Skip to main content

Image / Robert Gaylord seated in a decorated automobile in the Tournament of Roses …

Have a question about this item?

Item information. View source record on contributor's website.

Title
Robert Gaylord seated in a decorated automobile in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena, 1901
Alternative Title
Rose Parade
Date Created and/or Issued
January 01, 1901
1910-01-01
Contributing Institution
UCLA, Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library
Collection
Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
Rights Information
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Description
Image depicting an early model automobile covered with foliage. Robert Gaylord (possibly African American) is in the driver's seat of a Milwaukee horseless carriage, dressed in a suit and cap. The car is in a driveway with a house in the background. This was the first year that there were automobiles in the Tournament of Roses parade.
Robert Gaylord was the first Pasadenan to own an automobile. The Rose Parade, also known as the Tournament of Roses Parade, is part of "America's New Year Celebration" held New Year's Day. It was used to showcase California’s mild winter weather, and encourage migration from the East and the Midwest. Early precursors to the parade had horse-drawn carriages covered in flowers, followed by foot races, polo matches, and a game of tug-of-war on the town lot. Upon seeing the scores of flowers on display, one professor decided to suggest the name "Tournament of Roses." The first official parade was in 1895.
Written on back of photo: First automobile in Pasadena and first automobile entry in the Rose Parade. Robert Gaylord Milwaukee Horseless Carriage.
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b17_f07_002a.tif
ark:/21198/z19g74xx
Subject
Automobiles
Parades & processions
Gaylord, Robert
Tournament of Roses
Source
Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

About the collections in Calisphere

Learn more about the collections in Calisphere. View our statement on digital primary resources.

Copyright, permissions, and use

If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.

Share your story

Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.

Explore related content on Calisphere: