Patton Family Collection of Photographs and Negatives: Finding Aid photCL
282
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein.
The Huntington Library
© January 16, 2007
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Last updated on February 9, 2024 by Suzanne Oatey.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Patton Family Collection of Negatives and Photographs
Identifier/Call Number: photCL 282
Physical Description:
7.73 Linear Feet
(16 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1885-1945; 1971
Date (bulk): 1895-1907
Abstract: The Patton Family Collection consists
of 156 glass plate negatives, 218 film negatives, 875 photographs, and a negative book,
1885-1945 (bulk 1895-1907), created and/or collected by members of the Patton family and
friends. Also included are photographs of Lake Vineyard II, 1971. The collection provides an
intimate look into the private lives of one of Southern California's prominent families
around the turn of the twentieth century.
Language of Material: English.
Access
Advance arrangements for viewing negatives must be made with the Curator of Photographs.
The collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader
Services Department. For more information, please visit the Huntington's website:
www.huntington.org.
Publication Rights
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
Patton family Collection of Negatives and Photographs. The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Provenance
Gift of Anne Wilson Patton, 1957.
Processing Information
The glass plate negatives and prints made from those negatives were rehoused, numbered and
arranged by Brita Mack and Jane Apostol in the late 1980s. Jane Apostol rehoused, numbered
and arranged the remainder of the collection, and created the original Container List, in
2005. In November 2006, Sue Luftschein created this finding aid based, in part, on the
original Container List.
Physical Characteristics or Technical Requirements
The collection consists of glass plate and film negatives, copy prints from these
negatives, and original photographs. Boxes 1-2 contain the copy prints, plus some
photographs for which there are no existing negatives. Original glass plate negatives are
housed in boxes 6-12. Original film negatives, boxes 13-16, are housed in cold storage.
Biographical Note
In 1844, Benjamin D. Wilson, second Mayor of Los Angeles, married Ramona Yorba, daughter of
Bernardo Yorba, a well-known land owner during California's Mexican period. After Ramona's
death, Wilson married Margaret S. Hereford in 1853. He was the father of one son and three
daughters. Mariona Wilson married James DeBarth Shorb (1842-1896) and Ruth Wilson married
George Smith Patton (1856-1927) (one-time District Attorney of Los Angeles and the first
Mayor of San Marino) on December 10, 1884. Ruth and George sired two children, George Smith
Patton, Jr. (1885-1945) or "Georgie" and Anne Wilson Patton (1887-1971) or "Nita." George
Smith Patton, Jr., General in the United States Army, became famous in World War II as "Old
Blood and Guts."
Patton and his family resided at Lake Vineyard, apparently built by Benjamin Wilson on 128
acres in the heart of present-day San Marino. This house, Lake Vineyard I, was torn down in
1910 to make way for a larger house, Lake Vineyard II, which was the site of planning
sessions for the incorporation of present-day San Marino.
Ann Wilson, Ruth Wilson Patton's sister, lived with the Patton family at Lake Vineyard and
may have been the photographer for the images in the first four boxes of the collection, and
was the photographer and creator of the photograph album in Box 5.
The Patton and Banning Families, both prominent in the history of Southern California,
shared a close relationship; Benjamin Wilson and Phineas Banning (founder of the Port of Los
Angeles and of Wilmington, California) were business partners. George S. Patton, Jr.,
married Beatrice Banning Ayer.
Scope and Contents
The Patton Family Collection consists of 156 glass plate negatives, 218 film negatives, 875
photographs, and a negative book, 1885-1945 (bulk 1895-1907), created and/or collected by
members of the Patton family and friends. The collection provides an intimate look into the
private lives of one of Southern California's prominent families around the turn of the
twentieth century.
Boxes 1 and 2 contain copy prints of glass plate negatives taken by Ann Wilson, sister of
Ruth Wilson Patton, and printed in her darkroom on the family's Lake Vineyard property.
These photographs depict members of the Patton family and friends of the family; interiors
of both of the Lake Vineyard houses in San Marino, California (Lake Vineyard I and II);
views of the Lake Vineyard property; and photographs of the Patton family and friends on
Santa Catalina Island and views of Catalina. Box 2 also contains photographs of Lake
Vineyard II taken in 1971. Box 3 contains photographs of the Banning residence in
Wilmington, California, along with images of the Patton and Banning families at family
celebrations; and photographs (many created by studio photographers) of members of the
Patton family, including George S. Patton, Jr.; Anne Wilson Patton; Ruth Wilson Patton; and
George Smith Patton, Sr. Box 4 contains snapshots taken by an unidentified individual of
(presumably) Patton family friends at various resort locations in California, including
Catalina Island and Mount Tamalpais, as well as photographs of the Patton family at Lake Vineyard.
Box 5 contains a photograph album created by Ann Wilson that contains images of members of
both the Patton and Shorb families.
In addition to the images created by Ann Wilson, the collection includes photographs
created by Joseph Harrison Lamson, Frank G. Schumacher, George Steckel, and James D.
Westervelt.
Many photographs have annotations on the verso added in 1976 by Hancock Banning.
Arrangement
The collection is generally arranged by photographer and subject. Copy prints of Ann
Wilson's glass plate negatives form the first part of the collection, followed by copy
prints of photographs taken by an unidentified individual. Box 5 houses a photograph album
compiled by Ann Wilson.
Related materials in the Huntington Library
-
Banning Family Collection of Photographs, Part I (photCL
180)
-
Banning Family Collection of Photographs, Part II (photCL
451)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Long Beach (Calif.)--Photographs
Lowe, Mount (Los Angeles County, Calif.)--Photographs
San Gabriel River Valley (Calif.)--Photographs
San Marino (Calif.)--Photographs
Santa Catalina Island (Calif.)--Photographs
Santa Cruz (Calif.)--Photographs
Wilson, Mount (Calif. : Mountain)--Photographs
Tamalpais, Mount (Calif.)--Photographs
Wilmington (Los Angeles, Calif.)--Photographs
Bicycles -- Photographs
Children -- Photographs
Dwellings -- California -- San Marino -- Photographs
Horsemanship -- California -- San Marino -- Photographs
Interiors -- California -- San Marino -- Photographs
Military cadets -- Photographs
Parades -- California -- Pasadena -- Photographs
Recreation -- California -- Photographs
Ships -- California -- Photographs
Tennis -- California -- San Marino -- Photographs
Clippings.
Negatives.
Notes.
Photograph albums.
Photographs
Family, Lake Vineyard, and Catalina photographs
Box 1, Item 1-30
Patton family photographs
1895-1896
General
[George Smith Patton Sr., Ruth Patton, Nita, Georgie, and unidentified children, in
and around the Lake Vineyard house, playing with pets, on horseback, playing
tennis.]
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 8, 26, 28. Digital surrogate available for
number 15.]
Box 1, Item 31-46
Patton family photographs
1897-1898
General
[Ruth Patton, Nita, Georgie, and unidentified children, in and around the Lake
Vineyard house, playing with pets, on horseback.]
Box 1, Item 47-69
Patton family photographs
1897-1898
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 54-59.]
General
[Ruth Patton, Ann Wilson, Nita, Georgie, members of the Banning family, and
unidentified children, in and around the Lake Vineyard house, playing, riding
bicycles.]
Box 1, Item 70-84
Patton family photographs
1899
General
[George Smith Patton, Sr., Nita, Georgie, Maurice Phillips, and unidentified
children, in and around the Lake Vineyard house, playing, riding bicycles.]
Box 1, Item 85-99.1
Lake Vineyard interiors
1897-1904
General
[Some with members of the Patton family.]
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 87, 94.]
Box 1, Item 100-122
Lake Vineyard and Patton family photographs
1900-1904
General
[Lake Vineyard interiors, many with Patton family members and friends.]
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 101, 102, 104, 108-111a, 112-118.]
Box 1, Item 123-144
Lake Vineyard and Patton family photographs
1901-1903
General
[Patton family and friends on the porch at Lake Vineyard.]
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 123, 128, 129, 131, 132, 134, 136-142. Digital
surrogate available for numbers 127 and 143.]
Box 1, Item 145-175b
Lake Vineyard and Patton family photographs
1900-1901
General
[Exteriors of the Lake Vineyard house, Lake Vineyard grounds, and Patton family
members and friends around the grounds.]
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 146-152, 154, 155, 157-160, 163-170, 175.]
Box 2, Item 176-197
Lake Vineyard and Patton family photographs
1901-1907
General
[Exteriors of the Lake Vineyard house, Lake Vineyard grounds, and Patton family
members and friends around the grounds.]
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 176-178; 184, 185, 189, 190, 197.]
Box 2, Item 198-210
Lake Vineyard grounds and San Gabriel Valley views; George Jr. at
Tournament of Roses
1900-1907
General
[No glass plate negative for number 209. Digital surrogate available for number
210.]
Box 2, Item 211-220
Lake Vineyard II (second house)
1971
Scope and Contents
Photographs taken in 1971 showing interiors and exteriors of the house. Detailed
views of furniture, paintings, decor.
General
No negative for number 214a.
Box 2, Item 221-231
Lake Vineyard II (second house)
1971
Scope and Contents
Photographs taken in 1971 showing interiors and exteriors of the house. Detailed
views of furniture, paintings, decor.
Box 2, Item 232-249
San Marino and San Gabriel Valley; Cooper House; Patton family and
friends
1895-1901
General
[No numbers 239-241.]
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 232, 235-238, 243-249.]
Box 2, Item 250-271
Family trips
c. 1900-1905
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 250-261.]
Box 2, Item 272-290.1
Views of Catalina; Patton family and friends
1899-ca. 1902
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 272.1, 272.2, 275, 275.1, 276, 280, 284,
284.1, 285. 286.1, 289, 290.1]
Box 2, Item 291-306.1
Views of Catalina; Patton family and friends
1899-ca. 1902
General
[No glass plate negative for numbers 291-291.3, 293.1-293.3, 294.1, 299.1-299.3,
300.1-300.6, 301.1, 304.1, 306.1.]
Box 3, Item 307-317
Views of Banning residence in Wilmington; Patton family and
friends
ca. 1900
Box 3, Item 318-336
Virginia Military Institute and West Point: cadets and views; George
Jr.
1903-1904
Box 3, Item 337-347
George Smith Patton Jr.
1885-1945
General
[Number 344 missing as of November 2006.]
Box 3, Item 348-359.1
Ann Wilson Patton
undated
General
[Includes clipping.]
Box 3, Item 360-361
Ruth Wilson Patton
undated
Box 3, Item 362-364.2
George Smith Patton Sr.
undated
Box 3, Item 365-370
Susan Glassell Patton (Mrs. Lemoyne Wills)
undated
General
[Includes note re: geneology.]
Box 3, Item 370.4
"Aunt Nellie" (Mrs. Eleanor Brown)
undated
Box 3, Item 375-376
George Smith Patton I; Susan Glassell Thornton Patton
undated
General
[George Smith Patton I was the father of George Smith Patton, Sr.]
General
[Copies of oil portraits from Lake Vineyard. No print for number 376.]
Box 3, Item 377
Lake Vineyard and Catalina
c. 1895
General
[17 photographs glued into small booklet, created by Ann Patton.]
Box 3, Item 378
Patton family with Henry E. Huntington and Hancock Banning at Lake
Vineyard
November 1903
Box 3, Item 378.1-381
"Patton family Album"
undated
General
[Prints made from negatives lent to the Huntington Library by Special Collections,
University of California at Fresno. To be used only with prior permission.]
Snapshots printed from negatives created by an
unidentified individual
Box 4, Item 382-387
Views
undated
Physical Description: [Numbers 385-387 prints
only.]
Box 4, Item 388-389
"Ma and I on Catalina Island,"
undated
Box 4, Item 391-393
Glass-bottom boats
undated
Box 4, Item 401
Battleship and birds
undated
Box 4, Item 402
"View on Northern boat"
undated
Box 4, Item 403
"Fire drill on Northern boat"
undated
Box 4, Item 404-405
"Government boat"
undated
Box 4, Item 407
"Boats-one 3-master"
undated
Box 4, Item 413
"Me on sand, Long Beach,"
undated
Box 4, Item 416-419
Breakers
undated
General
[Number 416 print only.]
Box 4, Item 423
Rocks along coast
undated
Box 4, Item 424
Fishing pier. Fish on deck, boat Mizpah in background
undated
Box 4, Item 425-426
Suspension bridge
undated
Box 4, Item 429
San Francisco from Bay
undated
Box 4, Item 430
Boat, off San Francisco
undated
Box 4, Item 431
Group walking along railroad track
undated
Box 4, Item 437
San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais
undated
Box 4, Item 440
Train marked "Mount Tamalpais Gravity,"
undated
Box 4, Item 444
Westlake Park: birds on a float
undated
Box 4, Item 449
"Ma and I on Mount Wilson,"
undated
Box 4, Item 450
Squirrel by sign: "To Inspiration Point,"
undated
Box 4, Item 454
Birds on a rock in water
undated
Box 4, Item 455
Unidentified high school
undated
Military school and camp scenes
Box 4, Item 456-471
Cadets at military school
undated
Box 4, Item 472-484
Military camp views
undated
Box 4, Item 485
Wilson House, Lake Vineyard
undated
Box 4, Item 486-488
Olives at Lake Vineyard
undated
Box 4, Item 492-494
Unidentified houses
undated
Box 4, Item 496
"Georgie and Nita at the fountain" (George Smith Patton, Jr. and Ann
Patton)
undated
Box 4, Item 497
"Georgie and Arvin by the fountain,"
September
1895
Box 4, Item 498
"Georgie, Arvin, and Aunt Suzie under date palm, Lake
Vineyard,"
September
1895
Box 4, Item 499
"Georgie and Spot in wagon,"
undated
Box 4, Item 500
"Children in front of house,"
February 1896
Box 4, Item 503
"Nita and Georgie on beach in Redondo,"
undated
Box 4, Item 504
Georgie (?) and 2 unidentified women at beach
undated
Box 4, Item 505
"GSP playing tennis,"
undated
Box 4, Item 506
"Grandma and cats,"
undated
Box 4, Item 508
"Ma eating peaches,"
undated
Box 4, Item 513
"Papa and I" [Leona?]
undated
Box 4, Item 514-515
"Bert and Leona,"
undated
Box 4, Item 516
"Leona on grass,"
undated
Box 4, Item 517-519
"Leona picking flowers,"
undated
Box 4, Item 520
Unidentified woman on stepladder
undated
Patton family and Lake Vineyard
Box 4, Item 522-523
George S. Patton, Jr., in uniform
undated
Box 4, Item 524-525
George S. Patton, Jr., in uniform on front steps of Lake
Vineyard
undated
Box 4, Item 525a-525b
Walking up and down the stairs at Lake Vineyard
undated
Physical Description: [Negatives only.]
Box 4, Item 526
George S. Patton, Jr. at Lake Vineyard with two unidentified
women
undated
Box 4, Item 527-530
Front steps of Lake Vineyard
undated
Box 4, Item 531-532
Dog and cat at Lake Vineyard
undated
Box 4, Item 533-537
Ann Wilson Patton
undated
Box 4, Item 538
George S. Patton, Sr., on horseback
undated
Box 4, Item 539-542a
Group photographs and snapshots
undated
Box 4, Item 545-547
Wharf, with large fish hanging from hook
undated
Box 4, Item 549
Beach at water's edge
undated
Box 4, Item 550
Passengers seated on boat
undated
Box 4, Item 551-552
Exterior of unidentified houses
undated
Box 4, Item 553
Unidentified interior
undated
Box 4, Item 554
Unidentified woman in room
undated
Box 4, Item 555-556
Unidentified group in outdoor location
undated
Box 4, Item 557
Landscape with trees
undated
"Photos removed to Patton
Collection"
Box 4, Item 559-561
San Pedro: Great White Fleet
undated
Box 4, Item 562-565
Mrs. Patton's Electric [automobile]. San Marino
undated
Box 4, Item 566
George S. Patton, Sr. at Catalina
undated
Physical Description: [Print only.]
Box 4, Item 567
Georgie in the grass
undated
Physical Description: [Print only.]
Box 4, Item 568
Parade
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 569-571
San Francisco Plunge
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 572
General view of Long Beach
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 573
Ocean view
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 574
Surf, Santa Cruz
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 575
Catalina Boats [men playing guitars]
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 576
Battleship
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 577
Interior view of a bedroom [Lake Vineyard?]
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 578
Trees, Santa Cruz
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 4, Item 579
GAR camp, Long Beach
undated
Physical Description: [Negative only.]
Box 5, Volume 1
Photograph album of Patton and Shorb Families
1896-1902
General
[Accompanied by note from Hancock Banning. According to Banning, many of the
photographs were taken and developed by Ann Wilson in her darkroom on the Lake
Vineyard property. He identified volume 1 (51) as the darkroom.]
General
[Some duplication exists with other subjects and views in the collection.]
Box 6-12
Glass plate negatives
Conditions Governing Access
Advance arrangements for viewing glass plate negatives must be made with the Curator
of Photographs.
Box 13-16
Film negatives
Conditions Governing Access
Film negatives housed in cold storage. Advance arrangements for viewing film
negatives must be made with the Curator of Photographs.
