Rayson Brown, 1920s Nature Photographer

G. Rayson Brown (1898-1974) was fascinated by the wonders of nature. He combined that love of the outdoors with his photography hobby in the early 1920s after moving to Los Angeles, California. Rayson was my husband's Great Uncle. Warren, Rayson's only child, inherited the collection. Warren didn't have children and when he passed, my husband and I became the keepers of the collection.

Rayson photographed people, always outdoors, as well as majestic scenery, plants, animals and insects. Some of his close-up plant, animal and insect photos were sold to magazines and published. He took great pride in carefully documenting and cataloging his collection. Out of the hundreds of photos, I chose a few of my favorites to share.

Rayson married Edythe Grace Sisson in 1923, soon after arriving in Los Angeles. Edythe and her family are in many of Rayson's photographs.

Edythe and Mrs. Holden at Camp Baldy, 1924

Edythe and her mother in Stoddard Canyon, 1924

In the photo below, from left to right, are Edythe's father Charles Sisson, Edythe, her Uncle Herbert Bragg and Aunt Mae (Duffield) Bragg, her mother Edith (Duffield) Sisson, her sister Vera (Sisson) Armstrong and brother-in-law Bill Armstrong.

Sissons, Braggs, Armstrongs & Brown picnic, Stoddard Canyon, 1924

"Yours truly" [Rayson] & wife, 1926

Edythe and Aunt Nellie Nettleingham at Seal Beach, 1927

Edythe's Aunt Mae and Uncle Herb lived in Long Beach. The family took many trips there to visit and enjoy the beach.

Long Beach Pier, 1923

Long Beach Waterfront, 1923

Rayson and Edythe, usually with her sister Vera and brother-in-law Bill Armstrong, explored as much of the state as they could when not working. Rayson always had his camera and tripod on hand to document their travels.

Lighthouse at end of San Pedro Calif. breakwater, 1923

Road around Catalina Island looking East, 1923

Glass Bottom Boat Catalina, 1923

Scene from Busch Gardens, 1924

There are dozens of photos of the aftermath of a 1925 earthquake in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Earthquake ruins, 1925

Yachts in Race to Honolulu, 1926

Rayson must have truly loved photographing and documenting the plants, animals, and insects found in nature. There are hundreds of photos and boxes and boxes of slides. Getting clear, close-up photos is a challenge for photographers today but was even more so in the 1920s.

Tarantula and it's abode, 1923

Carpenter bees, 1925

Butterfly, 1925

Sow Bug, 1925

Spotted Anthomya fly (Gray), 1925

Elderbug, Black, white and red, 1925

Buffalo tree hopper (Green), 1925

Milliped (Brown), 1925

1925

Crane fly, 1927

Alligator in Los Angeles alligator farm, 1923

Lizzard, 1924

Burrowing owl, 1925

Geranium seed (magnified), 1926

October 30, 1922 - The last letter to Chicago

Addressed to:

Mr. G. Rayson Brown.

1468 East 67th St.,

Chicago,

Illinois.

5009 Whittier Blvd,

Los Angeles, Calif.

From E. G. Sisson.

5009 Whittier Blvd.,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Loftus Land Co.

Los Angeles, Cal.,

October 30 - 1922

Dearest Rayson:

I wanted to write to you yesterday dear, but we had company all day and so I will write this morning. This is a beautiful morning, the sun is shining brightly and so warm and nice.

Friday we had our first rain and it turned so cold. It always does when it rains here and the next morning we could see snow on the mountain tops, fifty miles away. Thats close enough, too I think.

Saturday the gas company laid the pipes for the gas on our street and they will soon start digging. It begins to look as though we might have paving yet before the real rains commence. We will live in hopes anyway.

Yesterday Father and Billy finished the new house all except putting on the plaster board, and Father will do that this week.

We were just getting dinner when the McCaffreys and Mr & Mrs Dick Pyle came. They were on their way to Sante Fe Springs. Mr Pyle has some oil stock invested there. They didn't stay long.

Later in the afternoon the Noack family came and stayed all afternoon. We had just remarked afther they left that we thought everyone we knew had called when who should drive in but the Yost girls and their uncle and cousin. Poor Evelyn was so glad to see us, she is so lonesome and homesick out here.

We told Aunt Mae we would be over one day last week. We planned to go Friday but could not on account of the rain and so we just picked up and went Saturday. We had a nice visit with her but had to leave early in order to get home before dark as we had no tail light. We did some speeding too, made the trip in an hour and five minutes, thats the best we have done yet.

I will look for your mail dearest at the land office and so don't worry at all about that. I imagine there is mail there now as Father didn't call for it Saturday.

I am so sorry dear for the poor fellow at the hospital. It is hard to leave anyone like that too. He will look forward to receiving your letters now for that is all he will have. Yes dear it would be fine of you to write to him, it will only take a few minutes and will make him happy.

Vera and I will go to town this afternoon. She is going to buy dishes for the new house. There is a sale on them at the fifth street store today. We are getting as bad as the Yosts' for running to bargain sales. Sometimes it pays.

The Yosts's sold their place accross the street from ours on Marcy St., to a young couple from Michigan. That young couple will find out later how badly they were taken in.

You remember dear the 'funny hat' I wore home? Well I have improved it a little by putting a little color on it. Two Henna colored pheasant feathers and some yarn to match. Also the hat I wore to the little church on the corner that night, I have managed to make look quite good again. Don't know when I'll wear them though as I just cannot get used to wearing a har. They give me a terrible headache.

Has there been anything more heard from Mr Rice? He seems to keep his distance doesn't he dear? I wish that he would soon put in his appearance for I am so lonesome for you dear and wish that you were here with me.

Chris is laying here on the rug, just had a bowl of milk and has gone to sleep. Thats the best thing he does is sleep. He and the cat next door go tearing across lots and break off the geraniums. It makes Mrs Slowinski wild.

Well dearest lover Vera is hurrying me to get ready and so will close for this time. Mother sends her love to you and hopes you will soon be coming.

Goodbye for this time, write soon dear and take good care of yourself. With all my love for you and you only, I remain,

Lovingly yours,

Edythe.

For links to all the letters in this collection, go to https://ordinaryancestors.blogspot.com/p/edythe-and-rayson-love-letters.html where they are organized by date written.

October 25, 1922 - Addressed to Chicago, but forwarded to LA

Addressed to:

Mr. G. Rayson Brown.

1468 East 67th St.,

5009 Whittier Bldg.

Chicago, Illinois.

Los Angeles

Calif

From 5009 Whittier Blv'd.

Los Angeles, Calif.

c/o Loftus Land Co.

Los Angeles, Cal.,

October, 25 - 1922

My Dearest Rayson:

I received another long letter from you today dear, it seems like I get one every day. They cannot come any too quickly for me though as I am always more than anxious to hear from you. They make me so happy for it seems when I am reading that you are very close to me, you write just as you speak.

Father & Billy have gone down to the new house to finish wiring. Mother, Vera, Mrs Slowinski and I  went down to inspect the place this morning and to put up the street number. It is going to be a nice little place and will do them very nicely for a while.

Vera is doing a little knitting and Mother is teasing the cat. Vera says to tell you the cats name is Chris. He is surely a pretty animal and very well behaved but for all I have changed my mind about wanting one.

Today we cleaned the whole house and scrubbed all the floors. It is so dusty out here in Belvidere Heights, we could clean every day.

We haven't had a drop of rain so far although it time for them to start. For the last three days the sun has risen bright and early without a sign of fog. It seems like we are back east again. Won't you be glad dear to try something a little different from ice and snow for a change? I am rather anxious to see what a winter here is like.

Mother and Vera went down town shopping Monday but I stayed home and did a little mending. Also we didn't any of us go to Aunt Mae's so far this week. The tire carrier broke off of the car taking the rear light with and we are afraid we would be after dark coming home and get picked up.

Dearest, this is a hello and good bye letter for I haven't a bit of news. Write soon again and tell me all about yourself. With all my love, dear heart for you and a kiss on every word, I remain as ever, Yours lovingly

Edythe.

For links to all the letters in this collection, go to https://ordinaryancestors.blogspot.com/p/edythe-and-rayson-love-letters.html where they are organized by date written.

October 22, 1922 - Aunt Mae has a heliotrope started for Mother.

Addressed to:

Mr. G. Rayson Brown.

1468 East 67th St.,

Chicago,

Illinois.

From E. G. Sisson.

5009 Whittier Blvd.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Los Angeles, Cal.,

October, 22 - 1922.

My Dearest Rayson:

I received another of your wonderful letters Saturday evening and was so glad for I was not expecting one before the first of the week.

This was surely a beautiful day. I wish that you might have been here. There was no fog this morning and the sun came up bright and clear. We could see the mountains quite plainly and that is "very unusual" for that time of the day. Some days we do not see them at all. Later in the day it was quite warm and the air seemed smoky. Some say that is caused from dust or sand storms in the desert. Tonight it is warm enough out of doors to sit without a coat.

There is a pretty new moon tonight hanging over in the south west. I hope dear that you will like this country. It is beautiful by moonlight, when the moon is at its fullest, it seems as though you could reach up and touch it and twice as bright as it is back there.

Billy and Father worked on the house all day. Father put in the windows and Billy wired for lights. Vera calls it her "chicken coop".

After dinner I shampooed my hair but it wasn't very satisfactory as the water is so hard. I will have to look for some castile soap.

Tomorrow the folks are thinking of going to the city shopping and Tuesday Mother, Vera and I are going to drive to Long Beach to see Aunt Mae and spend the afternoon with her. She has a Heliotrope started for Mother. That is my favorite flower. It grows as high as the eaves of the houses here and back home if it grew to be a foot and a half high we thought it wonderful.

Well dearest heart I suppose you are in Ottawa today to see the folks. Write and tell me whether you saw Aunt Vic and give my best regards to Blanche when you write to her. I should liked to have seen her before I left but you know how busy we were.

Have you received the box of pepper berries dear? Vera picked a big box full and sent them to Mrs Armstrong. They make a nice bouquet for winter there.

Last night we three went over to Whittier Blvd, to do our Sunday buying and on our way home we stopped into the dancing pavillion. Vera likes to dance but I am sorry to say that I cannot dance anything but a waltz any more. We didn't stay long but when we started home a heavy fog had lowered and you couldn't see ten feet from you. We became lost, quite naturally, but finally managed to get home all right side up with care. Mother was glad to be home again and Father and Billy were surely relieved when we arrived. It was something terrible, just like London fog.

Mother bought a lovely white ivory bed downtown for twenty dollars, complete. Wasn't that a splendid buy? Down at a store on the boulevard they are selling whole bedroom outfits for seventy five dollars. This includes bed, dresser, chiffonier and chair. I think she intends buying one.

How does it happen that Anna Devore is going with Isabel? I thought Isabel and Bessie Maxwell were inseparable. Nothing that she says can ever worry me dear, I shall just pretend that I don't hear it. That is the best way.

I had a long letter from Irene Cole, Saturday, also. She and Paul and Catherine and Ed Jacobs have been to Detroit, Mich for a couple weeks. When they returned every one thought that Irene and Paul were married. She said Paul did want to get married but she knew her folks would not like it if she were married away from home and so she wouldn't. She had a lovely time and is wild about Detroit.

Well dear this old month is drawing to a close quite swiftly and none to quickly to suit me, for dearest mine, with every little week that slips by brings us nearer together. Mother says it will not be long now, please write and tell me when.

I must close dear heart as it is getting very late and I shall have to be up early tomorrow. Write soon dear and take good care of yourself. With all move and kisses for you, my dearest lover, I remain as ever and forever,

Lovingly your,

Edythe.

For links to all the letters in this collection, go to https://ordinaryancestors.blogspot.com/p/edythe-and-rayson-love-letters.html where they are organized by date written.

October 20, 1922 - "It is called Clorox and has a powerful smell."

Addressed to:

Mr. G. Rayson Brown.

1468 East 67th St.,

Chicago,

Illinois.

From E. G. Sisson.

5009 Whittier Blvd.,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Los Angeles, Cal.,

October 20 - 1922.

My Dearest Rayson:

There isn't much to do around here this morning as so I will write a few lines to you. I am expecting a letter from you today but cannot be sure.

It is foggy here this morning as usual, and there is a little mist in the air. About ten oclock the sun will clear away the fog and we will have a nice day. The rains are due to start now any time. That is what I am dreading but some say it is not so bad as others try to make one think.

Yesterday I gave the dining room chairs another coat of stain and they look quite nice considering who did the painting.

Last night Father drew the plans for the two front rooms and dear, it is going to be awfully nice when finished. I am so anxious to get it finished and then Mother will like it better here.

Mother, Vera, Billy and I drove to Long Beach last night to see the Aunt and Uncle. Aunt Mae asked what I heard from you and when you are coming. They have rented their house and have taken a couple furnished rooms nearer Uncle's work. Uncle Herb and Billy walked down to the "pike" and bought a box of salt water taffy, made in all flavors. It was awfully good.

Vera is doing a little ironing and Mother is washing some flour sacks, with some kind of acid she bought at the store. It is called Clorox and has a powerful smell.

 The Seattle star. (Seattle, Wash.), 09 June 1922. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093407/1922-06-09/ed-1/seq-15/>

This afternoon we are all going down town shopping. Vera has to buy all new dishes to start housekeeping. 

Father has been working on Vera's house but today a Mr Williams from Washington, came to get him to help on his house. He is building a big house just across the street from here.

Well dearest heart I haven't any more news and so will close this and write again soon. Write dear and let me know when you are coming Mother sends her love, she is looking for a letter also. With all my love and kisses to my own dear lover, I remain as always and forever,

Yours lovingly,

Edythe.

For links to all the letters in this collection, go to https://ordinaryancestors.blogspot.com/p/edythe-and-rayson-love-letters.html where they are organized by date written.