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Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890
GC 1127
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Title: Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890
Dates: 1870-1890, 1902
Collection Number: GC 1127
Creator/Collector:
Extent: (Boxes: ½ legal; 1 ov; 1 scrapbook in ov)
Repository:
Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, California 90007-4057
Abstract: Scrapbooks contain correspondence and clippings, including many speeches made by Widney, on a variety of topics.
Language of Material: English
Research is by appointment only
Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder
Joseph Pomeroy Widney Scrapbooks, 1870-1890. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
County
Biography/Administrative History
Widney arrived in Los Angeles in 1868. He was community leader, from his founding of the city's first horse car road to his
being an integral part of USC since its conception and having served as the school's second president from 1892 to 1895.
Widney was Los Angeles' first health officer; he joined his brother (Judge Robert M. Widney) in founding the University of
Southern California. He also worked to develop San Pedro as the city's harbor, and served as President of the Los Angeles
Board of Education and of the Los Angeles County Medical Association.
Scope and Content of Collection
Scrapbooks contain correspondence and clippings, including many speeches made by Widney, on a variety of topics. Includes
material pertaining to proposals to divide California into two states, Wilmington/San Pedro harbor improvements, education
(including a proposal of a State university at Elysian Park), medicine and climate in California, and transportation development
in Southern California. Correspondents include Leland Stanford. Additional items filed with the collection (however not contained
in the scrapbooks) include a property title search for the Widney property at First Street between Spring and Main Streets.
The title search was performed by the Title Insurance & Trust Co. in 1902, and shows title ownership back to 1849. Also a
clipping of a "Map of the Southern Pacific Railroad" from a newpaper, 1876. See also P-43 Joseph P. Widney Collection, ca.
1880-1903.
Widney, J. P. -- (Joseph Pomeroy), -- 1841-1938.