Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Map showing locations of oil companies in Ventura County and a part of Los Angeles and Kern Counties, California
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Manuscripts
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Image not available
Rare Books
Showing lands of the Kern County Land Company for sale. Bakersfield is well developed, the Southern Pacific Railway is in place, including the Tehachapi Loop, but no highways north or south. Relief: shaded. Projection: Cylindrical. Printing Process: Lithography. Verso Text: MS note: B3/3 150198.
150198
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Visual Materials
Old shelf number: eph J4-8(2). A wider view of Kern County. Dickman-Jones Co. operated in San Francisco between 1888 and 1901, based on directories from the time. MS note: Eph J4-8(2). Prime meridian: GM. Relief: no. Graphic Scale: Miles. Projection: Plane. Printing Process: Lithography. Verso Text: See ephMPCALIFT0065.
ephMPCALIFT0065a
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Visual Materials
A collection of photographs and maps compiled by American geologist and petroleum engineer Ralph Arnold (1875-1961), documenting his pioneering work in oil and mineral exploration, chiefly in the Western United States, Mexico and Venezuela, from 1900 to 1954. The collection centers on 64 photograph albums that span 50 years of Arnold's life and work. Photographs are accompanied by Arnold's typed captions identifying geological features; oil and mining activities; technical data; and dates and locations, i.e. often an oil or mining "district" or "field," such as "Sunset Field" (California). Subject matter includes geological and topographical features such as rock formations, faults and schisms, mountain structure, geothermal activity, and open land with potential drilling or mining spots. Earthquake faults are seen and described in many of Arnold's California investigations. There are also views of small and large-scale oil operations (by individuals and by organized companies); details of oil flow and reservoirs; asphalt; drilling equipment; workers and fields of oil wells. Arnold's work took him all over the Western United States, particularly California oil fields, but also Texas, Wyoming, Arizona, Alaska and other states. From 1911-1916 he was primarily in South America, and in the 1920s-1940s, mostly in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Mining operations are the focus of some albums, showing investigations for tin, gold and other minerals; mines and ore processing, all with detailed descriptions. Arnold also often photographed people: colleagues and business associates, oil lease owners on their properties; workers (particularly Black and Asian workers in Venezuela); and friends and family. Personal photographs are throughout the album, such as of his wife, Winninette, and their two daughters; Stokes family members (Winninette's family) in South Pasadena; and alumni of Pasadena High School and Stanford University. Arnold was an avid gardener and the albums contain detail views of cactus and tropical plants, and scenes of Arnold collecting wild orchids in Trinidad, Venezuela and Mexico. The maps date from 1880-1948 and include U.S.G.S. and geological maps, California oil fields and well locations; layouts of mines, and various tract maps showing oil company-owned land.
photCL 311
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Manuscripts
mssHM 46550
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Rare Books
Heavily shellacked wall map designed for public office. Pasadena is "Indiana Colony." "Compiled from U. S. Land Surveys Records of Private Surveys and other Reliable Sources by J. H. Wildy, Deputy County Surveyor and A. J. Stahlberg, C.E. 1877." "Julius Bien, Lithographer." "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1877 by Wildy & Stahlberg in the Office of the Librarian of Congress in Washington, D.C." Prime meridian: GM. Relief: hachures. Graphic Scale: Miles. Projection: Cylindrical. Printing Process: Lithography. Verso Text: MS note: 288830 Label Maps Rolled Uncat 288838 Rack 2-15.
288830
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Rare Books
Alt title from cover. Verso explains recent history of oil and gas discovery here. "Compliments of the Bank of Bakersfield." See also 301401 for a 1901 version of this map. Prime meridian: GM. Relief: no. Graphic Scale: Sections. Projection: Cylindrical. Printing Process: Lithography. Verso Text: MS note: 293385.
293385