Archives and Records
LA as Subject
LA as Subject is a research alliance dedicated to preserving and improving access to the archival material of Los Angeles history. Search the online directory that contains over 200 separate collections from member institutions, and find out what materials are available, where they are located, and how best to access them. Visit the annual LA as Subject Archives Bazaar, a local event that brings together members who showcase their unique collections to the general public.
Online Archive of California
The Online Archive of California (OAC) provides free public access to detailed descriptions of primary resource collections maintained by more than 200 contributing institutions including libraries, special collections, archives, historical societies, and museums throughout California and collections maintained by the 10 University of California (UC) campuses.
Cal State Northridge Urban Archives Center
library.csun.edu/sca/urbanarchives
The Urban Archives Collections at Cal State Northridge was established in 1979 through the efforts of university faculty, community organizations, and civic leaders. Its goal was to collect records of historical significance from voluntary associations, civic leaders, local politicians and prominent residents who have contributed to the growth of Los Angeles County. The collection may be searched through the website and a portion of the materials are available at their library’s Digital Collections
The Huntington Library and Museum
View the collections, explore the exhibits, and walk the botanical gardens of The Huntington. Founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington, The Huntington Library collection includes more than seven million manuscripts; 420,000 rare books; and 1.3 million photographs, prints, and ephemera. The art collections are housed in four galleries on the Huntington grounds, and are a lovely respite for the weary walker of the Huntington’s 120 acres of botanical gardens. The gardens contain more than a dozen areas that include the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Chinese Garden. The Children’s Garden provides an appropriately scaled landscape for young visitors to enjoy.
The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles (StudyLA)
The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles (StudyLA) is the premier public research organization studying the dynamic region of Los Angeles. It is recognized as one of the leading undergraduate research centers in the nation, and is an acknowledged LA authority in public opinion surveys, exit polls, and leadership and community studies.
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder
LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS & RESOURCES
www.lapl.org/collections-resources
There is no better place to start your search than LAPL. In particular, check out the census tract maps for Los Angeles County, genealogy resources, L.A. maps (including maps of L.A. history and growth), obituaries, and ways to find the history of your house.
National Archives at Riverside
The National Archives at Riverside holds more than 60,000 cubic feet of archival holdings dating from about l850 to the l990s. In addition to one-of-a-kind textual records, we hold architectural drawings, maps, and photographs. These records were created or received by Federal courts and nearly 80 Federal agencies in Arizona, southern California, and Clark County, Nevada.
City Archives and Records Center - Office of the City Clerk - City of Los Angeles
clerk.lacity.org/city-archives-and-records-center
The City Archives and Records Center are the two components of the City Clerk's Records Management Division. The Records Management Division administers the City Clerk’s Charter assigned duty as the custodian of City records.
Seaver Center for Western History Research
nhm.org/site/research-collections/seaver-center
The purpose of the Seaver Center for Western History Research is to collect, preserve, and make available to the general public research materials documenting the history of the trans-Mississippi West, with special emphasis on Southern California and Los Angeles. Historic records include manuscript materials, books, serials, pamphlets, broadsides, maps, posters, prints, and photographs.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library
The Margaret Herrick Library’s vast collections have detailed and preserved the art form and industry of motion pictures since 1928, and our holdings include books, photographs, scripts, posters, production records, costume design drawings, and more. The library is open to the public by appointment and used year-round by students, scholars, historians, and industry professionals.
Southern California Library
The Southern California Library documents and makes accessible histories of struggles that challenge racism and other systems of oppression so we can all imagine and sustain possibilities for freedom. SCL is a community library and archive located in South Los Angeles. Founded over 50 years ago, the Library holds extensive collections of histories of community resistance in Los Angeles and beyond. Everyone is welcome to use the Library's resources to research and put to practice the histories of everyday people working to create change.
USC Digital Library
The USC Digital Library (USCDL) helps fulfill the mission of the USC Libraries to actively support the discovery, creation, and preservation of knowledge and develop collections and services that support and encourage the academic endeavors of faculty, students, and staff.
Spanning a wide range of visual media, the USC Digital Library offers digital images of drawings, illuminated manuscripts, maps, photographs, posters, prints, rare illustrated books, as well as audio and video recordings. Encompassing the subject strengths of the vast collections of the libraries at the University of Southern California, these materials represent the applied sciences, fine and decorative arts, history, performing arts, and social sciences. A portion of the images contained in the USC Digital Library come from the collections of collaborating institutions which, like USC, have valuable archival collections that are of interest to a wide range of people.