Album of photographs of homes in Hollywoodland, 1923-1929

Summary

Creators:

Woodruff, S.H. (Sidney H.), photographer.

Abstract:

Album of photographs (19.3 x 25 cm) from 1923-1929, showcasing homes in Hollywoodland, a 500-acre subdivision at the top of Beachwood Canyon in Los Angeles, California.

Extent:

1 album (78 photographic prints) : gelatin silver, 21 x 30 cm (album)

Language:

Finding aid is written in English. and Materials are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

The subdivision, known as the Sherman and Clark Ranch, was developed in 1923 by a real estate syndicate which included Sidney H. Woodruff, Eli P. Clark, the original landowner, Harry Chandler, Gen. M.H. Sherman, and Tracy E. Shoultz. Shoultz died unexpectedly in July 1923, and Woodruff took over as head developer. Many Hollywoodland homes were designed by architect John DeLario in Spanish, Mediterranean, French Chateau, and Normandy styles; the 78 photos included in the album are mainly Spanish and Mediterranean style, featuring tile roofs, wrought iron and wooden balconies, walled courtyards, formal gardens, tiled fountains, studded doors, and arched doorways. The photographs also document the new streets, stairs, and retaining walls winding through the hills. Most of the streets were given English names like Heather Drive, Westshire Drive, Pelham Place, and Hollyridge Drive. Of the houses photographed, many are large, one has a three-car garage, and one has a swimming pool, which attest to the affluence of the residents.

Biographical / historical:

Real estate developer, architect, and builder. S.H. Woodruff came from a wealthy Michigan family, and worked as an architect in the East before coming to California. He was involved in the reconstruction of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. He is best known for his development of Hollywoodland, and Dana Point in the 1920s.

Physical location:

Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.

Physical facet:

Photographs are mounted on rectos of canvas leaves, one to a page; all but two have numbers in negative in the lower right corners, probably stock numbers.

Bound in black pebble-grain leather covers; two-hole binding secured with two large screws; manufacturer's green and white label on inside back cover of J.L. Hanson Co. of Chicago, identifying album as a Badger album (J.L. Hanson Co. took over the album department of the Heinn Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1922).

Spec. Coll. copy: in gray flip-top document box with other unbound material pertaining to Hollywoodland.

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Note:

Title supplied by cataloger.

Related resources

Related material:

Part of the Collection of material about Hollywoodland and Dana Point (Collection 1527) in the Charles E. Young Research Library Special Collections, UCLA.

For additional photographs of Hollywoodland, see album 94/8 from the Photograph Album Collection (Collection 94), which contains 19 photographs by developer S.H. Woodruff of homes, buildings, and proposed land development in Hollywoodland; and Albums 1 and 2 in Box 2 of Collection of material about Hollywoodland (Collection 1527). See also Hollywoodland / Mary Mallory and Hollywood Heritage Inc. Charleston, SC : Arcadia Publishing, c2011.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Architecture, Domestic --California --Los Angeles --Photographs.
Landscape architecture --California --Los Angeles --Photographs.
Real estate development --California --Los Angeles --History --20th century.
Photographic prints.
Photograph albums.
Gelatin silver prints.

Location of this collection:

UCLA, Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library

A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US

Contact:

(310) 825-4988

AskLSC@library.ucla.edu

Website