War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921
1914-1921
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
Research is by appointment only
Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder
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.
World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--United States.
World War, 1914-1918