The “Long Beach Community Book,” authored by Walter H. Case and published in 1948 by A.H. Cawston, is an extensive exploration of the history and development of Long Beach, California. This comprehensive volume spans 431 pages, though it actually contains an additional 180 pages due to the inclusion of unnumbered illustration pages. The book is divided into two main sections: a historical narrative and biographical sketches.
The first part of the book offers a detailed account of Long Beach’s evolution from its early beginnings to a thriving city of approximately 266,000 residents in 1948. It covers various aspects of the city’s growth, including its geographical advantages, municipal governance, public facilities, educational institutions, and notable events such as epochal oil discoveries and the impact of wartime activities. The narrative also addresses challenges faced by the city, such as land subsidence and the major issue of tideland rights.
Prominent citizens contributed to the book by serving on its Advisory Board, including Mayor Burton W. Chace, Theodora R. Brewitt, and Dr. Ewing S. Hudson, among others. Additionally, numerous individuals and organizations provided valuable data for the historical and descriptive sections, ensuring a thorough and accurate portrayal of Long Beach’s development.
The second part of the book comprises 180 biographical sketches of significant Long Beach citizens, both past and present, highlighting their contributions to the community. These profiles provide insight into the lives of individuals who have played pivotal roles in shaping the city’s identity and progress.
Table of Contents
Part I
Historical Background, p. 9
Land Grants and Ranchos, p. 15
Beginning of a City, p. 32
Municipal Government, p. 51
“Fastest-Growing City”, p. 62
Advantages and Attractions, p. 72
City’s Public Facilities, 86
Health Safeguard and Services, p. 96
Public Schools, p. 102
Bench and Bar; County Offices, p. 109
Epochal Oil Discoveries, p. 113
Port of Long Beach, p. 123
Industries in Peace and War, p. 133
Long Beach Real “Navy City”, p. 141
Tideland Rights Major Issue, p. 151
Problem of Land Subsidence, p. 155
Municipal Utilities, p. 157
Police and Fire Departments, p. 165
Business and Civic Activities, p. 175
City of One Hundred Churches, p. 197
Long Beach in Wartimes, p. 204
World’s Largest Airplane, p. 215
Disasters, p. 217
Memorable Aquatic Events, p. 224
Citizens Politically Honored, p. 227
Signal Hill; Lakewood, p. 229
Part II
Biographical Sketches, p. 235-425
Jotham Bixby, p. 235
George H. Bixby, p. 237
Amelia M. E. Bixby, p. 237
Richard A. Bixby, p. 238
Lewellyn Bixby, p. 239
Llewellyn Bixby, p. 240
Llewellyn Bixby, Jr., p. 242
John William Bixby, p. 242
Fred Hathaway Bixby, p. 244
John F. Craig, p. 245
John Craig II, p. 246
James C. Craig, p. 247
James C. Craig II, p. 247
Patrick J. Quinn, p. 248
Roland G. Swaffield, p. 249
Will J. Reid, p. 251
John Walker Hancock, p. 253
John W. Hancock, Jr., p. 254
Clifford B. Limbocker, p. 255
I. S. Lambing, p. 256
William N. Deatherage, p. 257
Charles S. Henderson, p. 258
Walter H. Boyd, M. D., p. 260
Artemus W. Bates-Lane, p. 261
Alfred D. Mitchell, p. 263
Ward Johnson, p. 264
C. A. Buffum, p. 265
Harry Buffum, p. 267
Herbert E. Waite, p. 268
Arthur N. Macrate, p. 269
Raymond J. Kirkpatrick, p. 270
A. C. Sellery, M. D., p. 271
Ray O. Gould, p. 272
Otis Hoyt, p. 273
James Edward Pawson, p. 274
Melvin L. Campbell, p. 275
Judge Ralph H. Clock, p. 276
Henry H. Clock, p. 277
John G. Clock, p. 278
Thomas A. Newton, p. 279
S. Albert Molle, M. D., p. 280
Carl D. Hendrickson, p. 281
Stirling G. Pillsbury, M.D., p. 282
Freed Hair, p. 283
Harry Ormond Wallace, p. 284
Calvin A. Lauer, M.D., p. 286
William E. Hinshaw, p. 287
Dr. Burton F. Pike, p. 288
Chief Alvin F. Slaight, p. 289
Albert D. White, p. 289
Dr. Orville L. Hastings, p. 291
William Nicolaus, p. 291
Burton W. Coon, p. 292
William B. Coon, p. 294
Ralph A. Newell, p. 294
Lawrence W. McDowell, p. 295
Dr. Arthur E. Pike, p. 296
Richard R. Loynes, p. 297
John E. Munholland, p. 299
James M. Munholland, p. 300
Charles J. Walker, p. 300
Charles Z. Walker, p. 303
Gus A. Walker, p. 304
Carl Raymond Bishop, M.D., p. 305
Archie G. Cope, p. 307
Leonard V. Hatton, p. 307
Harry Albert, p. 308
H. Milton Van Dyke, M.D., p. 309
Lon E. Peek, p. 310
L. Roy Myers, p. 311
Judge Oscar E. Houston, p. 312
Joseph e. madded, p. 313
V. DeMott Sedgwick, M.D., p. 313
Frank G. Makepeace, p. 314
Earl C. Rockwell, p. 315
W. C. Smallwood, M.D., p. 316
Jonah Jones, Jr., p. 316
Dwight C. Sigworth, M.D., p. 317
M. E. Lewis, Jr., p. 318
Dr. Rufus A. Davis, p. 319
C. Bond Harpole, p. 320
Carl Fletcher, p. 321
Gardiner L. Crandall, p. 322
Rev. George P. Taubman, D.D., p. 323
George P. Taubman, Jr., p. 325
Thomas E. Noble, p. 326
Captain John Burke Worley, p. 327
Ham Johns, p. 328
Joseph A. Ball, p. 329
Dr. A. L. Pettigrew, p. 330
Alfred R. Yortson, p. 331
W. A. Harlan, p. 332
Eugene Tincher, p. 333
Joseph Herbert Davies, p. 334
Stuart C. Searle, p. 335
Omer Romanes Young, p. 336
Rev. Perry G. M. Austin, D.D., p. 337
Lyman B. Sutter, p. 338
Clarence E. Wagner, p. 339
Owen M. Murphy, p. 341
Dr. George F. Scouten, p. 341
Mark L. Taylor, p. 342
Frank H. Jaques, p. 343
H. L. Tullis, p. 344
Harry H. Heylmun, M.D., p. 344
Dr. Earl A. Ryan, p. 345
William H. Brayton, p. 346
George D. Stilson, M.D., p. 347
C. Standlee Martin, p. 348
Dr. Samuel A. Reese, p. 349
Bruce Mason, p. 350
Dr. walter E. Mattocks, p. 351
Frederick Kellog, M.D., p. 352
Newton M. Todd, p. 352
William F. Prisk, p. 354
Captain Charles W. Paddock, p. 355
Roy S. Baty, p. 355
D. A. Boone, p. 356
Carroll M. Counts, p. 357
Charles W. Pettifer, p. 358
A. A. Jones, M.D., p. 358
Wahlfred Jacobson, p. 359
Dr. Frank A. Piazza, p. 360
Einar Peterson, p. 361
Rex G. Reason, p. 362
Walter Bradley Hill, M.D., p. 363
Lowell R. Hill, M.D., p. 364
W. Harriman Jones, M.D., p. 365
F. Harriman Jones, M.D., p. 366
George F. Paap, M.D., p. 367
John A. Paap, p. 368
George M. Vermillion, p. 370
Francis H. Gentry, p. 371
John R. Berry, p. 373
Clinton James Curtis, p. 374
Cecil E. Bryan, p. 376
Nathan Angel, p. 379
L. D. (Ren) Tolbert, p. 379
Paul W. Westerlund, p. 380
Burton W. Chace, p. 382
Gerald Desmond, p. 383
Walter Desmond, Jr., p. 383
Douglas H. Graham, p. 385
Raymond W. Swinney, M.D., p. 385
George C. Brower, p. 387
Frank Raymond Underwood, p. 388
C. C. Lewis, p. 389
Dr. Francis M. Neff, p. 389
Clay H. White, p. 390
R. A. Waestman, p. 391
Clayton C. Campbell, M.D., p. 392
Clayton C. Campbell, Jr., M.D., p. 394
Noel F. Shambaugh, M.D., p. 394
Captain Willis W. Bradley, p. 395
Dr. John Gerald Houts, p. 397
Dr. James Lawrence Houts, p. 398
Hal G. Nichols, p. 399
Dr. Don C. Littlefield, A.B., p. 400
Max Schattman Lowe, p. 401
W. R. Martin, p. 401
J. Walter Martin, p. 403
Dr. Charles R. Poitvin, p. 403
I. E. Barker, p. 404
Douglas Newcomb, p. 406
B. F. Tucker, p. 407
Carl B. Wirsching, p. 408
Elio J. Amar, p. 410
Rex L. Hodges, p. 411
Cyrus Clay Carpenter, p. 412
Earl L. Suydam, p. 414
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Bernard J. Dolan, p. 415
Captain Augustine C. Malone, p. 415
Jess D. Gilkerson, p. 417
William H. Sheelar, p. 419
Rev. L. Elliott Grafman, p. 420
Paul H. Adkinson, p. 420
Perry N. Johnson, p. 421
Joe Fellows, p. 422
Joe Fellows, Jr., p. 423
Theodora Root Brewitt, p. 424
Source
Case, Walter H., Long Beach community book : in two parts, narrative and biographical, Long Beach, California : A.H. Cawston, 1948.