War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921

1914-1921


Descriptive Summary

Title: War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921
Dates: 1914-1921
Collection Number: GC 1130
Creator/Collector:
Extent: (Boxes: 25 letter, legal)
Repository: Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Abstract: Los Angeles County region. World War I information. Lists of enlistees and inductees by local boards, and some lists include addresses and nearest relatives. Correspondence of the committee, and biographies and photos of veterans of the war, including those who died while in service. Records include regional subcommittees, in example the Compton Branch of the committee and Pasadena.
Language of Material: English

Access

Research is by appointment only

Publication Rights

Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder

Preferred Citation

War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Biography/Administrative History

The War History Committee of Los Angeles County was organized under the California War History Committee of the State Council of Defense in Sacramento, California. The goal of this volunteer project was to create a historical record of veterans who served in the war as well as to document domestic war efforts. Correspondence indicate that Mrs. Frances M. Harmon was the chairman of the county committee. Veterans' photograph portraits were compiled as early as 1918-19. In 1920 Harmon solicited heavily to county branch librarians to get questionnaires completed by veterans of the war. Other establishments were also asked, in example the records show that the downtown L.A. Broadway Department Store supported the war history effort.

Scope and Content of Collection

Los Angeles County region. World War I information. Lists of enlistees and inductees by local boards, and some lists include addresses and nearest relatives. Correspondence of the committee, and biographies and photos of veterans of the war, including those who died while in service. Records include regional subcommittees, in example the Compton Branch of the committee and Pasadena. The committee also compiled reports and histories of local civilian war organizations, in example, Women's Improvement Association of South Pasadena; American Protective League; California Loyal League; Daughters of the American Revolution; local induction boards; the Los Angeles chapter of the American Red Cross; Jewish Women's Red Cross Auxiliary and the LA Council of Jewish Women; Pasadena chapter of the Red Cross; Japanese war work; volunteer intelligence and secret service organizations in the county; and there is one historical narrative of the Southwestern Ship Building Company in San Pedro. See also GC 1070.

Indexing Terms

World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--United States.
World War, 1914-1918