Finding Aid for the California Historical Society collection of historic postcards 0399

Finding aid prepared by Jacqueline Morin
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2013


Title: California Historical Society collection of historic postcards
Collection number: 0399
Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 5.0 linear ft. 6 boxes
Date: circa 1900-1979
Abstract: This small collection of postcards came to USC chiefly through the California Historical Society. Many of them appear to have originated with the same few families, based on notes and addresses on them. The images are of geographic subjects especially California, but there are also many European scenes and some non-geographical postcards.
creator: California Historical Society.

Organization

The postcards are organized by geographical location or by theme. The geographically-organized postcards progress from most local (Los Angeles) to most global (countries outside the United States).

Conditions Governing Access

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.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder# or item name], California Historical Society collection of historic postcards, Collection no. 0399, Regional History Collection, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Scope and Content

The six boxes of postcards in this collection contain images from all over the world, but the strength of the collection is in its images of Los Angeles and its environs in the early to mid-20th century. Many of the postcards are even older, especially some of the European ones which appear to be from late 19th to early 20th century. Though the bulk of the collection is the postcards that depict views of geographic features and urban scenes, there are a number of postcards with images of famous paintings, cartoons, holiday greetings, etc.

Related Archival Materials

Lillian I. Allard collection of California Postcards, Special Collections, USC Libraries.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

California Historical Society.
California--Postcards
Europe, Western--Postcards
Missions--California--Postcards
Photographic postcards
United States--History--20th century--Postcards

 

California Postcards

Box 1

Los Angeles (City)

Scope and Content

Los Angeles--General Views
Los Angeles--Architecture--General
Los Angeles--Architecture--Churches
Los Angeles--Architecture--Commercial
Los Angeles--Architecture--Commercial--Hotels
Los Angeles--Architecture--Domestic
Los Angeles--Architecture--Public
Los Angeles--Architecture--Train Stations
Los Angeles--Parks
Los Angeles--Streets
Los Angeles--Angel's Flight
Los Angeles--Court Flight
Los Angeles--Hollywood--General
Los Angeles--Hollywood--Architecture--General
Los Angeles--Hollywood--Architecture--Commercial
Los Angeles--Hollywood--Architecture--Domestic
Los Angeles--Hollywood--Radio Shows
Los Angeles--Hollywood--Streets
Los Angeles--Venice
Box 2

Los Angeles (County)

Scope and Content

Altadena/ Mt. Lowe
Arcadia
Beverly Hills
Burbank
Calabasas
Catalina (Santa Catalina Island)
Claremont
Glendale
Glendale--Parks
Hermosa Beach
Inglewood
Lakewood
Long Beach
Marineland
Pasadena
Pomona
Redondo Beach
San Marino
San Pedro
Santa Monica
Sierra Madre
South Pasadena
Topanga
Universal City
Whittier
Other Cities in Los Angeles County
Box 2-3

California--Other Counties

Scope and Content

Box 2
Alameda
Alameda--Architecture
Butte
Calaveras
Calaveras--Natural Features--Big Tree Grove
Calaveras--Natural Features--Mercer's New Calaveras
Imperial
Inyo
Kern
Lake
Mendocino
Mono
Monterey
Nevada
Orange
Orange--Buena Park
Orange--Laguna Beach
Placer
Riverside
Riverside--Palm Springs
Sacramento
San Bernardino
San Bernardino--Big Bear and Big Bear Lake
San Bernardino--Lake Arrowhead
San Diego
San Diego--Panama California Exposition, 1915-17
San Diego--Calfornia Pacific International Exposition, 1935-36
San Diego--Ramona
Box 3
San Francisco
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Siskiyou
Sonoma
Tuolumne
Ventura
Box 3

California Missions

Box 4

National Parks

Scope and Content

Death Valley
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park
Box 4

Camp Scenes

Box 4

Redwood trees/ Redwood Highway

Box 4

Ocean Scenes

Box 4

Desert Scenes

Box 4

California--Miscellaneous

Box 4-5

United States (Other than California)

Scope and Content

Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
Nevada--Boulder Dam
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Yellowstone National Park
Southwestern United States
Box 5-6

Foreign Postcards

Scope and Content

Asia
Australia
Canada
Cuba
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Greenland
Holland
Italy
Mexico
Norway
Russia
Box 6

Topical Postcards

Box 6

Animals

Box 6

Art

 

Chinese Porcelain

Box 6

Holidays

Box 6

Humor

 

Transportation

Box 6

Airplanes

Box 6

Automobiles

Box 6

Ships

Box 6

Western Themes

 

Miscellaneous