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Leonard Nadel photographs and other material relating to housing and urban redevelopment in Los Angeles, 1947-1998 (bulk 1947-1957)

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Descriptive Summary
Biographical/Historical Note
Scope and Content of Collection
Restrictions
Indexing Terms
Related Material
Administrative Information
Container List
Series I. Projects related to housing and urban redevelopment, 1947-1998, undated
Series I.A. Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, 1948-1997, undated
Series I.B. Community Redevelopment Agency, 1948-1998, undated
Series I.C. Various subjects, undated
Series II. Unpublished books, 1947-1994, undated
Series II.A. Pueblo del Rio, 1947-1948
Series II.B. Aliso Village, 1948-1994, undated
Nadel (Leonard) Photographs and other material relating to housing and urban redevelopment in Los Angeles
Series II. Unpublished books, 1947-1994, undated 5.25 Linear Feet (7 boxes)
Series II.B. Aliso Village, 1948-1994, undated 3.25 Linear Feet
Leonard Nadel photographs of Aliso Village, 1948-1994, bulk 1948-1949

The subseries comprises Nadel's unpublished book, "Aliso Village, USA," and additional material related to the housing project.
Designed in 1942 by the Housing Group Architects lead by Ralph Flewelling and including Lloyd Wright, the garden city-style Aliso Village was one of the first racially integrated public housing projects in the United States. It was built in the Boyle Heights area known as "The Flats," which in the 1930s was one of the most impoverished areas of Los Angeles. Aliso Village was demolished in 1999 and replaced by Pueblo del Sol, a new housing project.
Nadel documented Aliso Village from 1948 to 1949. The book he assembled is a photographic study of four families - Asian American, Black, Caucasian, and Latino - living in the new community. Between 1949 and 1951, Nadel made a concerted effort to find a publisher for the book. In 1949, he made a trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City to meet with supporters and potential publishers. In addition to meeting with representatives from organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Council on Race Relations, he also met with former Farm Security Administration (FSA) photographers Roy Stryker and Edward Steichen, who assessed his photographs. The related correspondence and Nadel's meeting notes are included in this subseries. Although varous parties expressed interest in the project at the time, the book was never published.
File titles are loosley derived from Nadel's notes jotted on the manilla or glassine envelopes containing the negatives and contact prints. Consequently, some titles may include language now considered to be outdated or biased.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged thematically, and include views of the project, and of community life such as activities and organizations within the project, and its schools. This is followed by a section on each of the four families Nadal documented in-depth, as well as notes pertaining to Aliso Village in general, and the families in particular. The last part of the subseries consists of the book matter, including slides of the selected images, the introductory text, the maquette, and correspondence and notes regarding the book and Nadel's efforts to publish it.
Views of Aliso Village, 1948-1949
box folder
6 10 Aerial view in winter, 1948 January 12 3 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
Taken after a snowfall.
6 11 Aerial views of Aliso Village from Lookout Mountain, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
6 12 View of Aliso Village through slum, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
6 13 Slums near Aliso Village, 1948 October 28 3 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
Includes two girls playing ball in a back courtyard.
Exterior views, circa 1948-1949
box folder
6 14 Group A, circa 1948-1949 34 items (33 negatives, 1 envelope)
Group labeled "A" on envelope.
6 15 Group B, circa 1948-1949 9 items (7 negatives, 1 envelope, 1 note card)
Group labeled "B" on envelope.
6 16 Exteriors with people, circa 1948-1949 19 items (17 prints, 1 envelope, 1 note card)
Includes a view of Aliso Village from the freeway.
6 17 Administration building, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
6 18 Maintenance, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
Tree spraying and exterior painting.
6 19 Infrastructure, circa 1948-1949 7 items (6 negatives, 1 envelope)
Includes the reception office, maintenance shop, and community bulletin boards.
6 20 1500 children sign, circa 1948-1949 0 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
Sign bearing the legend: 1500 children live here. Please drive carefully.
6 21 Outdoor laundry lines, circa 1948-1949 3 items (1 negative, 2 envelopes)
132 N. Clarence St.
6 22 Laundry scenes, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
Resident Council, circa 1948-1949
box folder
7 1 November 1948 meeting, 1948 November 1 25 items (24 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 2 Resident Council II meeting, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 3 Resident Council II, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Black couple at a Resident Council meeting.
7 4 Management and Resident Council meeting, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
Meeting of residents and staff around desk of Miss Hedges.
7 5 Management and Inter-council meeting, 1948 November 8 10 items (9 negatives, 1 envelope)
Includes one image of children on a stage manipulating marionettes.
Clinic, circa 1948-1949
Primarily images of baby examinations.
box folder
7 6 Negatives, circa 1948-1949 17 items (14 negatives, 1 envelope, 2 note cards)
7 7 Prints, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Mothers and babies.
7 8 Immunization at Utah St. school, circa 1948-1949 7 items (6 negatives, 1 envelope)
One of the children being immunized is Arthur Ramirez, Jr.
Movie night, circa 1948-1949
box folder
7 9 Negatives, circa 1948-1949 9 items (8 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 10 Print, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Children watching movie.
Boys fighting, circa 1948-1949
Images include two shots of two boys - Black and Latino (?) - fighting, with other children onlookers; a Latino toddler kneeling; and two shots of a Latino dad and kids working on a digging project.
box folder
7 11 Negatives, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
Boys fighting, little girl on her knees.
7 12 Prints, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Boys fighting.
Children and children's activities, 1948-1949
box folder
7 13 Children in area (mixed), circa 1948-1949 9 items (8 negatives, 1 envelope)
Images are primarily of preschool children.
7 14 Kids at Aliso Village, circa 1948-1949 12 items (11 negatives,1 envelope)
Children playing on the catwalk, playing football, in kindergarten, at story time, and portraits of children. Primarily outdoor shots of younger children.
7 15 Little children, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Children looking out of windows, sitting on stoop, playing. On envelope: Odds & ends.
7 16 Recreation at school, circa 1948-1949 12 items (11 negatives, 1 envelope)
Playing marbles, tetherball, basketball, on playground equipment, and other games.
7 17 Marionette show, circa 1948-1949 9 items (8 negatives, 1 envelope)
On envelope: Puppet.
7 18 Puppets, circa 1948-1949 1 items (1 envelope)
Folk dancing, circa 1948-1949
Images of a teen dance.
box folder
7 19 Negatives, circa 1948-1949 5 items (4 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 20 Prints, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Ping pong, circa 1948-1949
Junior games and craft (community hall).
box folder
7 21 Negatives, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 22 Prints, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Sports, 1948-1949
box folder
7 23 School sports, circa 1948-1949 13 items (11 negatives, 2 envelopes)
Teen sports including football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics (pole rings), and spectators.
7 24 Boys playing football, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
On envelope: Sports / (Basketball) / (Football).
7 25 Young people at play, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Boys playing marbles; girls and boys sitting along a schoolyard fence.
Halloween, 1948
box folder
7 26 School Halloween party, 1948 2 items (1 negative, 1 contact print)
Bobbing for apples.
7 27 Extended day care Halloween party, 1948 October 29 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
Extended day care at Utah St. school. Miss Sanderson (head teacher) with children at long tables.
Christmas, 1948
box folder
7 28 Christmas party in the auditorium, 1948 8 items (7 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 29 Christmas party program, 1948 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Children talking to Santa (Mr. Taggart) and children watching program.
7 30 Jr. Santa Claus, 1948 2 items (1 negative, 1 envelope)
Child dressed as Santa Claus.
7 31 Looking thru Xmas window, 1948 6 items (5 negatives, 1 envelope)
Includes children looking out of a window decorated with a snowman and Santa scene; images of a boy looking out of window with a Christmas tree; and of another boy looking out of a window.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA), circa 1948-1949
box folder
7 32 PTA November 1948 meeting, 1948 November 8 8 items (7 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 33 Women at PTA meeting, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
7 34 Audience and speakers, circa 1948-1949 11 items (11 negatives, 1 envelope)
The audience comprises mothers, some with small children. On envelope: PTA meeting I.
Playgroup, circa 1948-1949
box folder
7 35 Playgroup benefit (Xmas), circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Depicts women preparing and serving food at the benefit.
7 36 Benefit for playgroup, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 37 Playgroup, circa 1948-1949 4 items ((3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Story hour, pumpking carving, and a party.
7 38 Playgroup meeting, circa 1948-1949 9 items (8 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Ruth Wong, Patsy Ramirez, and others.
7 39 Playgroup loop, 1948 November 1 28 items (27 negatives, 1 envelope)
Nursery school, circa 1948-1949
box folder
7 40 Nursery entrance, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 negative, 1 envelope)
7 41 Nursery school (outside), circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Two children standing against fence.
7 42 Nursery outdoors, circa 1948-1949 23 items (22 negatives, 1 envelope)
Children and teachers participating in outdoor activities; with one view of the cot room.
7 43 Nursery (Eating), circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
7 44 Nursery School (Sleeping), circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
7 45 Nursery children sleeping, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
7 46 Nursery (Lunch), circa 1948-1949 11 items (10 negatives, 1 envelope)
Includes children on playground equipment.
7 47 Jungle gym, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 negatives, 1 envelope)
Kindergarten, 1948
box folder
8 1 Kindergarten (Thanksgiving play), 1948 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
8 2 Kindergarten (Thanksgiving party), 1948 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Boy Scouts, circa 1948-1949
box folder
8 3 Boy Scout troop, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 negatives, 1 envelope)
First aid (William Taggert), presentation of colors (William Taggert and Charles Wilson), drills.
8 4 Presentation of colors, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Troop includes Charles Wilson and William Taggart, Jr.
8 5 Young craft group in community hall, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 negatives, 1 envelope)
Food shopping truck, circa 1948-1949
box folder
8 6 Negatives, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 negative, 1 envelope)
Original envelope contained two glassine sleeves. Negative for Aliso building through slum door is missing.
8 7 Prints, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Contact prints of various actvities, circa 1948-1949
Many of the contact prints are represented in other Aliso Village groupings, as negatives and/or prints.
box folder
8 8 General and community activities, circa 1948-1949 136 items (1 negative, 135 prints, 1 envelope)
8 9 Community activities, circa 1948-1949 184 items (1 negative, 183 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Contact prints.
Four families, circa 1948-1949
Photographs of the Wong, Rmirez, Wilson, and Taggert families who lived in Aliso Village.
box folder
8 10 Four families group shot, circa 1948-1949 10 items (9 negatives, 1 envelope)
8 11 Four families standing around, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 negatives, 1 envelope)
Wong family, circa 1948-1949
Ruth and George Wong were a Chinese American couple with a young son, Richie (Richey), who three years old at the time Nadel photographed them.
box folder
8 12 Family portrait, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
8 13 Wongs shopping, circa 1948-1949 4 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope, 1 notecard)
8 14 George Wong at school, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 15 Richie Wong at playgroup, circa 1948-1949 3 items
8 16 Richie Wong's third birthday party, circa 1948-1949 2 items
8 17 The Wongs at lunch (at home), circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 18 Wongs at supper, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Includes George Wong with Richie.
8 19 Mrs. Wong at ceramics class, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 20 Mrs. Wong at clinic, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Richie getting a check-up.
8 21 Wongs at Zoo, circa 1948-1949 13 items (12 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Griffith Park Zoo.
8 22 Trimming the Christmas tree, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
8 23 George Wong at work, circa 1948-1949 8 items (7 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Lettering on door reads: County Auditor, Budget and Report Division, Property Section.
Ramirez family, circa 1948-1949
Arthur J. and Pascuala (Patsy) Ramirez were a Mexican American family with five boys: Arthur, Jr. (8 1/2); David (6); Thomas (4); Jimmy (3); and Steven (1).
box folder
8 24 Ramirez getting bath, circa 1948-1949 15 items (13 contact prints, 1 envelope, 1 note card)
8 25 Boys playing at home, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 26 Pillow fight, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 27 Ramirez teaching, circa 1948-1949 7 items (6 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Arthur Ramirez teaching a class.
8 28 Ramirez boys at playgroup, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
8 29 Ramirez fixing the car, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
8 30 Mr. Ramirez at Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
8 31 Ramirez at home, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Patsy Ramirez ironing.
8 32 Ramirez Christmas tree, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Arthur and Patsy Ramirez decorating their Christmas tree; Ramirez family portrait; Patsy Ramirez playing tennis.
8 33 Ramirez studying in library, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
8 34 Ramirez at supper, circa 1948-1949 8 items (7 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Ramirez family eating; Arthur Ramirez playing with baby; boys reading.
8 35 Ramirez on Sunday stroll, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 36 Ramirez - referee in game, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Arthur Ramirez as basketball referee.
Wilson family, circa 1948-1949
Lee Roy and Jessie Mae Wilson were a Black couple with two boys, Carles and Saul, and a toddler (?).
box folder
8 37 Charles Wilson in cafeteria, circa 1948-1949 3 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope, 1 note card)
8 38 Wilsons at supper, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Includes Mr. Wilson working at table, Mrs. Wilson doing laundry, boys washing dishes.
8 39 Wilson boys in Sunday school, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 40 Sewing class (Mrs. Wilson), circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 41 Saul Wilson at Tenderfoot ceremony, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 42 Social tea, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 43 Wilsons relaxing, circa 1948-1949 (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Taggart family, circa 1948-1949
William Taggert and his wife were a white couple with three sons: William, Jr. (13); Richard James (8); and James William (2).
box folder
8 44 Taggert portrait, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Family portraits. Also included are images of a large group of children and adults from the community gathered in the Taggert's [?] living room.
8 45 Bluegirls, circa 1948-1949 3 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope, 1 notecard)
Mrs. Taggert and the Bluegirl troop making a cake.
8 46 Mr. Taggart and baby, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
8 47 Taggert family at supper, circa 1948-1949 5 items (4 contact prints, 1 envelope
8 48 Taggarts and home counselor, circa 1948-1949 6 items (5 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Discussing budget, teaching canning.
8 49 Christmas, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
Bringing in Christmas tree, dressing up as Santa.
8 50 Boy sick in bed, circa 1948-1949 3 items (2 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 51 Taggert doing washing, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
William Taggart doing laundry in kitchen using a wringer washing machine.
8 52 Taggert printing press, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
William Taggart working a printing press.
8 53 Richard Taggart in class, circa 1948-1949 5 items (4 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 54 Taggart boys washing dishes, circa 1948-1949 4 items (3 contact prints, 1 envelope)
8 55 Taggert boy getting haircut, circa 1948-1949 2 items (1 contact print, 1 envelope)
Mrs. Taggart giving son a haircut.
box folder
9 1 Notes on Aliso Village, circa 1948-1949 36 items (1 envelope, 35 note cards)
On envelope: Notations by photographer Leonard Nadel while working on the Aliso Village project - (quotes that inspired him, among them: Nature has no favorite nation, color, creed or occupation any place you point your finger to, there's someone with the same blood as you.)
box folder
12 2 Slides, undated 18 items (17 slides, 1 envelope)
35 mm. black-and-white slides of inhabitants, activities, and exteriors.
box folder
13 5 Permissions to photograph families, 1949-1950 22 items
Signed consents from families (full and exclusive permission to copyright, use, and publish photographs).
13 6 Charts of family and inter-resident interactions, circa 1949 5 Sheets
Book matter, 1949-1994
Texts for "Aliso Village, U.S.A.," 1949
box folder
9 2 Aliso text, 1949 23 items (22 negatives, 1 envelope)
9 3 Aliso text type, 1949 44 items (43 negatives, 1 envelope)
box folder
13 7 Introduction to book, circa 1949 1 item
Typescript introduction to the book by Loren Miller.
box folder
12 3 Copy slides of images used in book, negatives 1949, slides 1994 65 Photographic Slides
box folder
10 1 "Aliso Village, U.S.A.," circa 1949 1 volume
Bound unpublished volume of 122 pages with 136 gelatin silver photographs.
box folder
13 8 Nadel's writings regarding the book, circa 1949 4 items
Contains the following typescript documents by Nadel about the book: Exhibit on Aliso Village study; Aliso Village; The concept; and Aliso Village, U.S.A.
Correspondence and meeting notes, 1949-1951, undated
Correspondence regarding atttempts to find a publisher for the book. Also includes hand-written and typescript notes from meetings with supporters and potential publishers.
box folder
13 9 May 10 - May 24, 1949 7 items
Letter from Floyd C. Covington executive director of the Los Angeles Urban League, to Lester B. Granger, executive director of the National Urban League, introducing and recommending Nadel and his Aliso Village project. Letter from Carey McWilliams to Nadel. Letter from Jack J. Spitzer to Rabbi S. Andhil Fineberg, director of the Community Service Department, American Jewish Committee, asking for support to publish Nadel's work. Letter from Floyd C. Covington to Leslie W. Ganyard, secretary of the Rosenberg Foundation.
13 10 June 1949 6 items
Letter from Kenneth Hahn, chairman, Los Angeles County Conference on Community Relations, to Nadel. Letter from A. A. Heist, director, American Civil Liberties Union, to Morris Ernst. Letter from Jack J. Spitzer, assistant executive director, Community Relations Committee of the Los Angeles Jewish Community Council, to Nadel. Letter from Herschell Chanin, Jewish Labor Committee, to Irving Salert.
13 11 July 20 - July 29, 1949 6 items
Summaries of meetings with Louis Hosch, executive secretary of the American Council on Race Relations; Roland Hemans; assistant director of the University of Chicago Press; W. T. Couch, director of the University of Chicago Press; Coleman Woddbury, director of Urban Redevelopment Study; Mrs. Dorothy Gazzolo, editor of Journal of Housing; and James Brown III, trustee of the Marshall Field Foundation. Letter from Nadel to Dr. Louis Wirth, American Council on Race Relations.
13 12 August 1949 11 items
Summary of meetings with Clarence Johnson, east coast regional race relations advisor for the Federal Housing Agency; Thomas Creighton, Progressive Architecture; Dr. Louis Wirth, director of the American Council on Race Relations; Dr. Gerald Breese, director of the Social Science Research Council; and Franklin Thorne and Dr. McGraw, Race Relations, Federal Housing Authority; Charles Abrams, publisher; Phillip Vaudrin, editor of the Oxford Press; Leo Johnson, director of the National Public Housing Conference. Letter from Victor Kayfetz (Victor Kayfetz Productions) to Nadel.
13 13 September 1949 9 items
Notes on meetings with the following persons: Edward Steichen; Miss Rose Terlin, editor of YWCA publications; Dr. Robt Weaver, New York University sociology department; Dr. Robert Merton, Columbia University, sociology editor for Harcourt Brace & Co.; Mrs. Dorothy Nathan, Community Service Department, American Jewish Committee; and Dr. Nadhil Fineberg, American Jewish Committee. Correspondence with John Morris, picture editor, The Ladies Home Journal.
13 14 October 1949 1 item
Notes on meeting with Roy Stryker.
13 15 1950 - 1951 21 items
Summaries of meetings with Francis Brennan, picture editor, Life History of WWII; Lee Jones, picture editor, This Week; Mrs. Anna Wolfe; children's editor, Woman's Home Companion; Ted Gorkinm picture editor, Parade; Holmer Cable, picture editor, Look; William White, picture editor, Daily News; Mr. Borstadt, picture editor, Saturday Evening Post, Philadelphia. Correspondence with John Morris; picture editor, Ladies Home Journal. Letter from Victor Kayfetz.
13 16 Exhibitions, 1951 4 items
13 17 Filmstrip copyright agreement, undated 2 items
Agreement between Leonard Nadel and Robert Friedman and Donald Weiss, producers and writers, pertaining to production and distribution of two film strips on Aliso Village. The agreement is signed by Nadel and Friedman.
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