Lou K. Ross Lantern Slide Collection of Southern California Missions, approximately 1920s

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Summary

Creators:
Ross, Lou K., 1878-1962.
Abstract:
This collection includes lantern slides of eleven California missions, all of which are portrayed through artists’ renderings or through photographs. The missions are shown in states of past affluence and of then present disrepair. The slides are meant to accompany a slideshow lecture given by Mrs. Lou K. Ross to educate Los Angeles club groups about the condition of the missions in the 1920s.
Extent:
58 photographs in 3 boxes : lantern slides + 1 typescript document.
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes lantern slides of eleven California missions, all of which are portrayed through artists’ renderings or through photographs. The missions are shown in states of past affluence and of then present disrepair. The slides are meant to accompany a slideshow lecture given by Mrs. Lou K. Ross to educate Los Angeles club groups about the condition of the missions in the 1920s The lantern slides in this collection depict both photographs and artistic renderings of some California missions in various constructional states. The missions that are shown on the slides include San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, San Gabriel Arcángel, San Juan Capistrano, San Miguel Arcángel, San Buenaventura, San Diego de Alcalá, San Fernando Rey, San Juan Bautista, San Luis Rey, San Rafael Arcángel, and Santa Barbara. Scenes of the missions portray their ruins, restoration, interiors, and artistic imaginings of mission life in the 18th and 19th centuries. The slides also show Indian women with baskets, the secularization of the missions, Dana Point, cactus plants, memorials, Los Angeles, a drive-in market, the California coast, a date palm, an olive press, Father Junípero Serra, and Eulalia Pérez de Guillén. “Missions and Romance of Southern California,” a typescript lecture written by Mrs. Lou K. Ross in 1929, is included in the information file for this collection. The lecture was designed to educate Los Angeles club groups on the condition of the California missions at the time; it also notes which lantern slides correspond to certain points in the lecture.

Biographical / historical:

Lou K. Ross (1878-1962) was born in Michigan and later lived in Pasadena, California, with her husband, Clarence Ross, an auditor for a lumber company. Lou Ross used to give lectures on the California Missions, accompanied by lantern slides, to club groups.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Jane Calhoun in October 1987.
Arrangement:

The lantern slides are arranged according to their corresponding points in the accompanying lecture, "Missions and Romance of Southern California," followed by slides not referenced in the lecture.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Note:

Finding aid last updated on March 20, 2015.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2129
reference@huntington.org
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