U.S. Army personnel looking through periodicals in front of wagering windows at Santa Anita Race Track during years it was used as Camp Santa Anita, a U.S. Army Ordnance training camp.
A platoon of U.S. Army Ordnance soldiers is seen drilling on a wet day at Camp Santa Anita. The barracks, that just a few months earlier had been housing for the Japanese evacuees, is seen in background.
1. "Santa Anita Ordnance troops reviewed." News clip, circa 1942-1943?
2. "Camp Santa Anita houses Polish refugees." Arcadia Bulletin, November 8, 1943.
3. "Army camp needs told." Arcadia Tribune, October 29, 1942.
4. "Arcadia camp 'showplace'." News clip, January 21, 1943.
5. "G.I. Santa Anita." Westways, December 1943, p. 12-13.
6. Four issues of Man O' War, publication of the camp from 1943 and 1944. See also bound volume of this in Arcadia archives.
7. "Veterans visit their old camp." Los Angeles Times, August 14, 1967, Part II-S.
8. Notes taken from interview with William Dillon, Captain in the 14th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, once assigned to Camp Santa Anita. August 27, 1980.
9. "Camp Santa Anita remembered: during WWII it was the Great Arms Place." Los Angeles Times, December 25, 1981, Part III, page 1 by Shav Glick.
10. "Dear Joe." Handbook for soldiers stationed at Camp Santa Anita.
11. "Santa Anita goes to war." Source and date unknown.
12. "Colonia Santa Rosa." Copy of Spanish brochure regarding Polish refugees at Camp Santa Anita. Also includes correspondence regarding refugees.
13. Letter from Bronislaw Keilbasa to the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, April 2, 1995. It requests information on Polish refugees that stayed near Arcadia during World War II. Enclosed was an article, "Wartime living - happiness in California," dated November 15, 1942.
14. Copies of documents regarding Polish refugees at Camp Santa Anita, courtesy of Bronislaw Kielbasa. 35 pages.
15. Letter to Mrs. Pat Corpe Krig from Jane Breiseth dated July 16, 1999, with information about Annadorf and Camp Santa Anita. (cc: Mary Beth Hayes) Three attachments: (1) Listing of soldiers who worked at Annadorf while stationed at Camp Santa Anita, people interested in Annadorf , and sources for further research. (2) copies of photos of Annadorf and Art Monaco receiving Legion of Merit at Camp Santa Anita. (3) Information on Camp Santa Anita copied from the United States Army in World War II: The Technical Service: The Ordnance Department Planning Munitions for War. 11 pages total.
16. Letter from Mary Beth Hayes to Jane Breiseth dated September 15, 1999, thanking Ms. Breiseth for information about Annadorf.
17. Letter from Mary Beth Hayes to Phillip C. Kellison requesting information on the images Mr. Kellison might have of Camp Santa Anita. Referred to by Researcher Jane Breiseth. September 15, 1999.
18. All bets were off. Shav Glick , a longtime Times sportswriter, recalls when he served at the Camp Santa Anita Army training camp during World War II. Los Angeles Times, November 4, 2003, p. D1.
19. Santa Rosa Colony: story of a Polish War-Refugee Camp, in Mexico. English translation of document #12 above.
20a. Annadorf: a German town in the San Gabriels. Part 1 of 3. Published by Wrightwood Historical Society, December 7, 2001. Printed from Internet Website http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/WrightwoodHistorical/ on December 30, 2005.
20b. Annadorf: a German town in the San Gabriels. Part 2 of 3. Published by Wrightwood Historical Society, January 4, 2002. Printed from Internet Website http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/WrightwoodHistorical/ on December 30, 2005.
20c. Annadorf: a German town in the San Gabriels. Part 3 of 3. Published by Wrightwood Historical Society, February 1, 2002. Printed from Internet Website http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/WrightwoodHistorical/ on December 30, 2005.
21. Down the home stretch at Santa Anita: the week the race track became a camp for Polish refugee children, October 1943. By Joyce Young-Kelly. Submitted to Professor Charles Roberts, Department of History, California State University, Sacramento. With cover letter from Joyce Kelly to librarian Yvonne Ng.
22."Santa Anita Park to be Nazi Camp: German Prisoners of War Will be Kept at Former Race Track Plant." Los Angeles Times, February 19, 1944.
23. "Santa Anita transformed: former Jap Assembly Center fast becoming army training hub." Los Angeles Times, December 14, 1942.
24. "Lee Side o' L.A. by Lee Shippey. A journalist's description of Camp Santa Anita." Los Angeles Times, April 28, 1943.
25. "Nation's armed might show attracts 50,000: 'Times'-Army Ordnance in action display at Exposition Park also will be open today." Los Angeles Times, September 12, 1943.
26. "Santa Anita will house 2000 Nazis: Army confirms plan for Prison Camp. " Los Angeles Times, March 9, 1944.
27. "Santa Anita Park ready in month." Los Angeles Times, September 20, 1944.
28. Wartime living: happiness in California. 727 Poles discovered happiness at the barracks of Camp Santa Anita. Polish refugees, 350 children who were wards of Poland's Government in Exile, stayed for six days on their way to Mexico City. Time Magazine, November 15, 1943.
29. Editor of U.S. Army camp paper Man O' War of Santa Anita, California Army Ordnance Training Center will be the editor of Toykyo Express, a new newspaper for the Pacific theater. Time Magazine, June 5, 1944.
Eight civic minded men armed with shovels have apparently just installed sign reading: Give the Boys a Lift. This would have been during World War II when thousands of Army personnel were stationed in Arcadia and the sign designed to encourage residents to give the soldiers rides into Pasadena or other locations.
1. Election volunteers aid race track vote. Pasadena Post. July 22, 1932. 2. Santa Anita Park will bring thousands here. Arcadia Tribune, n.d. circa December 24, 1934. 3. Joseph M. Schenck's purchase of interest. news clip June 8, 1934. 4. Santa Anita Race Track complete. front page of t…
1. Election volunteers aid race track vote. Pasadena Post. July 22, 1932.
2. Santa Anita Park will bring thousands here. Arcadia Tribune, n.d. circa December 24, 1934.
3. Joseph M. Schenck's purchase of interest. news clip June 8, 1934.
4. Santa Anita Race Track complete. front page of the Arcadia News of the special issue of Forecast, marking the opening December 7, 1934.
5. Santa Anita to figure in race track history. same as above.
6. L.A. Turf Club plans to handle big crowd. same as above.
7. "Azucar" to enter $100,000 Santa Anita Handicap reported. same as above.
8. Totalisator now being installed at race track. same as above.
9. Extensive building program is to add to greatness of local race plant. Arcadia Tribune August 2, 1935.
10. Santa Anita track work is started. Arcadia Tribune August 2, 1935.
11. Turf Club to add splendor. Arcadia Tribune July 10, 1936.
12. Third annual racing meet. Arcadia Tribune July 14, 1936.
13. California: Los Angeles Turf Club. article in BLOOD-HORSE January 20, 1934. missing as of May 1999
14. Investigation discussed by noted leader. Arcadia Tribune February 15, 1937.
15. Derby billed at race track. Arcadia Tribune February 15, 1937.
16. Santa Anita handicap winners. Arcadia Tribune October 2, 1941.
17. Santa Anita future use studied. Arcadia Tribune January 15, 1942.
18. Last scene as war cancelled 1942 Santa Anita racing season. Arcadia Tribune February 12, 1942.
19. Council hears track founding story. News Post article February 7, 1967.
20. The Marks brothers of Los Angeles. Part of an article from WESTERN STATES JEWISH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, July 1979, in which Joshua Marks is claimed to be the builder of the track facility.
21. Horse car. Arcadia Tribune news photo showing horse car of the 1930s. August 16, 1973.
22. Santa Anita fans used red cars. News Post August 8, 1969.
23. Dear Sid. Letter to Mr. Platford from Chas. F. Outland regarding W.H. Hoffman, Jr. n.d.
24. Queen City's big oval; a mile through history. Arcadia Tribune March 16, 1978.
25. The Empire Builder. Excerpt of biographical article about Harry Chandler explaining how the Los Angeles Times attitude toward racing changed under the tutelage by Dr. Charles Strub. Copied at Santa Anita Park September 1980.
26. Sid Ziff's column on the opening of Santa Anita Park December 24, 1934. Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express. December 24, 1934.
27. Expect 60,000 fans at Santa Anita Park. Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express article and overhead photo showing layout of original 1934 Santa Anita Park December 24, 1934.
28. Race track start seen by throng. Pasadena Post March 27, 1934.
29. Horse race track permit for Baldwin Ranch given to Dr. Strub, Hal Roach. Pasadena Post January 19, 1934.
30. Southland to become horse racing center. Pasadena Post. February 19, 1933 with photos.
31. World's best horses to race at Santa Anita Park. Arcadia Tribune August 3, 1934.
32. Fifty Years Ago, racing went to war, too. THE RACING TIMES December 7, 1991. photos from Arcadia Public Library archives.
33. Huntington to have racy formal opening. CALIFORNIA LIFE vol. 36 no.1, January 10, 1935.
34. Beautiful Santa Anita Park, Los Angeles Turf Club's splendid new racing plant. CALIFORNIA LIFE. vol. 35 no 11 and 12, December, 1934.
35. Obituary, death record and articles about Hal Roach and his involvement with Dr. Charles Strub in building Santa Anita Park. He became the first President of Santa Anita Park. Died 11/2/1992.
36. "State Wars on Bookies." A house at 180 West Huntington Drive in Arcadia was raided and four men were arrested who were using binoculars to catch the race results and flashing them to bookmakers throughout the nation. Los Angeles Times, January 17, 1938. From Rancho Santa Anita Scrapbook #1, April 1936-Jan. 1, 1939, located at Arcadia Historical Society. One extra copy from ProQuest.
37. Behind the scenes at Santa Anita by John Marcy. WESTWAYS, March 1935, p. 30+.
38. Thundering Hoofs at Santa Anita. WESTWAYS, January 1941.
39. What Makes Whirly Run? Westways, December 1941, p. 20-21.
40. The Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc. Official Program Santa Anita Park First Day, Tuesday, December 25, 1934. Lists names of directors, general manager, racing officials.
41. Santa Anita racetrack brochure, compliments of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Contains history of Santa Anita Park, California Horse Racing Board members, Directors Los Angeles Turf Club, racing information, track records, racing officials, map of roads leading to Santa Anita Park, plot of track and grounds (drawing of the layout), diagrammatical drawing of the new grandstand and club house, stake program for winter meeting 1937-1938, and history of Santa Anita stakes from 1934 through March 12, 1938.
42. Facts, figures on big race (the Santa Anita Handicap). Los Angeles Times, February 27, 1937. How the world's richest stake was collected and how it will be distributed. The gross amount of $91,800 goes to the winner. Estimates of attendance, automobiles, and handle given here. Anita Baldwin will crown the winner with a floral horseshoe.
43. Record crowd may witness Santa Anita Handicap. Los Angeles Times, March 5, 1938. Attendance is estimated at 60,000 people, with an estimated $1,750,000 passing through the mutuels.
44. Advertisement showing race start time, general admission was $1.10, and Pacific Electric Railway round trip fare from Los Angeles was 50 cents. Los Angeles Times, December 24, 1936.
45. Advertisement for Santa Anita Derby, $50,000 added, general admission was $1.10 and Clubhouse admission was $2.20. Los Angeles Times, February 22, 1939.
46. Advertisement showing race start time, general admission was $1.10, Clubhouse admission was $2.20 and Pacific Electric Railway round trip fare from Los Angeles (6th and Main St. Station) was 55 cents. Los Angeles Times, December 30, 1940.
47. A) Santa Anita opens on Christmas day for a 53-day meet with celebrities and actresses Inez Courtney and Marian Marsh, also Hal Roach and Charles H. Strub. Time Magazine, December 24, 1934. B) Famous people who went to the races at Santa Anita Park include Bing Crosby, William Randolph Hearst, Fred Astaire, Mae West, Al Jolson, Marion Davies, Janet Gaynor, Irving Thalberg, Samuel Goldwyn, Norma Shearer, Frederick Moulton Alger (picture). Time Magazine, March 4, 1935. C) Fresh Batch-en route to Santa Anita Park are six little Biscuits, going on two years old. The first get of famed Seabiscuit will make their racing debuts during December 31-March 14). Their names are Sea Covey, Sea Patrol, Sea Skipper, Sea Mite, Sea Frolic, Sea Belle. Time Magazine, December 8, 1941. D) No More Pansies. Santa Anita race meeting, richest in the world, is called off for 1942, to be used by U.S. Army during wartime. Will mean losses in racing income, state taxes, work for the 4,300 track employees. $50,000 worth of freshly planted pansies were plowed under. Time Magazine, January 19, 1942.
48. Official Program March 4, 1939. Official Program March 1, 941.
Five soldiers seated at tables receiving instructions from teacher at front of room on operation of automatic pistols according to material on blackboard. This was one of training rooms at Santa Anita Park while it served as Camp Santa Anita, an Army Ordnance training center.
Camp Santa Anita Ordnance Training Center, at Santa Anita Park, from 1942-1945, is featured in a temporary exhibit at Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage, through March 30.
Aerial view looking northeast across Santa Anita Park toward mountains. Note training track called Anita Chiquita has been added (lower left corner), open grandstand has been added to west of covered stand. Note, too, that work has begun to change Balloon School site to Arcadia County Park. Santa Anita Avenue is tree-lined street running entire width of photo about middle of print.
Ed Inouye of West Covina, whose family was sent to the internment camp at Santa Anita Park during World War II, died on February 19th. He was instrumental in getting the government to pay reparations to some of the imprisoned families.
1. Man O’ War. Ordnance Training Center. Camp Santa Anita. Arcadia, California. Vol. 1, No. 1, December 25, 1942 – Vol. 2, No. 22, May 19, 1944. Bound, Complete
1. Man O’ War. Ordnance Training Center. Camp Santa Anita. Arcadia, California. Vol. 1, No. 1, December 25, 1942 – Vol. 2, No. 22, May 19, 1944. Bound, Complete
Writer Charles Cooper continues his series of articles called "Memories of Arcadia" with a history and description of the U.S. Army Balloon School that was at Camp Ross (or Ross Field) in Arcadia during World War I. The balloon school was located on the current site of Arcadia County Park.
Photo of top half of the cover of a tabloid-sized souvenir program given by the Army Ordnance, at an open house held in September 1943 at the Los Angeles Collesium. Writing across front reads: ORDNANCE IN ACTION Man O'War Ordnance Training Center Camp Santa Anita, Arcadia, California.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to support legislation establishing February 19 as "Remembrance Day" for those Japanese who were sent to internment camps during World War II. Locally, an internment camp was set up at Santa Anita Park.
Interview with author Brad Pearson who wrote the book The Eagles of Heart Mountain. He tackles the injustice of Japanese-American incarceration through the exploits of a World War II camp football team. Article mentions many evacuees were detained at Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia before being shipped out.
Dr. Dino Clarizio, Medical Director for the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, spends one day every week at the Clinic he helps operate at Santa Anita Park race track caring for race track personnel and their families.
World War II internees reunite. Japanese Americans detained at Santa Anita Park before being sent to camps share photos, memories and friendship, at 75th anniversary event in Little Tokyo. See hard copy in VF Assembly Center.
Aerial view taken looking southeast from position about over present Arboretum. Photo shows Santa Anita Park, probably in opening season. Present City Hall sits in area just beyond cars parked at east end of track. Part of oval of old Santa Anita track built by Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin is seen in upper portion of photo, in area that is now Arcadia County Park. Duarte Road is seen crossing photo in upper right corner. Present Arcadia County Park area is in this photo, bordered on the north by Pacific Electric Railroad tracks. A train has just brought a group to the races and they are seen walking in center of photo. White square seen near right side, is slab left from hangars when U.S. Army Balloon School occupied this site, 1917-1927.
