Shades of L.A.: Oral Family History Interviews

Twenty years ago, the Los Angeles Public Library, in cooperation with Photo Friends, undertook a project to document the ethnic diversity of Los Angeles by copying family photographs. "Shades of L.A.: A Search for Visual Ethnic History" took six years to complete and contains more than 7,000 photographs.

During the project, oral family history interviews were conducted with twelve individuals representing eight ethnic backgrounds. Recordings and transcripts of these interviews are now available online at Shades of L.A. Information on how to search the photo collection is also available on the page.

By unknown Los Angeles Daily News staff photographer
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

© 2011 Denise Spurlock, Ancestral Trees Research

Don't Miss the 6th Annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar

Free and open to the public, the 6th Annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar is being held on Saturday, October 22, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Doheny Memorial Library on the USC campus.

A joint effort of USC Libraries and LAasSubject, the bazaar will include exhibits representing over 80 participating institutions, including the Autry National Center of the American West, the California African American Museum, and the Japanese American National Museum. In addition to the institutional exhibits, there are educational sessions, documentary film screenings, and panel discussions.

What a great opportunity to learn about some of the special collections available here in the Los Angeles area! Click here for more information.

Be sure to download and view "Preservation 101: Basic Tips for the Household Archivist," a presentation given by Michelle Light, head of special collections and archives at UC Irvine, given at the 4th Annual Bazaar. Her speaking notes are included in the PowerPoint presentation.


© 2011 Denise Spurlock, Ancestral Trees Research

WPA 1939 Los Angeles Household Census Records Online

In 1939, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted a household census in the city of Los Angeles. Almost 1/2 million record cards, most of which are household census cards, are held by the University of Southern California. Approximately 25% of the collection has been digitized and is online at the USC Digital Library.

The household census cards contain information regarding the dwelling including:

• Type of dwelling
• Amount of monthly rent or mortgage
• Information about the dwelling, including number of room, whether there were flush toilets and running water, how the dwelling was heated, etc.
• Length of time the occupant had resided there
• Number of household members and their ages
• Race of the household
• Whether there were roomers or other families in residence

But NOT the name of the occupants! Click here to see a sample household census card.

Another small, but genealogically interesting, part of the collection are the 248 employee records. These are hiring documents for individuals who worked for the WPA whether as enumerators, supervisors or clerical staff. The cards include information such as name, age, residence, education, experience, number of dependents, and even whether the applicant owned a car! Click here to see a sample employee record.

Because of the naming protocol used for the images, the best method for searching the household census card is by street address; for employees, use a surname search.

If you had ancestors who lived in Los Angeles in 1939, you will want to check whether they were employed by the WPA; if not, perhaps you can locate a card that will give information about their home.

Wishing you many successes in your genealogy research,

© 2011 Denise Spurlock, Ancestral Trees Research