Author: Caroline Olsen-Van Stone
Curious Angelinos rooted through archives Saturday, September 29 at the Huntington Library Archives Fever, an event designed to showcase some 48 archives of the Los Angeles area. This was the second-annual L.A. archive exhibition, organized by L.A. as Subject, a group formed by the Getty in 1997 and supported by USC to keep L.A.’s history and the public’s interest in it intact. The event included lectures, hands-on experience with archives and the opportunity to talk to archivists and collectors.
Director Susan Anderson and Associate Director Gilbert Estrada hoped the event would bring together a diverse group of people interested in L.A.’s rich history. They were pleased that people attended were interested in everything from personal family history to regional L.A. history and “everything in between,” Anderson said.
The crowd proved an interesting milieu of archivists, fiction writers, artists, private collectors, students, librarians, curious visitors and children. Everyone had a story to tell. “I started collecting ephemera when I was 18,” private collector Wally Shider said. He has a room in his house dedicated to his fascinating collection of 1930s train timetables, playbills and tourist information from the L.A. area.
Many exhibitors brought examples of their finest archives, and some you could even touch. Occidental, along with a few other universities, brought gems from their special collections department. Both kids and kids-at-heart flocked to Occidental’s booth to look through the stereoscope at three-dimensional images from the 1920s. One image showed a striking realism of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.
Another interesting exhibitor was artist-historian J. Michael Walker, who has painted and researched the stories of the 103 streets named after saints in Los Angeles. Each painting features the street name and an illustration of the saint, integrating modern and medieval themes. St. Moritz has dread locks flanked by a medieval halo with gothic script as he stands in the center of his street.
The Southern California Library displayed a few items from their collection, which is focused on social justice. The building that houses the library is an artifact, as it was damaged in the civil unrest that took place in South Central L.A. in 1965. The staff members are mostly graduate students who have a very deep interest in social justice.
The City Archives’ Historical Records raised a surprising amount of attention, from writers to social activists who wish to change land-use policies in Los Angeles. Many scholars have used the collection to conduct demographic research about L.A. in the past and present. They have just published The Development of Los Angeles City Government, an Institutional History this September.
Another great resource was USC’s new digital archive, which they were showing to the public as a highly navigable research tool. The USC facility has top-of-the-line imaging equipment that makes much of their immense collection available to the public online: digarc@usc.edu. Along with the usual assortment of manuscripts, paintings, and maps, USC also has a collection of high-quality images of the Gamble House. Located in Pasadena, this house is a classic example of the craftsman style, a design movement of the early 20th century that integrates natural materials and eastern design aesthetics. USC’s images are of such high quality that one can zoom in and see the cracks in the bricks of the fireplace.
The L.A. Archives Bazaar provided a good introduction to the rich history and culture of Los Angeles. For more information about L.A. as Subject and various L.A. archives, visit their website: http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/arc/lasubject.
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