Scope and Contents
Historical note
Preferred Citation
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Watts Riots records
creator:
California. Governor's Commission on the Los Angeles Riots
Identifier/Call Number: 0084
Identifier/Call Number: 220
Physical Description:
3.5 Linear Feet
6 boxes
Date: 1965
Abstract: Final report (1965) of the Governor's Commission on the Watts Riots.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the report published by the governor's commission following the Los Angeles Riots of 1965, also
known as the Watts Riots, and the supporting documentation. The report itself is titled, "Violence in the City—An End or a
Beginning?: A Report by the Governor's Commission on the Los Angeles Riots, 1965". While the additional documents are primarily
transcripts of testimony, the testimonies come from a wide range of people directly and indirectly involved in the riots,
including Governor Pat Brown, Lieutenant Governor Glen Anderson, several leaders of the Los Angeles Police Department and
National Guard, some business leaders, and many members of the affected communities. Some of the other documents include reports
about different aspects of the communities and the riots, including arrests, damages, and employment. The commission was headed
by John A. McCone, former CIA director. This is copy 7 of the report.
Historical note
The Watts Riots was a race riot that took place in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles from August 11 to 17, 1965, and that
resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, 3,438 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage. It was the worst riot in the
city's history until the Los Angeles riots of 1992, and is considered by many to be a key turning point in the Civil Rights
Movement.
The riots were sparked by the arrest of 21 year old Marquette Frye for reckless driving. The arrest took place blocks from
his home, and his mother, when seeing her son forcibly arrested, began fighting with the police. During the arrest, hundreds
of onlookers gathered to watch the fight, and rumors quickly spread through the neighborhood. By the evening of the following
day, the neighborhood was in the grips of full scale rioting.
[Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_Riots]
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Watts Riots records, Collection no. 0084, Regional History Collection, Special Collections, USC
Libraries, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Watts Riot, Los Angeles, Calif., 1965 -- Archival resources
Reports
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Riots -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Watts (Los Angeles, Calif.) -- Race relations -- Archival resources
California. Governor's Commission on the Los Angeles Riots -- Archives