The Hearst Ranch and Cayucos Photograph Collection contains nine vintage snapshots and 1 mounted print believed to have been taken by longtime Central Coast resident Clayton Leonard Morss (1891-1967). Includes black-and-white snapshots of construction of the Hearst Ranch in San Simeon, California, in the 1920s, and albumen prints of the town of Cayucos, California in the 1890s, both in San Luis Obispo County. Most of the photos have been removed from an album.

These photographs were probably taken by Clayton Leonard Morss (1891-1967), a longtime resident of San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. Morss was born in Cayucos and was a member of the extended Leffingwell family, who owned the private wharf known as Leffingwell Landing north of Cambria. Morss lived in various places up and down the North Coast including Cayucos, San Simeon, and Gorda. He eventually moved inland to the county seat of San Luis Obispo by the 1930s. His occupation is listed in various city directories and telephone directories from the 1930s-1960s as a grader operator, WPA supervisor, and a landscape gardener.

1 box

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction In order to reproduce, publish, broadcast, exhibit, and/or quote from this material, researchers must submit a written request and obtain formal permission from Special Collections, Cal Poly, as the owner of the physical collection. Photocopying of material is permitted at staff discretion and provided on a fee basis. Photocopies are not to be used for any purpose other than for private study, scholarship, or research. Special Collections staff reserves the right to limit photocopying and deny access or reproduction in cases when, in the opinion of staff, the original materials would be harmed.