Six men are seen standing in a group. L-R:Los Angeles County Supervisor John Anson Ford, Superintendent William A. Smith, Superintendent Raymond V. Darby (Chairman), F. Wesley Davies (Manager Rancho Santa Anita, Inc.), and Superintendent Leonard J. Roach. Davies is seen handing deed to 111-acre tract of historic Rancho Santa Anita to Superintendent Darby. This was to be developed into the Arboretum.
Man is riding bicycle on a path inside Rancho Santa Anita Park and Lake (later, the Arboretum), with many palm trees. Sign reads "Open to the Public Daily until 7PM, private property" and "Curves, drive slowly through park." The following information is from Sandy Snider: This is indeed, today’s Arboretum, but at the time the property was owned by a real estate syndicate named Rancho Santa Anita Inc. The enterprise was headed by the Chandler family (Harry until he died), and they bought the land from Anita Baldwin in 1936 for purposes of residential development. About 1939 they opened “the park” to visitors in hopes of encouraging land sales. About 30 acres surrounding the lake was sort of set aside as Santa Anita Park and Lake, that was roughly the area made available for movie location rentals and clearly for bicyclists, etc. 1939 is the circa date for this photograph, but it could have been anytime between 1936 and 1947 (when the land was sold to State and County for use as an Arboretum). The granite boulders lining roadways were typical Baldwin Ranch landscape features, and the pillars seen in the photo are also from Baldwin times. In the background you can see more boulders in a circular sort of shape – likely the old Baldwin Lily Pond.
Photo taken at Rancho Santa Anita with three oak trees in center and one man on either side looking toward camera. Same men appear to be in photos #1540 and 1542. Handwritten note, "Showing three pronged oak where road takes a turn to so. west."
Photo of Rancho Santa Anita with one man standing near an oak tree on left and another man standing to the right. Houses are visible in the background. The men appear to be the same as in photos #1541 and 1542. Handwritten note on back reads, "Showing where proposed road turns from so. slope knoll towards south."
Photographic reproduction of full two-page spread appearing in the February 28, 1938 issue of Life Magazine. Photo shows men on horses with swords, appearing to be fighting a battle. Caption indicates it was taken during filming of the movie OF HUMAN HEARTS. Information found with the original indicates that the filming took place at the Arboretum.
Tallac Knoll road at Rancho Santa Anita with two men standing on either side. Men appear to be the same as in photo #1540 and 1541 and was most likely taken on the same date. Handwritten note on back reads, "View of proposed road to magazine on south slope of knoll." note: "magazine" was probably for a movie scene (ammunition)
Sheep grazing beneath trees and apparently alongside a body of water (note extreme lower right section of photo). Believed to be on Rancho Santa Anita. Caption beneath one copy reads: "A pastoral scene on Santa Anita Rancho in 1890, just north of present Colorado Place."
American Institute of Architects, Southern California Chapter, held their Annual Hi-Jinks on Rancho Santa Anita. Photo shows baseball game in progress.
Iron gate and concrete posts of one entrance to Santa Anita Rancho with sign above showing only part of letters which read "Santa Anita Rancho." Entrance was on Huntington Drive.
South entrance to Rancho Santa Anita seen circa 1939. There is a man on a bicycle. A sign reads "Entrance to Rancho Santa Anita Park and Lake." 2nd sign reads "Curves Drive Slowly Through Park."
Airport scene taken at the Arboretum. Airplane on left and part of hangar visible on right. A number of people are standing around by the hangar. Handwritten note on back of photo states, "The plane taking off from landing field just west of Rancho Santa Anita Park in 'Safari'."
Newspaper page reduction of Sunday, February 26, 1939 Los Angeles Times that has article and photos of Santa Anita Santa Fe Station, describing the services at this small station. Station agent at this time was D.F. Bowe.
Photo of portion of two story Baldwin Ranch boarding house (built 1919 by Anita Baldwin). Was east of gate house on present day Old Ranch Road. Reid Greer remembers it as deserted and he and his friends used to explore it c. 1932. note: see Arcadia VF Arcadia-History-Rancho Santa Anita-1909-1939(Anita Baldwin) item #22 for description of boarding house.
Three men are standing on a small boat during filming of a movie at the Arboretum. Handwritten note states,"John Payne in Enchanted Voyage - July, 1945 - Rancho Santa Anita."
Spring 1935. Santa Anita Rancho field crops of many varieties were grown. View is toward the north. San Gabriel mountains completely across the photo. Chantry Flats Road visible at right side. White barn prominent in center of photo.