, Dominguez Hills such as Commencement Papers, 1 letter, and an obituary about and for Louis H.
Heilbron.
box 2, folder 1
"Cal-State University, Dominguez Hills Oral History Project - President Leo F. Cain Interview"
December 5, 1996
box 2, folder 2
Louis H. Heilbron - "Commencement Addresses and Selected Papers"
1983
box 2, folder 2
Louis H. Heilbron - Letter to President Lyons
January 5, 2007
box 2, folder 2
Louis H. Heilbron - Obituary
January 1, 2007
Series III: Carson Family Research
1837 - 2014, Undated
Language of Material: English, Latin, Spanish; Castilian.
Scope and Contents
Series III: Carson Family Research contains material used by Dr. Judson Grenier for the exclusive purpose of researching the
Carson Family, such as an accounting ledger, biographical information, census reports, discharge papers, estate maps, finances,
hand written notes by Dr. Judson Grenier, invitations, letters, photographs, and more.
box 1, folder 2
Accounting Ledger Belonging to George Carson
1881-1901
box 1, folder 3
Biographical Information - Carson Family
undated
box 1, folder 4
Carson Family Estate Map
February 6, 1978
box 1, folder 5
"Carson Films" CD
undated
box 1, folder 6
"The Carson Time Capsule" by Virginia Maier
June 13, 1974
box 1, folder 7
Census Reports Regarding the Carson Family
July 8, 1870 - April 13, 1930
box 1, folder 8
Certification Letter Between George Carson and Guadalupe Dominguez
April 13, 1892
box 1, folder 9
"Crump, Spencer, Henry Huntington and the P.E"
undated
box 1, folder 10
"Descendants of George Cady Carson"
undated
box 1, folder 11
Discharge Papers for George Carson
October 18, 1848
box 1, folder 12
George Carson's Finances
October 23, 1854 - December 8, 1918
box 1, folder 13
"George Carson: Los Angeles Pioneer" by Judson A. Grenier (typescript)
2014
box 1, folder 14
Handwritten Notes - George Carson
undated
box 1, folder 15
Invitations
July 2, 1852 - May 30, 1866
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 1, folder 16
John Carson Letter to Parents Regarding Small Talk
September 14, 1881
box 1, folder 17
Joseph Carson Boat Registration Card
June 24, 1875
box 1, folder 18
Judson Grenier's E-mail Regarding Carson Estate Research
March 3, 2005
box 1, folder 19
Letter to George Carson
May 14, 1860
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 1, folder 20
Materials Regarding the Barrows Family
October 13, 1857 - March 5, 1984
Scope and Contents
Contains two letters, handwritten notes, and one portrait of Henry Barrows.
box 1, folder 21
"Mr. Geo. Carson and Wife - Los Angeles Terminal Railway" Identification Cards
1899, 1900
box 1, folder 22
Photographs of the Carson Family
circa 1880 - 1897
box 1, folder 23
Photographs of the Carson Family Property (Houses and Farmland)
1857 - 1902, undated
box 1, folder 24
Photographs and Sketches of the Carson House
circa 1864
box 1, folder 25
Public Notices
February 6, 1837 - March 27, 1858
Scope and Contents
Contains three notices regarding the "Removal of Hale and Carson", the co-partnerships of George Carson with Peter Dean and
George Carson with W.T.B Sanford, and creditor notices.
box 1, folder 26
"Stockholders of Carson Estate Company"
undated
Series IV: Dominguez Family Research
1812 - 1994, Undated
Language of Material: English, Spanish; Castilian, Latin.
Scope and Contents
Series IV: Dominguez Family Research contains matierals used by Dr. Judson Grenier exclusively for research regarding the
Dominguez Family such as biographical material, census reports, death notices, estate maps, finances, invitations, journal
entry, letters, maps, news articles, notes, and more.
box 2, folder 3
Annotated Photographs of Dr. Gregorio Del Amo
February 26, 2005, undated
box 2, folder 4
"A Short History of Gardena Valley" pg 7 and 8
June 1934
box 2, folder 5
Biographical Information - C.E. Thom
undated
box 2, folder 6
Biographical Information - Juan Jose Dominguez
undated
Language of Material: Latin.
box 2, folder 7
Census Reports - Dominguez Family
1850 - April 26, 1910
box 2, folder 8
"The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul - Centenary", Program Booklet
1865 - 1965
box 2, folder 9
"Copia de la Fiiacion"
undated
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 2, folder 10
Death Record of Juan Jose Dominguez
January 25, 1809
box 2, folder 11
Debt Contract Between Henry Maucook, Cameron, Thom, and William McKee and the United States
October 14, 1858
box 2, folder 12
Dominguez-Carson Rotary Club Meeting
October 18, 1956
box 2, folder 13
"Dominguez Estate Votes to Liquidate , Offers to Sell Proper for $58.5 Million"
April 7, 1967
box 2, folder 15
Finances
July 3, 1812 - January 8, 1913, undated
box 2, folder 16
Gladys Carson Burns, "The Dominguez Family of Rancho San Pedro"
undated
box 2, folder 17
Handwritten Notes Regarding the Dominguez Family
undated
box 2, folder 18
Invitations and Notices
March 1835 - May 29, 1890, undated
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 2, folder 19
Journal Entries
January 18, 1917 - February 4, 1917
box 2, folder 20
Judson Grenier's Letters Regarding Dominguez Family Research
February 9. 1958 - December 10, 1994
box 2, folder 21
Letters of Administration Regarding Maria Engracia Cota de Dominguez's Estate
April 14, 1883
box 2, folder 22
Letters from Dolores Watson Regarding Their Current Events
circa July 24, 1890
box 2, folder 23
Letters of Inspection
May 30, 1881, undated
box 2, folder 24
Letter from Guadalupe Dominguez Regarding Receiving Payment from Pedro Larronde
December 1, 1886
box 2, folder 25
Sr. Dn. Gregorio of Ajuria Death Notice
March 1864
box 2, folder 26
Labelled Photo of Dominguez Family
circa 1897
box 2, folder 27
Letters from Manuel Dominguez
February 25, 1854 - June 21, 1863, undated
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 2, folder 28
Letter from Manuel Dominguez Regarding Railroad Contractors
[November] 14, 1868
box 2, folder 29
Letters to Maria Dominguez
October 22, 1891, May 1892
box 2, folder 30
Letter Regarding Land Title Conflicts
April 2, 1864
box 2, folder 31
Letter Regarding Pueblo San Francisco
May 17, 1863
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 2, folder 32
"Manuel Dominguez's Will", Los Angeles County Archives Case
undated
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 2, folder 33
Maps of Dominguez Oil Field
undated
box 2, folder 34
Maps of Rancho San Pedro
December 1857 - 1893, undated
box 2, folder 35
Materials Regarding Wilmington
1870, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains handwritten notes produced by Judson Grenier and photographs.
box 2, folder 36
News Articles Regarding the Dominguez Family
April 7, 1967 - April 13, 1967
box 2, folder 37
Notes Regarding Compton
December 18, 1917, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains handwritten notes produced by Judson Grenier and one loan receipt
box 2, folder 38
"Notes on the Dominguez Homesite"
January 22, 1922 - 1972
box 2, folder 39
Office of the Board of Commissioners, George Fisher to Manuel Dominguez Regarding Private Land Claims Settlement
1855
box 2, folder 40
One Family Group Records on Dominguez Family Members
undated
box 2, folder 41
Payment Letter from Manuel Dominguez
March 1877
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 2, folder 42
Photographs of Dominguez Family
undated
box 2, folder 43
Photographs of Dominguez Ranch
1809 - 1987, undated
box 2, folder 44
Photographs of Dominguez Station
undated
box 2, folder 45
Photographs of Dominguez Water Company
March 1, 1985, undated
box 2, folder 46
Photographs of Los Angeles Plaza
1865 - 1891, undated
box 2, folder 47
Photographs of the Ruins of Don Manuel Dominguez
undated
box 2, folder 48
Photographs of San Pedro Harbor
undated
box 2, folder 49
Photographs of Sugar Beet Farms, Compton
1910
box 2, folder 50
Photographs of the Watson Family
1913, undated
box 2, folder 51
"Rattle Snake Island"
1890
box 2, folder 52
Reyes Dominguez Communion Receipt
circa March 1850s
box 2, folder 53
"Sale of Rattlesnake Island"
1887
box 2, folder 54
Supreme Court Agreement Regarding John Watson
January 12, 1853
box 2, folder 55
Testimonies in Favor of Dominguez and Noriega's Behalf Regarding the Presidio de San Diego
undated
Language of Material: Spanish; Castilian.
box 2, folder 56
"The Watson Land Company: A 75th Anniversary Salute" by Judson Grenier, Including Photos
Summer 1987
box 2, folder 57
Watson Land Company - Barbeque Invitation
July 27, 1913
box 2, folder 57
Watson Land Company - Letters From Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Regard Finances
September 19, 1927 - September 23, 1927
Series V: Personal Materials
1967 - 2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Series V: Personal Materials contains Dr. Judson Grenier's personal property such as 1 death announcement, 1 affidavit of
birth, e-mails, grants, and public administrator materials.
box 3, folder 1
Death Announcement for Sr. Don Cadeo Amat
May 12, 1967
box 3, folder 2
John Edward Whitney Affidavit of Birth
February 9, 1984
box 3, folder 3
Personal E-Mails
December 21, 1994 - March 30, 2005
box 3, folder 4
Permission Grants
December 11, 1990 - January 4, 1991
box 3, folder 5
Public Administrator Frequently Asked Questions
November 12, 2005
Series VI: Publications
1855 - 2013, Undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Series VI: Publications contains journal articles, magazines, and newsletters from The Historical Society of Southern California,
International News Source, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, Los Angeles Times, and more.
box 3, folder 6
The Carson Companies,
N/E/W/S
May 2004 - Summer 2010
box 3, folder 7
The Compton Enterprise
circa January 27, 1900
box 3, folder 8
The Compton Herald, Vol. 11, Photo Clipping Only
October 9, 1946
box 3, folder 9
"Compton" Report and Photos
undated
Content Alert
The materials in this collection help create a valuable historical record, but they often reflect the times in which they
were created, and they may use disturbing racial language and exhibit racist attitudes, including : Documents and maps in
the collection that note a site on Rancho San Pedro lands with an offensive, racist term is its name. Though the site no longer
exists, the name appears throughout the collection.
box 3, folder 10
Daily Breeze
August 14, 1987
box 3, folder 11
"Early Days in Los Angeles"
January 3, 1892 - January 3, 1942
box 3, folder 12
"Flight of the Spanish Consult Express"
November 3, 1894
box 3, folder 13
The Historical Society of Southern California, "An End and Beginning - The South Coast and Los Angeles, 1850-1887"
1992
box 3, folder 13
The Historical Society of Southern California, "Book Reviews", Vol. 70, Issue No. 3
Fall 1988
box 3, folder 13
The Historical Society of Southern California, "With Colonel Carleton and the California Column" by Leo P. Kibby
undated
box 3, folder 13
The Historical Society of Southern California, "The Southern Californian", Vol. 2, Issue No. 1
Spring 1990
box 3, folder 14
"History of Long Beach and Vicinity" by Walter H. Chase, Vol. 1
September 11, 1958
box 3, folder 15
"History of Los Angeles County, California"
1880
box 3, folder 16
International News Source, "Press Reference Library"
1913
box 3, folder 17
Los Angeles Business Journal
May 24, 1999
box 3, folder 18
Los Angeles Corral
March 1955
box 3, folder 20
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
November 1, 1892 - September 12, 1976
box 3, folder 21
Los Angeles Times, Articles
August 7, 1887 - January 30, 2013, undated
box 3, folder 22
Los Angeles Star
August 8, 1857
box 3, folder 23
"The Los Angeles Terminal Railroad" by Franklyn Hoyt
September 1954
box 3, folder 24
News Articles Regarding Carson and Dominguez Families
March 14, 1930, undated
box 3, folder 25
Untitled Articles Regarding Carson and Dominguez Families
undated
box 3, folder 26
Notes from H.F. Rays
circa. 1913
box 3, folder 27
Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 52, Issue No 4
November 1988
box 3, folder 28
Ramona Convent Alumnae Association, "Alumnae News", 6th Edition
February 1952
box 3, folder 29
The Redondo Reflux
March 16, 1911
box 3, folder 30
"Remi Nodeau, City Mother - Costa Mesa Trem-Anglo Books", 3rd Edition, pg 14-16
1965
box 3, folder 31
Rochwell Hunt, "California and Californians", pg 82-84; 110; 159; 160
1932
box 3, folder 32
S. J. Clanke, "California of the South", Vol 4
1933
box 3, folder 33
Santa Barbara Gazette, No. 9 (Incomplete)
July 19, 1855
box 3, folder 34
Spalding, Wm. A, "History of Los Angeles City and Country", Vol. 3
1931
box 3, folder 35
Touring Topics
April 1930
box 3, folder 36
Walter E. Holstein, "A History of Wilmington from the Spanish Period to 1931"
undated
box 3, folder 37
"William Mulholland and the Rise of the Los Angeles" by Catherine Mulholland
2000
box 3, folder 38
"Wreath for Spain", Clipping and Pictures
undated
Series VII: Other Reference Material
1852 - 1923, Undated
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Series VII: Other Reference Material contains other reference material used by Dr. Judson Grenier such as advertisements,
maps, negatives, photographs, and sketches.
box 3, folder 39
Advertisements
1893, undated
box 3, folder 40
Hazard-Dyson Album - Photographs and Notes
circa 1864 - July 1911
box 3, folder 42
Maps of Los Angeles
1854-1946, undated
box 3, folder 43
Materials Regarding the Drum Barracks
May 17, 1865 - September 1992, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains "Drum Beats" Vol 4 Issue No. 1, biological information, photographs, and a letter.
box 3, folder 44
Negatives - Including Notes
June 4, 1897 - 1906, undated
box 3, folder 45
Photographs of Buildings in Los Angeles
1886 - 1923, undated
box 3, folder 46
Photographs of Del Amo Home and Redondo Beach
undated
box 3, folder 47
Photographs of Sante Fe, New Mexico
1859 - 1865
box 3, folder 48
Photographs of Los Angeles River Dredge
1913 - March 7, 1916, undated
box 3, folder 49
Photographs of Tom Gibbon and Company
undated
box 3, folder 50
Photographs of the Willows
undated
box 3, folder 51
Sketches of Interior of Church
undated
box 3, folder 52
Sketches of Thoms Leahy's Home and Vineyard
undated
box 3, folder 53
Topographical Map of Los Palos Verdes
September 1896
box 3, folder 54
Town Maps
1877, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains maps of Compton, "To Flemyer's Halfway House", Henson and Soleno, and Temple and Gibson Tract.
box 3, folder 55
Warren and Co - Agricultural and Horticulture Fair Information Packet
May 1852