Collection Guide
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Watts Rebellion Collection
SPC.2019.010
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Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Watts Rebellion Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2019.010
Physical Description:
7 boxes
Physical Description:
19.33 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1863, 1942-2015; undated
Abstract: This collection contains material related to the Watts Rebellion, the Watts neighborhood, Los Angeles during 1965, the 1992
Los Angeles riots, and also includes material regarding race, rioting, civil rights, activism, and poverty. A majority of
this collection consists of newspaper and magazine articles; and also includes photographs, reports, and other material.
Language of Material: Collection material is in 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.
The Gerth Archives and Special Collections is not the copyright holder for photographs credited to
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner,
Los Angeles Times,
Press Telegram, and UPI Telephoto. If a patron wishes to make copies of materials in this collection, it is the responsibility of the researcher
to attempt to locate the holder of the copyright to obtain permission for publication. Full responsibility for legal questions
relating to the use and publication of manuscripts rests with the researcher.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
The Watts Rebellion Collection (1863, 1942-2015; undated) contains 19.33 linear feet of material mostly related to the Watts
Rebellion that took place in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1965. Series One contains material related to the Watts
Rebellion (Sub-Series A) and material related to the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles (Sub-Series B) and includes newspapers;
magazine articles; photographs; material collected from the CSUDH exhibit on the Watts Rebellion; images and a DVD regarding
Wattstax; photographs and magazines regarding the Watts Summer Festival; and material related to the Watts Labor Community
Action Committee (WLCAC). Series Two contains magazines, reports, programs, photographs, and newspaper clippings related to
events and occurrences that took place in Los Angeles in 1965 (Sub-Series A); and photographs and newspaper articles covering
the riots and aftermath that took place in 1992 (Sub-Series B). Series Three contains magazine and newspaper articles regarding
race, rioting, segregation, poverty, and other related issues.
History of the Watts Rebellion
The Watts Rebellion, also known as the Watts riots, took place from August 11-17, 1965 in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles,
California. At the time, it was the worst riot in the city's history until the Los Angeles riots of 1992. The riots started
after an incident that took place on August 11, 1965 when Marquette Frye was pulled over and arrested for alleged reckless
driving by a California Highway Patrol Officer. After Frye's arrest, tensions rose and the situation escalated between officers
and the crowd that had gathered. Six days of civil unrest followed resulting in 34 deaths; 1,032 injuries; 3,438 arrests;
and cost more than $40 million dollars in property damage.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Watts (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Watts Riot, Los Angeles, Calif., 1965
Rodney King Riots, Los Angeles, Calif., 1992
Race relations
Segregation
Riots
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Riots -- California -- Los Angeles