NEW OLD IMAGES OF THE MISSION SAN FERNANDO

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                       2013

The Mission San Fernando Rey de España has many reasons for being viewed as a major treasure in our community. Founded as a bastion of empire of Spain, the mission brought Catholic Christianity to our region of Southern California, was secularized by the government of an independent Mexico, was scouted by Kit Carson, allowed to fall into ruin by Andreas Pico as an adjunct to his rancho, provided an overnight retreat  for the leader of the world's Catholics Pope John Paul II, and continues to this day in both historic and modern roles. 

Cemetery of the Mission San Fernando Rey c. 1895 - historic postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

This "Santo Campo," seen here in a neglected state, continues its original function today as Mission Cemetery. Very near this ancient burial site, the beloved performer Bob Hope and Dolores Hope are buried.

 Travelers in covered wagons at the Mission San Fernando c. 1895.  Excerpted from a booklet entitled the Fabulous San Fernando Valley published by Western Federal Savings - date unknown.  Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it - and view section of the photograph below.)

"The only known existing photograph of a San Fernando Mission Indian Woman"  Fabulous San Fernando Valley published by Western Federal Savings - date unknown.  Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

MACLAY AVENUE SAN FERNANDO ABOUT 1895

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY       2013

This is a great postcard of historic San Fernando, I'm guessing c. 1895. No doubt a car buff can date this from the vehicles. (click on the picture to enlarge it.)  Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013.


Please support our efforts to bring about a great Museum of history and culture for the greater San Fernando Valley.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230

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WILLIAM ORCUTT AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

When my son Damon was married last week at beautiful Orcutt Ranch in Chatsworth, I waited with the men of the bridal party in a small room before the ceremony. The room had copies of several historic photographs related to the life of William W. Orcutt, one of the most important people in the history of the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles and indeed the American West. 

Here is an image of the Stanford University football team taken sometime between 1891 and 1895, when William Orcutt was taking advantage of the university's liberal arts education. The well-rounded Orcutt was a member of the university's debate team, the football team and a member of the first class to graduate in geology.

When Orcutt saw tar covered bones at an oil drilling site near, what is now Wilshire Boulevard, his broad based education told him that they were fossils. His actions to preserve the fossils resulted in the preservation of the greatest collection of Ice Age animal and plant remains in the world. 

Beautiful Orcutt Ranch at the western terminus of Roscoe Boulevard was once William Orcutt's ranch home.

CONGRATULATIONS VALLEY GRADS

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

It's graduation time and time to honor the young women and men who will soon be helping us build a better world. Here's a photograph featured in a June 1959 edition of the Los Angeles Times. It shows the graduates of Los Angeles High School June 12, 1895.


Los Angeles High School Graduates 1895 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Beth Perrin 2010.

Essays on literature were required as part these students graduation requirements. What will the world think of our 2010 graduates a 107 years from now?

JACK DAVIS - THE SF VALLEY'S FIRST TENNIS CHAMPION

Jack Davis - Davis Family Album page 13 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Dave High - July 2009.
Serious tennis was brought to the San Fernando Valley by the family of Hammond Davis in the late 1800s. Jack (likely a nickname for John) Davis was best at the game. So, it might be fair to call him the first athletic champion of his times.

Jack Davis - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Dave High - July 2009.
This portrait of Jack Davis was among the loose photographs in the High Collection. His connection to the historic Davis family of Lankershim / North Hollywood has been verified by Guy Weddington McCreary and possibly his signature across this portrait photograph taken by the Byou Studio on South Spring Street, Los Angeles.

MORE PIECES TO THE WEDDINGTON FAMILY HISTORY

2009 - The Year of Valley (and Storm Lake Iowa) history.


Gertrude Kelso and Mattie Larson - Storm Lake (Iowa) - Taken September 1895 or 97 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Dave High - July 2009 (click on image to enlarge) Refer to image HC-19

Now called the High Collection, the photographs and other items given to your Museum this summer are believed to have once belonged to members of the Weddington family. Images bearing the title Toluca along with people identified as being from Storm Lake (Iowa) add to the probability that this is true. The Weddingtons lived in Storm Lake before to Toluca, Lankershim, North Hollywood, California.
We're hoping that when the Buena Vista Country, Iowa, Historical Society gets interested, they will help us learn more about Gertrude and Mattie and why their photos came to the early San Fernando Valley.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

HIGH COLLECTION CONTINUES TO YIELD TREASURES FOR THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

What did better off residents of the San Fernando Valley do when summer's heat soared? They went on a seashore excursion to Venice Beach. Naturally, in c. 1895, they would have dressed appropriately in full-length dresses, suits and high socks for the kids. Well, at least they were less likely to get sunburns.

Thanks Dave High for helping us preserved these images for future generations.
refer to HC-15

Interested in fashions? Become a volunteer for your Museum today. Call 1 (818) 347-9665 to see how you can become involved.

1895 VALLEY SUPPLIES LOS ANGELES FOOR STORES

1895 Sixth and Broadway Los Angeles - Photo in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift of Grary Fredburg 2008 (click on image to enlarge)

By 1895, San Fernando Valley farms regularly supplied Los Angeles grocery stores, such as this creamery on 6th and Broadway, with agricultural products. In some cases, such as the Weddington Brothers General Store in Lankershim (now North Hollywood), farmers (often women) would bring milk and butter to a regional store, where it would be processed for local consumption or shipped by railroad "downtown" for resale.
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley collects artifacts and information about the Valley's agricultural tradition.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.