Historical Society of Southern California Collection -- California Centennials Commission, Southern California Division, Collection of Photographs, 1948-1950

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Summary

Title:
Historical Society of Southern California Collection -- California Centennials Commission, Southern California Division, Collection of Photographs
Dates:
1948-1950
Creators:
California Centennials Commission. Southern California Division.
Abstract:
The collection consists of 424 black-and-white photographs that document the activities of the Southern California Division of the California Centennials Commission during the years 1948 to 1950. The photographs document regional events, including ceremonies, celebrations, parades, and historical reenactments, developed by the Division to commemorate the centennials of the discovery of gold and the Gold Rush in the 1848; the 1849 Constitutional Convention; and the admission of California to the Union in 1850.
Extent:
424 photographs in 2 boxes (1.42 linear feet)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

Historical Society of Southern California Collection -- California Centennials Commission, Southern California Division, Collection of Photographs. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of 424 black-and-white photographs that document the activities of the Southern California Division of the California Centennials Commission during the years 1948 to 1950. The photographs document regional events, including ceremonies, celebrations, parades, and historical reenactments, developed by the Division to commemorate the centennials of the discovery of gold and the Gold Rush in the 1848; the 1849 Constitutional Convention; and the admission of California to the Union in 1850.

Included are images of parades, such as the centennials of Beverly Hills and Long Beach; the 1948 Tournament of Roses Parade that included centennial-themed floats; and gold rush and pioneer-related parades such as those held in Paso Robles, San Bernardino, Redlands, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Monica. Photographs that document celebrations commemorating historic events and places include the Fort Moore celebration held at the Hollywood Bowl and images of the Portola Trek reenactment, including the start in San Diego and images of the riders on Spring Street in Los Angeles.

The collection also includes a large number of images of the dedication of the Commission's Historical Caravan, held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Speaking at that event was Lieutenant Governor Goodwin J. Knight. Other images of the Historical Caravan include pictures of the exhibits inside the van and the van on location in Sycamore Grove (the Highland Park area of Los Angeles), at the Pio Pico Adobe in Whittier, and at China Lake. Photographs of the Centennials Commission float, which was made available to communities across the State for inclusion in centennial celebrations, are found in the collection. Among the images in which the float is featured are the Hollywood High School premiere of "California's Golden Beginnings," an educational film intended for show at schools and educational institutions across the state; and the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the centennial of Los Angeles's first post office.

Notable figures in California politics and culture appear in the photographs. The images documenting the opening of the gold mining exhibit in Pershing Square include Eldred L. Meyer, past Grand President of Native Sons of the Golden West and Walter N. Bailey, Grand President of the Native Sons of the Golden West. The premiere of "California's Golden Beginnings" featured Goodwin J. Knight, Lloyd D. Mitchell, Manager of the Southern California Division, and appearing in the film (and documented in stills) was Governor Earl Warren. Other images document the unveiling of various commemorative plaques.

Photographers who created the images include Otto Rothschild, Coy Watson, "Dick" Whittington Studios, J. Allen Hawkins, David F. Stevens, Lew Nichols, the Inman Company, Woro Studios, Randolph Studios, Louis, Pacific Press Photos, Gerhardt, Merriman Photo Art, Junis and Pearson Photo, and Frasher's, Inc.

The photographs are mainly 8x 10 inches, and many of the photographs have captions taped to, or written on, the reverse. Many of the photographs exist in multiple copies.

Biographical / historical:

The California Centennials Commission was established by the State of California in 1946 to develop and direct centennial observances of the discovery of gold and the Gold Rush in the 1848; the 1849 Constitutional Convention; and the admission of California to the Union in 1850. The Southern California Division was organized in 1947, with the assistance of the Historical Society of Southern California, to cooperate with the statewide Commission and organize local programs. Joseph R. Knowland chaired the state Commission; the Southern California Division was managed by Lloyd D. Mitchell.

Founded in 1883, the Historical Society of Southern California (HSSC) is the oldest historical society in California. As part of its mission to collect and preserve Southern California's history, the HSSC amassed a photo archive over many decades. The HSSC shifted its emphasis to programs and publications in the 1980s and, in 1992, the organization donated its photo archive to The Huntington Library.

The Historical Society of Southern California Collection contains approximately 15,000 photographs and negatives focused on Southern California from approximately 1870 to 1980. As such, it is an important visual record of the growth and history of the region. The collection represents a variety of donations made to the Society over many years. It is organized into discrete sub-collections (each with a unique "volume" number) within the overall collection, which is identified by call number photCL 400.

Acquisition information:

Donated by the Historical Society of Southern California, 1992.

The collection, identified by Huntington Library catalogers as "Volume 28," was received as part of the Historical Society of Southern California Collection.

Processing information:

Prior to 2006, volunteers began a preliminary organization of the photographs. In 2006, Sue Luftschein completed the bulk of the reorganization, numbered and rehoused the photographs, and created this finding aid.

Arrangement:

The photographs are arranged by subject: parades, historical event celebrations and reenactments, Centennials Commission exhibits and events, plaques and dedicatory ceremonies, and miscellaneous.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein.
Date Prepared:
© August 03, 2006
Date Encoded:
Machine readable finding aid encoded by Sue Luftschein on August 03, 2006 and updated by Diann Benti in May 2014 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

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 necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

Historical Society of Southern California Collection -- California Centennials Commission, Southern California Division, Collection of Photographs. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2129
reference@huntington.org
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