The Research Library and Archives has been collecting material relating to the history of Pasadena since 1924. The archives contains approximately 1 million historic images (including photos, negatives, postcards, stereographs) of Pasadena and surrounding areas. There are 45 cubic feet of maps and plans of the area, as well as a set of Sanborm fire insurance maps for Pasadena. There is a large…

Gregor Piatigorsky, the great master cellist of the 20th century, left a legacy of great music through his concerts, recordings, and films, and through his students. He also left a personal collection of approximately 19,000 items including photographs, music manuscripts, correspondence, concert programs, clippings, test pressings, commercial recordings, books, and ephemera. After his death in…

The Polytechnic School Archives document a microcosm of a private school's activities for the past 100+ years relating, for instance, school life during WWI and WWII, the Cold War, etc., and the 1918 flu pandemic. The collection includes 60 file drawers, 30 shelves, and 50+ boxes of records. In many ways the collections relate to historical LA and Southern California.  

Actively collecting material about early tourism in LA, and the early tour companies -- Balloon Route, Tilton's Trolley, Orange Empire, etc.