Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Random Lengths News Collection SPC.2021.032
SPC.2021.032
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Random Lengths News Collection
Creator:
Random Lengths News
Creator:
Allen, James Preston
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2021.032
Physical Description:
71 boxes
(45 record storage, 6 document cases, 20 oversized)
Physical Description:
32 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1848, 1853, 1967, 1971, 1985-2024; undated
Date (bulk): 1990-2004
Abstract: This collection contains clippings, notes, correspondence, photographs, half-tones, press releases, flyers, invoices, meeting
minutes, reports, published newspaper issues, and other material generated by Random Lengths News.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
Random Lengths News is the only independently owned progressive news magazine that has been covering news in Carson, Lomita,
Long Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Torrance, and Wilmington since 1979. "Random Lengths News is an alternative community
newspaper serving the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor Area. We are committed to promoting an open dialogue on the important
questions concerning our community. We invite and depend on community participation. Random Lengths News addresses the community
need for a newspaper that will fight for worker, consumer and citizen rights; that will alert to dangers in the community;
that will report honestly on the problems in schools and workplaces; that will analyze the failures of government; and that
will reveal the full extent of corporate control over lives. The newspaper also speaks of past achievements and the progressive
developments in the community. It is the newspaper's intention to promote direct community action and encourage non-exploitive
artistic and cultural activity. The paper is committed to working against sex and age discrimination across all ethnic and
racial boundaries. Random Lengths News urges readers to discover their own political power by making changes in their own
neighborhoods that are drawn together into a cohesive social movement."
"About Us, Our Mission". Retrieved from: https://www.randomlengthsnews.com/about
Material was removed from original folders and placed into archival folders with reference to original folder titles. Although
material has been arranged alphabetically or chronologically and into series; original order was maintained in regards to
material within each folder and folder titles, meaning that documents have been placed in the same order within each folder,
and folder titles were authored by the collection's creator. Any record labeled as "untitled" indicates that the folder did
not have a title that was creator derived, and any title and descriptive information for those records has been created by
an archivist.
The Random Lengths News Collection (1848, 1853, 1967, 1971, 1985-2022, undated; bulk 1990-2004) contains 70 boxes and 31 linear
feet of material generated by Random Lengths News. A majority of this collection contains material related to newspaper issues
such as drafts, letters to the editor, notes, photographs, press releases, clippings, reports, advertisements, invoices, and
presumably research that was used in the process of creating and organizing issues of Random Lengths; as well as published
issues of Random Lengths. Series I: Chronological Files contains material related to prospective issues such as drafts of
articles; letters to the editor; notes; clippings; photographs; half-tones; cartoons; press releases; clippings; and other
material that was used during the process of creating and organizing future issues of Random Lengths; as well as copies of
published issues; runsheets for classified advertisements; news briefs; and invoices. Series II: Subject Files contains articles;
newspaper clippings; press releases; notes; correspondence; memorandums; and other material featuring topics such as politics,
elections, redevelopment projects, the environment, construction projects, communities, education, crime, activism,labor unions;
with a focus on the South Bay area of Southern California and Los Angeles. Series III: Administrative Files contains documents
related to procedures and policies such as: photo waivers; photo assignment and request forms; story assignment sheets; writer
and employee guidelines; and an employee handbook; as well as other documents such as distribution lists, invoices, tax forms,
correspondence, notes, and other related material. Series IV: Published Material contains published issues of Random Lengths
News, as well as a few issues of Harbor Living.
This collection is arranged into four series
- Series I: Chronological Files, 1998-2008; undated
- Series II: Subject Files, 1848, 1853, 1967, 1971, 1985-2016; undated
- Series III: Administrative Files, 1991-2016; undated
- Series IV: Published Material, 1980-2022
This collection was processed in Fall 2021 by Caitlin McClister and Jesus Padilla; and the finding aid was created in January
2022 by Karen Clemons.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by James Preston Allen, founder of Random Lengths News; 2021.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Community newspapers
Photographs
Los Angeles Harbor (Calif.)
San Pedro (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Wilmington (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Long Beach (Calif.)
Port of Los Angeles
Labor unions
Politics
Education
Crime
Community development
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles (Calif.). Police Department