Henry Hebard West was a Los Angeles resident, Southern Pacific Railroad employee, and candid photographer. His photograph album contains images of Los Angeles and vicinity, but also includes many photos of travels to Northern California, the Midwest, and New England. Most of the photos are portraits of the West family in Los Angeles, where they lived at 240 S. Griffin Avenue, in a house built by the photographer's father. The photos provide a first-hand look at the architecture, interior decoration, furniture, clothing, hair styles, and transportation of the period. They document the life of the West family over a span of forty years, as they age, marry, raise children, enjoy outings to nearby city parks, beaches, hotels, and missions, and vacation together in Northern California, returning again and again to places like Yosemite, Silver Lake, Gem Lake, June Lake, Convict Lake, and Minnelusa to camp; sled; hike; trout fish; and hunt deer, rabbits, doves, and sage hens.
Mertie West, William Shaw, Agnes Whitaker, H. H. West Jr., and Forrest Whitaker at Pine Creek. Agnes stands on a rock behind H. H. West Jr. Forrest sits on a rock.
H. H. West's family poses in front of an orange tree by Wayne West's home. Myrtle West holds an orange and a bouquet of flowers. Evert West holds oranges. A house is visible at the right of the photograph.
Mertie West was H. H. West's second wife. Forrest Whitaker was her brother and Agnes was Forrest's wife. William Shaw was Mertie and Forrest's brother-in-law.
