Research Guides: Long Beach and Local History: Other History Centers & Online Archives

Local History Centers & Organizations

@LA: Los Angeles History; Historical Societies; Organizations
Extensive list of historical societies, organizations, interest groups in Southern California, with links. "Does Morongo have an historical society?" This site will tell you.
This California government site locates city histories, and designated historical landmarks sites.
Historical Society of Long Beach
Collects, preserves, and exhibits the material history of Long Beach. Collections: City Manager Files, 1922-1952; City directories, 1899-1969; subdivision maps; architectural drawings; extensive archives of city history.
Historical Society of Southern California
Founded in 1883, is the oldest historical society in California. Sponsors lectures and publishes journals, newsletters on Southern California history.
LA As Subject
USC Directory of Archival Events and Research Resources in Southern California
Long Beach Heritage
promotes public knowledge and preservation of significant historical and architectural resources, neighborhoods, and the cultural heritage of Long Beach.
Long Beach Historic Landmarks, LB Planning Department
List and addresses of Long Beach landmarks, some with detailed histories.
List of Neighborhood Associations, Long Beach
Provides information on and links to historic and neighborhood associations.

Local Online Archives

Visual Collections, Los Angeles Public Library
Provides access to several databases
• California Index, finds articles in magazines and newspapers on local historical topics
• California Fiction Index, to finds stories and novels written about a city, neighborhood.
• Menu Collection, to view historic menus from L.A. restaurants back to the 1860s
• Photo Collection of Southern California
• L.A. City Directories from 1915 – 1986
• Turnabout Theatre, Hollywood, 1941- 1956
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From LAPL Website: "The LA Public Library visual collections include both local history collections and other historical collections."
Long Beach Public Library Digital Archive
Discover photos, Long Beach city directories and Long Beach high school yearbooks. The LBPL Digital Archive will eventually include more than 10,000 historic photographs!
Online Archive of California
Produced by UC Berkeley, "The Online Archive of California (OAC) provides free public access to detailed descriptions of primary resource collections maintained by more than 150 contributing institutions including libraries, special collections, archives, historical societies, and museums throughout California and collections maintained by the 10 University of California (UC) campuses"
UCLA Library Digital Collections
Includes the following collections among others:
• Changing Times: Los Angeles in Photographs, 1920-90
• Hoover Collection: Images of UCLA
• Strachwitz Frontera Collection of Mexican and Mexican-American Recordings
USC Digital Library
Provides digital or bibliographic access to the following USC collections, plus others:
• El Clamor Publico Newspaper, 1855-1859
• Historic Postcards
• L.A. Comprehensive Bibliographic Database (searchable file of local history books & articles)
• L.A. Examiner (Photo) Collection, 1920-1961
• L.A. Star Collection, 1851-1864
• USC Archives Image Collection
• WPA Land use survey maps for the City of Los Angeles
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Also provides digital or bibliographic access to these collections:
• Festival de Flor y Canto, 1973: Films and Photographs,
• Gospel Music History Archive,
• Greene & Greene Digital Archive,
• Hancock Collection,
• International Mission Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960,
• Japanese American Relocation Digital Archive,
• Korean American Digital Archive,
• Korean Digital Archive, ,
• Library Exhibits Collection,
• Pacific Rim Archive,
• Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection
• Russian Satirical Journals Collection,
• Sea of Korea Map Collection,
• University of Southern California Faculty Research and Publications,
• University of Southern California dissertations and theses,
• Viterbi Family Archive,