Denison Library’s Special Collections are extensive and varied, ranging from classical literature to Californiana. They include the Scripps College Archives, which provide a significant record for the study of the college since its inception in 1926 and for the history of women’s education in general.

The Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB) was formed in 1962 with the mission to collect, preserve, and present the city’s history. Throughout the years the HSLB has occupied many locations around the city, settling at its current location in Bixby Knolls in 2007. Operations are sustained at the HSLB by grant funding, membership dues, and community fundraising through programs and events.

The Library has a large collection of manuscripts, printed books and periodicals, photographs, maps and ephemera relating to Los Angeles.