Manuscripts
City directory of surveyors of Los Angeles
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Travels from Los Angeles City to Malibu Canyon and return
Manuscripts
This manuscript recounts an adventurous trip made by Sidney Bernard Reeve to and from a surveying job in 1901. The Santa Monica Land and Water Company hired him to look for a potential dam and reservoir site in the Malibu Canyon located in the Santa Monica Mountains. Accompanied by two of his assistants, Reeve rented horses, a phaeton, and a driver from the Tally Ho Stables in Los Angeles. The group traveled on El Camino Real to the Cahuenga Pass and continued to follow the historic route as they headed west across the southern portion of the San Fernando Valley. After they passed through Rancho El Encino, Old Calabasas, and Calabasas proper, they continued west and crossed the Calabasas divide and then entered the Las Virgenes Canyon. They were directed to an old wagon trail which led to the Malibu Canyon. After they made it there, Reeve examined the potential location for the Dam Site, but he and his men were suddenly startled to hear a rough voice coming from the cliffs above, which commanded them to throw up their hands in the air. Since the men confronting them had their guns pointed at them, the unarmed Reeve and his unarmed companions complied with this unfriendly request. Reeve managed to use diplomacy to calm the gunmen down. The gang then invited them to have some lunch, and they felt compelled to accept. This meal almost turned deadly when Reeve simply pulled out his handkerchief - two revolvers were suddenly pointed at him. Fortunately, tensions were quickly eased, and Reeve and his men were soon permitted to be on their way. With this dangerous situation behind them, Reeve's group began to head back to Los Angeles.
mssHM 4370
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Where we are located, on the globe & State Normal School, Los Angeles, Cal. Notes, sketches, etc. and letter
Manuscripts
This manuscript provides information concerning the State Normal School in Los Angeles, which was located at the southwest corner of Charity Street (renamed Grand Street in 1887) and Fifth Street. This manuscript includes three main sections. The first section titled, "Where We Are Located," is derived from a Los Angeles Daily Herald article which was originally published on May 24, 1889. This section describes the precise geographic coordinates of the State Normal School in Los Angeles. The second section is titled, "State Normal School. January 23, 1886," and this portion details the grading of the grounds for this building's lot. The third section is titled, "Normal School at Los Angeles, Cal." This third section briefly describes the origin of the Normal School in Los Angeles. In 1881, the California State Legislature established the school as a branch of the State Normal School of San José. The school opened on August 29, 1882.
mssHM 4375

Map of the Proposed Sewer System for the City of Los Angeles
Rare Books
Hand coloring shows various street materials used in paving 105.99 miles of city streets. Later MS additions show horse car lines and railroads existing up to January 1895. Additions by L. P. "Designed 1887 by: Fred Eaton, City Surveyor, Revised and Endorsed by: Rudolph Hering Consulting Engineer." ; MS note: 384443. Relief: no. Graphic Scale: Scale 1" to 1200 ft.. Projection: Plane. Printing Process: Lithography. Verso Text: Explanatory remarks by Fred Eaton, suggesting a cost of $1,000,000 to construct the proposed system. Report of consulting engineer Rudolph Hering dated September 6, 1887 supporting Eaton's work, and suggesting spreading fields as a suitable method. .
384443
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Mayor and Common Council. City ordinances
Manuscripts
This manuscript contains innumerable city ordinances copied by Sidney Bernard Reeve for various people. A large portion of these ordinances were copied by Reeve for railroad magnate Henry Edwards Huntington. The ordinances copied for Huntington included "Sale of stock in the Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad Company by City to Southern Pacific Railroad Company," "Depot Grounds of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, Re-located," "Workshop Grounds Southern Pacific Railroad Company, located," "Right of way for the Southern Pacific Railroad Co.," "Franchise, Spring and Sixth Street Horse Railroad," "Franchise extension of Spring and Sixth Street Railroad (Street Cars)," "Transfer of City stock of the Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad Company to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company," among others. A few ordinances, such as an 1856 ordinance regarding the "Old Plaza, Sonora Town" in Los Angeles, were copied by Reeve for real estate agent William May Garland. Additionally, ordinances involving the "Grant of City Lands to the Pioneer Oil Company of Los Angeles" and the "Concession of Lands to Phineas Banning, Heirs, etc." were copied by Reeve for oil tycoon Edward Laurence Doheny and his business partners Charles Canfield, and Danziger.
mssHM 4374
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Guide Map to the City of Los Angeles
Rare Books
The verso contains many business ads along with a directory of hotels, public buildings, theaters, railway offices, etc. From Hoover on the west to "City limit Street" (today's Indiana St.) on the east, Jefferson on the south, Baxter St. to the north. Folder contains several newspaper clippings from this an earlier eras. Gift of Mrs. Florence M. Kreider June 1945. "Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1891 by J. Bell in the office of the Librarian of Congress in Washington." Relief: no. Graphic Scale: Miles (circles). Projection: Cylindrical. Printing Process: Lithography. Verso Text: Many advertisements and extensive directory..
258385
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The city of the saints, and the city of the angels, or a trip to San Bernardino and Los Angeles
Manuscripts
American solider Edward Otho Cresap Ord gives an account of his travels through California, to San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara in particular. He was under orders to "make sundry examinations and investigations" in that region. He arrived at Santa Barbara via the coasting steamer "Sea Bird," and makes much observation of the native people. Dated 1849, August.
mssHM 40683