Important Organizations in the Study of LA History
The following organizations are additional important sources of information to anyone studying the history and development of Los Angeles. Be sure to telephone ahead of time in order to make sure that they have the resources you need, and to set up an appointment as needed.
- Los Angeles City Archives
555 Ramirez St., #320
Los Angeles, CA 90012
ph: 213-485-3510
fax: 213-485-6868 - The Archives, part of the Records Management Division of the City Clerk's office, is located in the Piper Technical Center. Its mission is to document the history of the government of Los Angeles through its official records, and therefore will not have the secondary sources (such as books, newspaper and magazine articles) that are usually found in libraries. It also contains some personal papers and a small collection of photographs.
- Los Angeles Public Library - History Department
630 W. Fifth St.
ph: 213-228-7400 - The History Department of LAPL is perhaps the major repository of information about Los Angeles. In addition to collecting most books published on the city, the Department maintains several indexes concerned with local history, has a large collection of Los Angeles newspapers, and has a very large photograph collection.
- Southern California Library for Social Studies & Research
6120 South Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90044
ph: 323-759-6063
fax: 323-759-2252 - Established in 1963, SCL is Southern California's library and archive on radicalism and social change. They document and preserve the history of labor, women, communities of color, peace, civil liberties, civil rights, and other progressive movements in the greater Los Angeles area.
- Urban Archives Center at California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff St.
818-677-4199 - The Urban Archives Center documents the history of Los Angeles County by collecting original research materials from voluntary associations and community leaders. Major subjects of holdings include Labor and Guild History, Politics, Minority and Ethnic Studies, womens Studies and the history of the San Fernando Valley.