INVENTORY OF THE WATSON LAND COMPANY COLLECTION,
1927-2005
Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Allan Goldman
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Archives & Special Collections
University Library, Room G-145
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, California 90747
Phone: (310) 243-3895
URL: http://archives.csudh.edu/
©2006
Descriptive Summary
Title: Watson Land Company Collection
Dates: 1927-2005
Collection Number: Consult repository.
Creator:
Watson Land Company
Extent:
1 box
.5 linear ft.
Repository: California State University, Dominguez Hills
Archives and Special Collections
Archives & Special Collection
University Library, Room G-145
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, California 90747
Phone: (310) 243-3013
URL: http://archives.csudh.edu/
Abstract: A small collection of materials from the Watson Land Company, including articles of incorporation, financial statements, correspondence,
newsletters, and reports.
Language: Collection material is in English
Administration Information
Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Publication Rights
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
[Title of item], Watson Land Company Collection, Courtesy of the Department of Archives and Special Collections. University
Library. California State University, Dominguez Hills
Project Information
This finding aid was created as part of Early Los Angeles/Rancho San Pedro Manuscript Cataloging Project, a CSU Dominguez
Hills Library project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project started in 2005.
Project Director was Greg Williams. Project Archivists were Thomas Philo and Jennifer Allan Goldman.
History
The Watson Estate Company was incorporated in 1912 to help protect the interests of Dolores Simona Dominguez de Watson. While
the Watson Estate Company made a steady, albeit relatively small, income from leasing land, it broke with other Rancho-based
companies in regularly selling off small pieces of property. The company was reincorporated as the Watson Land Company in
1927, largely as a way to have lands assessed according to richer 1920s valuations, rather than the 1913 valuation that had
been used. Under reincorporation, land sales and leases gave the Watson Land Company a sounder financial foundation. As
with other Rancho-based concerns, the Watson Land Company realized profits from sales and leases to oil companies; throughout
its history, though, the directors of the Watson Land Company focused on the agricultural and industrial development of the
land. The success of this practice grew throughout the century, and the Watson Land Company remains one of the most successful
in Southern California. (From the Rancho San Pedro Collection Finding Aid)
Scope and Content
Items include “Watson in the News” company newsletters; corporate profiles and reports; brochures and articles about the company;
financial statements; land reports; correspondence; and the company articles of incorporation.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Office buildings
Industrial buildings
Geographic Areas
Carson (Calif.)
Rancho Dominguez (Calif.)
Corporate Names
Watson Land Company
Related Material
Rancho San Pedro Collection
Rancho San Pedro Reference Collection
Folder 1
"Watson In the News" publications, monthly/seasonal newsletter with pieces on tenants, Waston Land Company employees, and
construction progress
1968, 1976-1978, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1990, 2005
Folder 2
Corporate profile brochures (cover removed) and letter to Judson Grenier in reference to photos used in brochure
1987, 1966
Folder 3
Industrial Center brochures, including for the Watson Office Plaza and the Watson/Carson Business Park, all circa late-1970s,
early-1980s
1977, 1981
Folder 4
Reprinted and photocopied articles about the Watson Industrial Center, reprint of report by "Industrial Development," correspondence
from Brown Keefe Marine/Bowes regarding news releases
1964-1965, 1978, 1982
Folder 5
Articles of Incorporation, certificate from state of California, and correspondence
1927
Folder 6
Report on land sales by W.H. Daum and Staff, including correspondence to and from Hugh Arnold and a map noting the properties
for possible sale
1935, 1940
Folder 7
Balance sheets, financial statements, audit reports, and other financial documents
1927, 1933, 1938, 1949-1950, 1966-1967
Folder 8
Correspondence with oil companies and other Dominguez companies, financial statements, clippings, freeway map, Copy of Watson
Energy Systems, Inc. appeal to Air Pollution Control District
1927, 1930, 1934, 1939, 1944, 1966, 1976, 1986
Folder 9
Pasadena Research Institute report, "Economic Impact of Watson Industrial Center"
1980
