1848-1899

The California Institute of Technology Archives and Special Collections, founded in 1968, has a mission of facilitating understanding of Caltech’s role in the history of science and technology. Our collections include the papers of Caltech researchers; photographs, film, audio, video, websites, and publications documenting Caltech’s history; scientific instruments characteristic of research at Caltech; and rare books anchored by the Rocco Collection of early modern physics and astronomy. We have been collecting oral histories of Caltech faculty and other affiliates since 1979, and have published approximately 200 transcripts on the web. Caltech has also made publicly available on the web the papers of astrophysicist George Ellery Hale, founder of Mount Wilson Observatory; aeronautical engineer and pioneer of human-powered flight Paul MacCready; and Nobel Prize-winning particle physicist and molecular biologist Donald Glaser.

The County Archives documents the history of the San Bernardino County from its founding in 1853 to the present. The collection includes County records, photographs, ephemera, publications, newspapers and books on California history in general and Southern California and the Inland Empire in particular.

The Marina del Rey Historical Society (MdRHS) was founded to collect and preserve historical documents, artifacts, publications, photographs, data and information relating to the development of Marina del Rey as exhibits and in retrievable electronic databases in order to keep the past alive for community pride and to create a unique resource of cultural and educational materials of historic value.

Currently our collection includes Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, the Howard Hughes Airfield (Playa Vista), Venice, Ocean Park, Santa Monica, LAX (Mines Field) and San Pedro.

The Margaret Herrick Library collects a wide range of materials documenting film as both an art form and an industry. Its holdings include photographs, posters, books, periodicals, screenplays, oral histories, and extensive clippings files on people, films, and companies. The clippings files are organized under five headings: production, biography, general subject, festivals and awards, and Academy history. The general subject files contain clippings and photographs regarding aspects of Los Angeles such as homes, studios, motion picture theaters, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, Los Angeles as a location, educational and cultural institutions, theme parks, and landmarks; labor disputes and the formation of industry-related unions and guilds are also extensively documented in the general subject files. The Academy history files provide coverage of that very Los Angeles-based activity—the Academy Awards. The library's Special Collections contain materials relating to the careers of numerous directors, producers, actors, and other craftspeople and their filmmaking work in Los Angeles. Dating from the early 1900s to the present, the materials in Special Collections include scripts in various drafts, personal and business correspondence, production memoranda, sketches, clippings, music scores, recordings, scrapbooks, artifacts, and photographs.

Photo archive (many obtained from LA Public Library Collection, plus others from misc. sources)., Historical Document archive (many also obtained from LA Public Library collection, but many others as well). All items of particular interest to those interested in Northeast Los Angeles, especially Highland Park, Garvanza, and Eagle Rock. Other collection: I have aggregated the history of location scouting in southern california via manilla folders used for presentation of location scouting photography from the late '80s to the early 2000s. Sources include individual location scouts' collections, the california film commission library (retired in 2015) and my personal collection. The amount is over 500 linear feet and is organized via the California Film Commission system. AGRICULTURAL - 0100 Fish Farms & Hatcheries - 0101 Ranches & Farms- 0102 Vineyards & Orchards - 0103 CITIES, TOWNS & PUBLIC SPACES - 0200 Cities - 0201 Fountains & Statues- 0202 Neighborhoods - 0203 Small Towns - 0204 Town Squares & Plazas - 0205 Western, Mining & Ghost Towns - 0206 COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL - 0300 Art Galleries - 0301 Automobile Dealerships - 0302 Ballrooms & Banquet Facilities - 0303 Banks - 0304 Bars & Nightclubs - 0305 Beauty Salons & Barber Shops - 0306 Cemeteries - 0307 Convention Centers - 0308 Funeral Homes & Mortuaries - 0309 Gas Stations, Auto Repair & Car Wash - 0310 Hospitals & Medical Care Facilities -0311 Hotels, Motels, Resorts & Spas - 0312 Office Buildings - 0313 Parking Lots & Structures - 0314 Restaurants - 0315 Stores, Malls & Retail Districts - 0316 Stores, Malls & Retail Districts - 0316 ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE - 0400 Amusement & Theme Parks - 0401 Attractions - 0402 Billiard & Pool Halls - 0403 Boardwalks - 0404 Bowling Alleys - 0405 Carnivals - 0406 Casinos & Card Clubs - 0407 Fairgrounds & Exhibition Halls - 0408 Health Clubs & Workout Facilities - 0409 Theaters & Stages - 0410 Zoological Parks & Aquariums - 0411 GOVERNMENT - 0500 Civic & Community Centers - 0501 Courthouses & Courtrooms - 0502 Fire Stations - 0503 Government Buildings - 0504 Military Bases & Forts - 0505 Morgues - 0506 Police Facilities - 0507 Prisons & Jails - 0508 INDUSTRIAL - 0600 Boiler Rooms, Basements & Tunnels - 0601 Factories, Plants & Mills - 0602 Junkyards, Dumps & Recycling Centers - 0603 Manufacturing & Industrial District - 0604 Manufacturing & Industrial District - 0604 Oil Fields, Refineries & Derricks - 0605 Quarries, Gravel Pits & Mines - 0606 Factories Plants Mills - 0607 Warehouses - 0607 INSTITUTIONAL - 0700 Churches, Synagogues & Temples - 0701 Colleges, Universities & Trade Schools - 0702 Daycare Centers & Preschools - 0703 Elementary & Secondary Schools - 0704 Libraries - 0705 Missions - 0706 Museums - 0707 Observatories & Planetariums - 0708 Seminaries, Convents & Retreats - 0709 Shelters and Transient Lodging - 0710 Social and Fraternal Halls - 0711 MISCELLANEOUS - 0800 Boardrooms & Conference Rooms - 0801 Hangars - 0802 Kitchens & Bathrooms - 0803 Laboratories, Research & Tech - 0804 - Lofts & Studios - 0805 Murals & Graffiti - 0806 Vacant Lots & Abandoned Building - 0807 Vernacular Architecture - 0808 NATURAL TERRAIN - 0900 NATURAL TERRAIN - 0900 Caves & Caverns - 0901 Deserts & Barren Land - 0902 Dry Lake Beds - 0903 Forests & Woodlands - 0904 Mountains & Rocks - 0905 Open Terrain - 0906 Sand Dunes - 0907 Scenic Vistas & Geological Oddities - 0908 PARKS GARDENS AND CAMPS - 1000 Camps & Campgrounds - 1001 Gardens - 1002 Jungles - 1003 Parks - 1004 RESIDENTIAL - 1100 Apartments & Condominiums - 1101 Cabins - 1102 Castles - 1103 Houses - 1104 Mansions & Estates - 1105 Mobile Homes & Trailer Parks - 1106 SPORTS - 1200 Arenas & Stadiums - 1201 Cycling Sports Facilities - 1202 Equestrian Facilities - 1203 Golf Facilities - 1204 Gymnasiums - 1205 Gymnasiums - 1205 Motor Raceways - 1206 Racquet Sports Facilities - 1207 Ranges - 1208 Skating Rinks & Parks - 1209 Snowsport Facilities - 1210 Swimming Pools - 1211 STUDIOS - 1300 Professional Photo Studios & Labs - 1301 Recording, Broadcast & Cable Facilities - 1302 Studio Backlots & Standing Sets - 1303 TRANSPORTATION - 1400 Aircraft - 1401 Airports & Airfields - 1402 Alleys - 1403 Boats & Ships - 1404 Bridges - 1405 Cable Cars, Buses & Trolleys - 1406 Railroads & Rail Transportation - 1407 Roads, Highways, Freeways & Matches - 1408 Tunnels - 1409 Walkways and Bike Paths - 1410 WATER - 1500 Beaches & Coastline - 1501 Commercial Ports, Piers & Docks - 1502 Harbors & Marinas - 1503 Lakes, Dams & Reservoirs - 1504 Lakes, Dams & Reservoirs - 1504 Lighthouses - 1505 Rivers, Deltas & Waterfalls - 1506 Springs & Geysers - 1507 Swamps & Marshes - 1508 Water Storage Facilities - 1509

The Digital Library of the University of Southern California (formerly known as the Digital Archive, formerly known as ISLA) is an ongoing project that is building a virtual library of digitized multidisciplinary materials much of which has a focus on the Los Angeles region. Its search and retrieval software will allows these materials to be accessed using the parameters of space, time, keyword, format, or collection. The Digital Library includes: Images selected from maps and historical newspapers in the Huntington Library’s collection, including color maps created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1939, the Spanish-language newspaper El Clamor Publico (1855-1859), and the Los Angeles Star (1852-1863); photographs and maps from the Automobile Club of Southern California (1892-1963); photographs of artifacts from the archaeological collection (1880-1933) of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California; and from the University of Southern California’s collections, including the California Historical Society Collection (photographs of Los Angeles, 1860-1960), the Hearst Collection (news photographs from the Los Angeles Examiner, 1920-1961), the Whittington Collection (commercial and architectural photographs, 1924-1987), the East Asian Library (Korean-American documents, photographs, and oral histories), the Gamble House in Pasadena (architectural drawings, photographs and other documents relative to the Greene & Greene architects) (1888-1944); Texts such as manuscript documents pertaining to the activities of the Los Angeles Ayuntamiento and City Council (Los Angeles City Archives, Untitled Records Series, 1820s-1890s), newspaper clippings from the Los Angeles Examiner (1920-1961), and master’s theses and doctoral dissertations about Los Angeles written by students at the University of Southern California (1920s-1990s); Data from the historical federal censuses though 1990 and the WPA’s household survey of 1940. Because the Digital Library has arranged to digitize materials that are the intellectual property of various individuals and institutions, the downloading of some items may be subject to restrictions.

The Local History Center of the Palos Verdes Library District focuses on the social and cultural history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula from the early 1900s to the present. This fairly extensive collection includes rare books, photographs, maps, blueprints, loose-leaf materials, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, telephone books, and oral history interviews—all relating to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  

The Whittier History Room is located on the mezzanine of the Central Library and is home to the Whittier Local History Collection. The purpose of this collection is to collect, preserve and make available to the public materials reflecting the development of the City of Whittier and surrounding areas. The main areas of collection are Whittier history, Whittier Hills and California history. The Whittier history collection includes Whittier College yearbooks, local high school yearbooks, Whittier City Directories, local telephone books, Haines Directories, and titles by local authors. The entire book collection is cataloged and searchable through the online catalog. There are various files and archives supporting both the Whittier Hills and the Whittier History collections. These consist of clipping files, periodicals, pamphlets and ephemera. Finding aids are available in Archives that list all items with a brief description. Selected materials have been digitized and are available in the Visual Collection. The Map Collection contains over 250 maps. A listing of the entire collection can be found on this website. A selection of these maps has been digitized and is available online. The Whittier Historical Photograph Collection is a collection of photographs of Whittier, the surrounding areas and its people. It is made up of several smaller collections such as the Espolt, Whittier National Trust & Savings Bank, and (most recently acquired) the White-Bailey, as well as individual gifts. This collection continues to grow and we encourage any donations that would broaden and enhance its scope and depth. The Shades of Whittier Collection was created in 1999 with funding from the federal Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA). It is a collection of photographs reflecting the ethnic and cultural diversity of the community. The 301 photographs in the collection were donated by numerous individuals and depict not only the local area, but also the many geographic areas that the people of Whittier came from. The Oral History Collection includes oral histories, video interviews and written transcripts. The older oral histories were done during the 1960s and ‘70s and include many old Whittier family names such as Perry, Tebbetts, Myers, Milhouse and Hodge. In the late 1990s, as part of the Whittier Hills collection, a series of interviews was conducted with individuals active in the preservation of the Whittier Hills. The more recent interviews are done in video format. The Local Newspaper archives are digitized from 1888-1955 and are keyword searchable. 1888-1923 are available on the web. 1924-1955 is restricted to library use only. 1956 to current is available on microfilm, for library use only. Lastly, a list of Local History Resources has been provided. This list includes links to local history organizations and relevant city departments that strive to conserve not only historic structures and neighborhoods but also natural resources of the City and surrounding hills. The Community Development website includes a listing of the City's historic landmarks and districts.

Whittier College's Special Collections and Archives include six main collections. Our Quaker collection is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. This collection includes photographs, realia, rare books, primary, and secondary sources relating to Quaker's of the past and today. The subject of our second collection is John Greenleaf Whittier, respected 19th century poet.This collection includes nearly all books and poetical works written by Whittier (published and unpublished), photographs, broadsides, pamphlets, ephemera, and correspondence. Also included are documents and historical newspapers edited by Whittier, relating to the Abolition Movement, including: the National Era (1847-58), National Anti-Slavery Standard (1854-69), and American Manufacturer (1828-30).Three additional collections come from alumni Richard Nixon, Jessamyn West, and Lola B. Hoffman. The Nixon collection focuses on his pre-presidential life at Whittier College, and earlier. The collection includes photographs, college-related documents, oral histories, campaign ephemera, and various gifts given to Nixon during his years as a major public figure. The Jessamyn West collection includes works by the author, her personal papers, photographs, and and personal library.The Lola Hoffman Collection includes works on Mexican history, homeopathic medicine, the occult, classic literature, and Western history. Some of these works date back as far as the 15th century. The Special Collections also houses the College Archives. These document the college from its founding in 1887 to the current day. Included in this collection are yearbooks, administrative papers, photographs, ephemera, theses, professor publications, and college newspapers.

The Museum of Social Justice is located in La Plaza United Methodist Church, on the site of the oldest section of Los Angeles. The Museum’s historical collection consists of documents, photographs, artifacts, and other materials created by La Plaza Methodist Church at the beginning of the twentieth century. The collection features over 2000 photographs that capture the work of the founders of the church, its community center, medical clinic, and the predominantly poor Mexican immigrant population the church was founded to serve. The documents provide a look into the poor living conditions that existed near the Plaza and how La Plaza Methodist Church's social justice practices improved the lives of many of the immigrants living on and near the Plaza. Among other items, the photos feature the first integrated drinking fountain in Los Angeles and the founding of Goddwill Industries of Southern California.