Collection Guide
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Compton History Collection
SPC.2005.001
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Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Compton History Collection
Creator:
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2005.001
Physical Description:
3.5 Linear Feet
(7 processed boxes; plus one unprocessed box)
Date (inclusive): 1869-1998
Abstract: The collection includes newsclippings, histories, flyers, newsletters, minutes, correspondence, programs, yearbooks, municipal
papers, and histories related to or about the city of Compton. Subjects include commerce, education, private residences, historic
preservation, city anniversaries, and natural disasters.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
Materials in this collection were collected by archives staff and members of the community. Some of the items were from the
Heritage House Museum in Compton and Robert C. Gillingham, a local historian.
This finding aid was created as part of Early Los Angeles/Rancho San Pedro Manuscript Cataloging Project, a CSU Dominguez
Hills Library project funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The project started in 2005.
Project Director was Greg Williams. Project Archivists were Thomas Philo and Jennifer Allan Goldman.
This collection was created by combining two Compton collections: the Compton History Collection and the Heritage House Collection.
Much of the materials in the Compton History Collection were donated by Robert Gillingham. The Heritage House Museum donated
their papers and historical materials to the archive when they closed in the late 1970s.
The City of Compton lies within the original boundaries of the Rancho San Pedro, granted to the Dominguez family. In 1866,
Francis Temple and Fielding Gibson purchased a tract of land north of the Dominguez homestead. This land, known as the Temple
and Gibson Tract, was subdivided and lots were purchased by Harmon Higgins in 1866 and a group of pioneers led by G.D. Compton
in 1867. The city was first incorporated in 1888 and again in 1909, with Clarence Dickison as mayor. In 1969, Compton elected
its first African-American mayor, Douglas Dollarhide.
Materials in this collection include newsletters, minutes, histories, correspondence, programs, yearbooks, directories, newspapers,
and newsclippings. These have been organized to parallel the series and subseries arrangement of the South Bay Photo Collection.
Arranged in 14 series:
- Series I. Buildings and Parks, 1940s-1961
- Series II. Businesses, 1903-1978
- Series III. Churches, 1886-1998
- Series IV. City of Compton, 1869-1988
- Series V. Clubs and Organizations, 1939-1974
- Series VI. Earthquake, 1933
- Series VII. Events, 1935-1988
- Series VIII. History and Newsclippings, 1856-1994
- Series IX. Landmarks, 1935-1987
- Series X. Maps, 1930
- Series XI. Pioneer Families, 1888-1968
- Series XII. Civic Leaders, 1955-1962
- Series XIII. Schools, 1891-1968
For material related to Compton and the South Bay please consult: South Bay History Collection, Compton Earthquake Postcards
Collection, South Bay Photograph Collection,
South Bay Photograph Digital Collection ,
James H. Osborne Photograph Collection , Ira Clark Collection, Charles Blanton Collection, Heritage House Collection, Robert Gillingham Collection, Rozelle Family
Collection, Dennis Kroll Collection, Jim Brown Collection, Compton Newspaper Collection, Long Beach Fireman's Historical Museum
Photographs,
Long Beach Fireman's Historical Museum Photographs Digital Collection , and
James H. Osborne Photograph Collection .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Earthquakes -- California -- Long Beach
Earthquake damages
Methodist Church -- California -- Los Angeles
Public buildings
Public schools -- California -- Compton
Public schools -- California -- Employees
Compton (Calif.)