The Charcoal sketches of Los Angeles, which date from circa 1934 to circa 1947, are an extensive collection of 50 drawings made by John Wardman. Wardman was a British-born artist who emigrated to California in the 1930's. His work has been displayed in a number of exhibitions and museums. Many of the sketches depict parts of Los Angeles subsequently demolished to make way for Union Station. Together with the scenes from Chinatown (which are also included in the collection) these sketches record an era in the metropolitan history of Los Angeles that may have otherwise faded without a trace. Almost all the sketches display the facades of civic buildings or the everyday, street-level dealings of merchants and tradesmen.

50 drawings: charcoal on paper; 23 x 30 cm. 50 digital objects

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Collection stored off-site. Advance notice required for use.