Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- William A. Peschelt collection
- Dates:
- approximately 1905-1912
- Abstract:
- The collection documents the landscape work of landscape designer William A. Peschelt during the early part of the 20th century, with a focus on his work for Arthur Letts' Holmby Park residence in Los Angeles, California.
- Extent:
- 21.38 Linear Feet (3 oversize folders)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], William A. Peschelt collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection consists of six renderings in total, including three of the Letts residence. In addition to the Letts estate, Peschelt created a residential garden plan for Isaac Millbank of Santa Monica, an elaborate cemetery plan for Inglewood Park Cemetery, and sketches for the 7th Street Park in Santa Monica.
- Biographical / historical:
-
William Peschelt was born in Berlin, Germany in 1853, and came to Los Angeles in 1880 at the beginning of the population boom. Not much is known about the early part of his career, but in the first decade of the century he went into private business with Adolph Scheffler as a nurseryman and landscape designer. By 1905, Peschelt had likely gained a reputation as a landscape designer and ornamental horticulturalist because in the same year he was hired to work on possibly the largest and most elaborate residential garden in the city of Los Angeles. In 1904, English born Arthur Letts (1862-1923), founder of the Broadway Department Store, purchased 60 acres in the Los Feliz area, built his residence Holmby House, and began transforming the landscape. His collection of trees, plants, shrubs, and succulents was unrivaled, and his formal garden with deodor-lined roads, fountains, statuary, terraces, and sweeping lawns made it one of the most beautiful in Los Angeles. In addition to the Letts estate, Peschelt created a residential garden plan for Isaac Millbank of Santa Monica, and an elaborate cemetery plan for Inglewood Park Cemetery.
- Acquisition information:
-
Purchased for The Huntington from Elise Ebbert by the Library Collectors' Council, January 18, 2009.
Original sketches for improved 7th Street Park, Santa Monica, Cal. (Folder 3), Gift of Elise Ebbert, November 2015.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged alphabetically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-02-14 12:28:22 -0800 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
RESTRICTED. Use digital reproductions when available. Originals available by special permission only.
- Terms of access:
-
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 permission rests with the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], William A. Peschelt collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2129