Swarzwald, Eugene.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Pacific Press Syndicate, Inc. began publication of Pictorial California in December of 1925. The title was soon changed to Pictorial California and the Pacific by Eugene Swarzwald, president of the Pacific Press Syndicate and Keystone Photo Service which supplied many of the magazine's images. Swarzwald's magazine promoted the virtues of California and the western United States, and was distributed by chambers of commerce, railroad and steamship companies, and hotel management. The magazine is entirely graphic, consisting of photographs with captions but very little narrative accompaniment. The Swarzwald family produced the magazine until 1968 when it was taken over by a new publisher.

[For more information on the history of the Keystone Photo Service and Pictorial California and the Pacific see: Los Angeles Times, January 6, 1924 and November 9, 1925; and Pictorial California and the Pacific, v. 43, no. 3, Summer Number, 1968.]

From the guide to the Eugene Swarzwald, Pictorial California and the Pacific, Collection of Photographs, 1909-ca.1968, bulk ca. 1925-1968, (The Huntington Library)