Photo Album Depicting an Elderly Couple at Their Historic Estate in La Crescenta, California

Los Angeles: 1930s to 1940s. Screw bound black photo album binding measuring 11.25 x 7", containing 87 cornered in black and white photographs, a few accompanied by handwritten captions, namely two addresses and the advanced age of the man pictured in the album (81 years). By cross-referencing with voter registration records, we have deduced that the album belonged to Alice F. Gray, and her husband George T. Gray, a well-to-do retired dentist in Los Angeles. The first 55 images in the album show Alice and George in old age, living out their retirement years in their large estate at 2617 El Caminito, in La Crescenta, California. The house was built in 1913 as a hunting lodge for the area, and played host to Harry S. Truman. It was designated as historic in 2008 (Longoria, "Historic Homes are Fit For a King", Los Angeles Times, 2/1/2008). There are many images of the lavish, manicured interior, grounds, and pool at the estate, as well as depictions of the elderly couple. George died in 1937, aged 84, and soon afterwards Alice moved to a smaller house in Los Angeles, with the remainder of the album showing her and a close knit group of elderly friends at the house and around the city. She died in 1957, aged 98. A charming album showcasing elderly life in Los Angeles, as well as a historic house. Wear to album covers, mild chipping to album leaves along edges. Item #12636

Price: $450.00