Joan De Fata, plant sciences librarian at the Arboretum of Los Angeles County has been awarded the 2002 Charles Robert Long Award of Extraordinary Merit by the International Council of Botanical and Horticultural Libraries.
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.
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."
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'."
Photo and text of an L.A. Times newspaper article titled "Historic Santa Anita Tract Deed Delivered to County," describing the transfer of deed for 111-acre tract from Rancho Santa Anita, Inc. to the Los Angeles County Supervisors. The article states that the property will be converted into an 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.
