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Title: Downey Historical Society
Dates: 1846-Present
Collection Number: NA
Creator/Collector:
Extent: Three rooms, seven file cabinets, three storage closets
Repository:
Downey Historical Society
Downey, California 90242
Abstract: The Downey Historical Society preserves and exhibits documents related to many periods and themes in Downey history. The Society
is largely charged with preserving Downey’s history, but has holdings related to other southeast Los Angeles County suburbs,
Los Angeles County, and California. Holdings range from eighteenth century maps of Texas, Oregon, and the West, to photos
of Latinos in Downey. The Society also holds complete records of Downey-specific newspapers in original copies and microfilm.
Holdings also include folders of documents and photos on various topics in Downey’s history.
Language of Material: English
Holdings are stored on-site at the Downey Historical Society. Documents are held mostly in cabinets in the reading room, newspapers
are stored in original form in newspaper room, and microfilm copies are stored in the lobby. A microfilm reader is also available
for use in the lobby. Researchers from the public are generally allowed access to most resources, but will be asked to become
a contributing member of the Downey Historical Society to aid preservation efforts for later researchers.
Property rights belong to the Downey Historical Society. The Downey Historical Society does not own literary rights, including
copyrights. Those are retained by the publishers and their heirs. It is the researcher’s duty to seek permission for copyrights
when applicable.
Downey Historical Society. Downey Historical Society
Donations from community members.
Biography/Administrative History
The Downey Historical Society is a volunteer-run non-profit organization tasked with preserving and displaying the history
of our city. Nestled in between Orange and Los Angeles Counties, Downey is home to over 113,000 residents. The community was
founded in 1873 as a railroad town on land owned by California’s only Irish-born governor, John Gately Downey. Farmers took
advantage of the fertile land near the San Gabriel River and planted alfalfa, walnuts, and small crops from the late nineteenth
century until the early twentieth century. Farmers then struck citrus gold, and Downey became known for its fruitful orange
groves. By the time Downey incorporated into Los Angeles County in 1956, aerospace companies began building spacecraft parts
that would later be used in the Apollo missions of the 1960s. (This is why Downey is known as the “Cradle of the Space Age.”)
Metallica’s James Hetfield and Richard and Karen Carpenter grew up in Downey. Once a white-restricted suburb, a 2015 Los Angeles
Times article referred to Downey as the “Mexican Beverly Hills” because of its Mexican middle-class makeup. In short, Downey
is a microcosm of myriad trends in United States history. The Historical Society accepts and collects documents related to
every aspect of Downey’s history. Most documents and collections have been donated at some point by a city body or private
individuals. Since the Historical Society is volunteer-run, it is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM – 2 PM, except
near important holidays. Call to confirm hours near holidays like Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, and the Fourth of July. The
Society is also open every third Saturday of the month from 10 AM – 2 PM. The Downey Historical Society can be reached by
phone at (562) 862 2777 and by email at downeyhistorycenter@gmail.com. Finding aid was compiled by G. Aron Ramirez and Armando
Barcena in 2018, with help from Bobbi Bruce and Bob Thompson.
Scope and Content of Collection
Photographs, newspapers, official city documents, maps, film reels, photo slides, real estate advertisements, academic books,
nonacademic books, city directories.Collection arranged in order of physical location of items, as grouped by rooms. Many
cabinets or physical locations are unmarked. In cases where the exact physical location is unmarked, it can be assumed that
the further on the physical location of this list, the further down an item is on the physical cabinet. If unclear, the staff
at the Downey Historical Society will be able to help locate the item. No changes were made to the titles of folders or locations,
even if misleading, to best preserve the researcher’s ability to locate the specific item.
Pioneers
Suburbanization
Mexican Americans
Cuban Americans
Southern California History
Los Angeles County Criminal Justice
World War II
Demographic change
John Gately Downey (1827-1894)
Downey (Calif.) Police Department
Downey (Calif.) City Council
Downey, Calif.
California
Los Angeles County
Aerospace and aviation manufacturing
Agriculture and citrus farming