It's as true about archivists and archives as it is about activists—their influence often exceeds their fame. Southern California activists have profoundly shaped regional—and national—history through their advocacy. Of course we see the legacy of activists partly in improved social conditions, greater equality, and the cleaner environment for which they strove, but many also left behind detailed records of their work, which today are preserved in the archives of Southern California. Through these primary source materials on yesterday's controversies—some still simmering, L.A.'s archives offer the region a historical perspective on the debates of today.
One rich source of information about Southern California activism is the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research, which documents communities' struggle for justice and the history of radical and progressive politics in Southern California. Among the library's collections are the papers of Charlotta Bass...