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RANCHO SAN PEDRO REFERENCE COLLECTION,
1902-2004
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Table of contents
Title: Rancho San Pedro Reference Collection
Dates: 1905-2004
Collection Number: Consult repository.
Collector:
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Extent:
2 boxes
(1 linear foot)
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:
This collection includes correspondence, brochures, newsclippings, papers, and copies of historical documents related to the
Rancho San Pedro. Subjects include the Dominguez Adobe and Claretian Seminary, families descended from the Dominguez sisters,
companies owned by these descendants, and the history of the Rancho San Pedro.
Language: Collection material is in English
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
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.
[Title of item], Rancho San Pedro Reference Collection, Courtesy of the Department of Archives and Special Collections. University
Library. California State University, Dominguez Hills
Many items can be traced to Robert C. Gillingham, the author of The Rancho San Pedro. Other materials were donated through
the years by faculty members and off-campus sources.
The collection was first processed in the fall of 1997 and was opened to research without restrictions. In 2005, the collection
was reassessed, with materials added and rearranged into a better working organization. During this process, photographs were
removed to the Rancho San Pedro Collection. Materials that were clearly used by Gillingham to write the "Stories of Rancho
San Pedro” series and The Rancho San Pedro were separated into the Robert C. Gillingham Working Papers Collection; some of
his research materials are still scattered throughout this collection.
This finding aid was created as part of the 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.
Originally encompassing over 75,000 acres the Rancho San Pedro was granted to Juan Jose Dominguez by the King of Spain in
1784. Juan Jose had served as a Spanish soldier in California and received the land following his retirement. Juan Jose built
one of the first adobes in the region and lived there for varying periods until his death in 1809. The Rancho San Pedro was
then willed to Jose Cristobal Dominguez (a nephew) who in turn willed it to his sons. One of the sons, Manuel, eventually
took sole ownership of the property. Manuel built a new adobe structure where he lived with his wife (Maria Engracia) and
their children. He was also very involved in local politics and served as mayor of Los Angeles on three separate occasions
as well as becoming one of the first county supervisors and delegate to the first constitutional convention of California
in 1849. When California became a state in 1849 Manuel was responsible for proving the legality of the original land grant
thus ensuring his ownership. A United States land patent was granted to him for the Rancho lands in 1858. The area covered
by the patent ran from Redondo Beach in the west, to Compton in the east and the harbor in the south. Manuel used the land
to graze cattle and raise crops. His brand, a lemon shaped mark, became a highly recognizable symbol on the ears of his cattle.
In 1882 Manuel Dominguez died and left his estate, including the remainder of the Rancho lands, to his six daughters.
Five of the daughters married, three to Anglos, and went on to create corporations which would administer their holding. These
corporations, The Dominguez Estate Company, the Carson Estate Company, the Watson Estate Company, the Francis Estate Company
and the Del Amo Estate Company oversaw the daughters’ interests in the land. By 1930, when oil was discovered on Rancho land,
most of the agrarian activities associated with the Rancho had ceased. It is estimated that the 350 oil wells developed on
the land produced over $1 million year of income for a period of over 20 years. Today only two of the original estate companies
survive, the Carson Estate Company and The Watson Land Company, but much of the of the heritage of the original owners of
the Rancho and their descendants can be found as both local street and city names in communities which were part of the original
Spanish land grant.
The original adobe structure built by Juan Jose Dominguez was replaced by a more permanent structure built by Manuel Dominguez.
This more modern adobe served as the main family residence for many years. In the 1920's the Del Amo family gave the property
to the Claretian order and built a structure to be used as a seminary. The Adobe continued to be used as a residence of the
Dominguez family until 1924. In 1945 the Adobe became an official California State Landmark (No. 152). In 1976, to commemorate
its 150th anniversary, the adobe underwent a complete restoration and again was recognized by being placed on the National
Register of Historic Landmarks. Today the Adobe is open to the public tours. The seminary building is now used by the Claretians
as a retirement retreat.
The Rancho San Pedro Reference Collection consists of documents, maps, and newspaper clippings which document the history
of the Rancho lands. Also included are copies of Dominguez family papers, including legal documents.
Arrangement
Arranged in five series:
- Series I. General History (1905-1990)
- Series II. Legal Documents and Maps (1919)
- Series III. Dominguez Adobe (1941-2004)
- Series IV. Dominguez Family (1906-1987)
- Series V. Dominguez Companies (1955-1995)
Rancho San Pedro (Calif.)
Dominguez Hills (Calif.)
Carson, John Victor
Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum
Reminiscences of the Dominguez Ranch and the Carson Family: An Oral History
Del Amo Nurseries Collection
Del Amo Estate Collection
Dominguez Water Corporation Collection
Robert C. Gillingham Working Papers Collection
Rancho San Pedro Collection
Watson Land Company Collection
All of these publications can be found in the CSUDH Special Collections Library. Call numbers are at the end of the citation.
Carson, John Victor.
Reminiscences of the Dominguez Ranch and the Carson Family. [F860.C3 C37]
Crawford, C.M.
A Short History of the Dominguez Family. [SPCOL F868.L8 C87 1955]
Dominguez Water Corporation.
Dominguez Water Corporation: Yesterday and Today. [SPCOL F868.L8 D63]
Gillingham, Robert C.
A History of the Development of the Dominguez Homesite. [SPCOL F868.L8 G48]
Gillingham, Robert C.
The Rancho San Pedro. [F868.L8 G5]
Grenier, Judson.
California Legacy: The Watson Family. [F860.W37 G75 1987]
Hatfield, D.D.
Dominguez Air Meet. [TL721.6 D65 H37]