Mount Saint Mary's University was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1925 as the first Catholic women's college west of the Mississippi. It comprises two historic sites, the Chalon Campus high above Brentwood (1930), and the Doheny Campus, which occupies the former estate of Edward and Estelle Doheny, including the Doheny Mansion at 8 Chester Place (1899).

The Special Collections holdings reflect the diverse communities of the Claremont Colleges and the local area and region. Among the collections especially pertinent to Los Angeles and Southern California are the following:

The collection consists of records and artifacts pertaining to the history of The Jonathan Club, a social club founded in Los Angeles in 1896 and currently serving 4,000 members. Included are thousands of photographs of members and member events, a full run of the Jonathan Magazine (1931-present), some early rosters and registers of Club activities, and realia from various club headquarters and…