Southern California Construction Projects Photograph Albums

The Southern California Construction Projects Photograph Albums Collection (1917-1938; undated) contains two photograph albums of images taken during various construction projects in Southern California. The first album is comprised of 153 black-and-white photographs and photo postcards taken mostly at various bridge construction projects such as: Brand Ave Bridge, Glendale, CA.; Glen Oakes Bridge; Walnut Grove Bridge; Del Amo Bridge; Overland Bridge, Culver City; and others. Other images include construction of the arch for the Grauman's Million Dollar Theater (originally known as the Stability Building) located at 3rd and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles; images of inspectors, surveyors, welders, and steel, pipe, and water company employees; images of steel beams, tension bars, and girders; as well as other images taken at construction sites. Some of the photographs have inscriptions such as: “Arch form and structural steel. Looking towards Broadway”; “taken from the North side of Arch. Showing [procenian] arch, stage, dressing room and north wall, concrete tower; “network of steel on the Arch. Showing loops and ties”; “Stability Bldg arch and supports showing tension bar floor and forms. Concrete tower 8’ crosses; “Stability Blding located S.W. corner 3rd and Broadway Los Angeles, Calif. R.H. Arnold cons. Co- Contractor- Alta Planning Mill CO. ‘Grauman’ leassee Vaudaville + Movie Story- studio + Theatre”; “West 10th Extension”; and others.

The second album is comprised of 175 black-and-white photographs and photo postcards mostly regarding Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company- a shipbuilding and repair facility located in San Pedro, CA. Photographs depict shipyards, boats, docks, steel tanks, a marine railway, wharfs, tankers, cranes, bridges, cables, and dredgers. Also included in this photograph album are images of surveyors and their cars, divers, laborers, City of Long Beach Engineering Department employees, City of Long Beach Water Department employees and presumably their offices, and others. Some of the photographs have inscriptions such as: "Guard House- Tool and Office- Shear legs"; "U.S. Dredge 'San Pedro' 'West Basin'"; "bulkhead and area to be filled by dredger"; "Laying Rail- Marine Railway"; "The Mexicans Cleaning Tanks S&S Olympic"; "Martinez, Perez, Morales, Gregg Mexican Gang Leaders"; "Mooring Wharf No.1"; "Old Alamitos Plant Pump"; and others.

Photographs have been removed from both albums for preservation purposes.