Dominguez Water Corporation Collection, 1910-1986; undated

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Summary

Title:
Dominguez Water Corporation Collection
Dates:
1910-1986; undated
Creators:
Dominguez Water Company
Abstract:
This collection includes legal documents, correspondence, monthly and yearly financial reports, receipts, photographs, negatives, and an artifact. Subjects include payroll, budgets, construction, and residential and industrial water supply.
Extent:
7 boxes and 4.5 Linear Feet
Language:
Collection material is in English.
Preferred citation:

[title of item] Dominguez Water Corporation Collection, Courtesy of the Gerth Archives and Special Collections. University Library. California State University, Dominguez Hills

Background

Scope and content:

The Dominguez Water Corporation Collection (1910-1986; undated) consists of 7 boxes and 4.5 linear feet of documents from the business operations of the Water Company. The bulk of the documents are financial in nature, including yearly and monthly reports, receipts, and other records. Major figures in this collection include Water Company Superintendent Thomas V. Tallon and Resident Engineer George Hand. Also included in this collection are pamphlets, reports, correspondence, and photographs and negatives mostly taken in the early 1950s documenting the construction of water infrastructure, and projects relating to the laying of pipe, pumps, ditching, Dominguez Water Reservoir, and others.

Biographical / historical:

The Dominguez Water Company was founded in 1911 in an effort to provide a reliable source of water to the Rancho San Pedro lands. The first board included Henry O'Melveny, Kaspare Cohn, and representatives from the Watson, Carson, and Del Amo families. Even with a growing consumer base, the cost of maintenance and operations kept the company from earning a profit. In 1914, the winter flooding damaged pipes, wells, and equipment. The earthquake of 1933 also damaged the pumping plant and equipment. By 1936, the company was heavily in debt to the Dominguez Estate Company and the County Superior Court ordered the Water Company to sell its assets to the Estate Company. The following year, it was incorporated as the Dominguez Water Corporation, a subsidiary of the Dominguez Estate Company.

In 1940, the Water Corporation was granted public utility status, which allowed it to expand its service area to locations outside of Los Angeles, including the Antelope Valley and Kern County. In the 2000-2001 fiscal year, the Water Corporation was purchased by the California Water Services Group and ceased operations as a stand-alone utility. Major figures in the Corporation included Superintendent Egbert P. Tallon, his son Thomas Tallon, and Resident Engineer George Hand.

The collection was received in the late 1980s with the help of Professor Judson Grenier. It was likely transferred from the original pumphouse on Alameda Street in Compton. Additions to the collection have been made by archival staff members.

Acquisition information:

The collection was received in the late 1980s with the help of Professor Judson Grenier. It was likely transferred from the original pumphouse on Alameda Street in Compton. Additions to the collection have been made by archival staff members.

The negatives were donated by the Dominguez Water Corporation.

Processing information:

In 2026, this collection was reprocessed. Work included reorganization of files; and the addition of unprocessed Dominguez Water Corporation negatives.

Arrangement:

Arranged in three series:

  1. Series I: Financial Documents and Reports (1910-1986)
  2. Series II: Correspondence, Announcements, and Notes (1916-1964; undated)
  3. Series III: Series III: Photographs, Negatives, and Ephemera (1949-1959, 1961, 1971, 1972, 1985; undated)
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Allan Goldman; Karen Clemons 2026
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-03-23 23:19:16 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Terms of access:

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] Dominguez Water Corporation Collection, Courtesy of the Gerth Archives and Special Collections. University Library. California State University, Dominguez Hills

Location of this collection:
University Library, 5th Flr (5039)
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, CA 90747, US
Contact:
(310) 243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Website