A man surveys the newspapers available for reading at an open-air public library in Pershing Square, downtown Los Angeles. The Pershing Square outdoor library was opened in December of 1936, and was staffed by W.P.A. workers. Visitors to the library could choose to borrow a book by simply leaving their name. The library was quite popular, circulating 24,000 books in its first six months of operation, and spawning other outdoor libraries in Los Angeles.
Admiral William F. Halsey ended his 45-year naval career aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota in the Los Angeles Harbor. He commanded the Third Fleet during the Pacific War against Japan. The ceremony consisted of the changing of his four-starred flag to the two-starred flag of his successor, Rear-Admiral Howard F. Kingman. The ship's entire company was present during the brief ceremony. After the ceremony, Halsey left the battleship on a crash boat and the U.S.S. South Dakota fired a 17-gun salute.
This collection consists of glass photonegatives, glass positive transparencies, and black & white photographic prints of the photographer C.C. Pierce (1861-1946). The subject matter primarily covers Los Angeles and the surrounding vicinity.
View of the Los Angeles County Courthouse from Broadway. The courthouse, completed in 1891, was located at the corner of Broadway and Temple St. This red sandstone facility utilized aspects of the Richardsonian Romanesque Style, with thick, rusticated stone walls, wall dormers, and central clock tower. The architects were Curlett, Eisen and Cuthbertson; San Diego architect, William S. Hebbard, who was working for the architecture firm of Curlett, Eisen and Cuthbertson as a draftsman, contributed to the design. This court house was demolished in 1936
View of the Venice oil field, a landscape of derricks, with steam pipes and buildings made of wood and corrugated metal at their bases, with the beach on the far left. The foreground center building has signs reading "Flynn Bros." and "No Smoking, Keep Out." Signs on the derricks read "Bergman Albright No. 3," "Pan Gulf Pet. Co. LTD, Hattie Weber Mabel [..]orner, Well No [...]," "S.L.R. Pet. Prop's LTD., J. T. Russell No. 1," "Pan Gulf Petroleum Co. Ltd., Venice No. 1," "[...] Powell-Stockton, W. G. Davis No. 1," and "Know Powell Stockton, W. G. Davis No. 4."
View facing east down fifth street toward the Southern Pacific Arcade Depot. A Blue Line streetcar is visible near the Depot far down the street. Utility poles line the dirt street and tracks on both sides. In the background, a building at right has a sign on it reading "Narcisse House". The Depot building dominates the background at left.
