Early California Oil

In light of the importance of oil and gas in California, perhaps the discovery of gold there should be viewed as just a flash in the pan. By 1938, the cumulative value of all the gold found in the state stood at something more than two billion dollars, while the cumulative value of the oil and gas produced was more than double that sum--well over five billion dollars. The story of California oil deserves to be told, and pictures tell it best.

The whole story of California1s oilfield and geothermal history is gathered into one volume. Begins in the 1860s, with pioneers mining and refining the asphaltum from tarry seeps. By 1876, the state had its first truly commercial oil well. Soon, many oil fields were being discovered and produced. Companies sought to capture as much oil as possible, as fast as they could. Events grew so chaotic that the petroleum industry itself sought regulation. Thus, on Aug. 9, 1915, the Calif. Dept. of Petroleum and Gas (now, the Div. of Oil and Gas) was formed. This book tells how the petroleum and geothermal industries and the Div. of Oil and Gas have developed together. Dozens of photos.

Social Media and Oil in Southern California: Greenwashing Los Angeles interrogates the politics of invisibility that permeates Southern California’s oil industry. Most residents are completely unaware that hospitals, schools, businesses, and homes are built among the thousands of active wells in Los Angeles County. Since the early 1900’s, the oil industry used social media to greenwash itself and obscure the material consequences of drilling and refining. From postcards to YouTube, social media has been a key tool in the arsenal of the fossil fuel industry. Jason L. Jarvis argues that oil–not Hollywood–is the key industry that drives the California dream. Scholars of communication, environmental studies, and rhetoric will find this book of particular interest.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.