The collection consists of 809 photographs in a variety of formats, circa 1850s-1997 (bulk 1860s-1930s). It is a reference collection of individual and group portraits and contains portraits of both prominent and lesser-known Los Angelenos and Southern Californians from both the 19th and 20th centuries.

Volume 31 comprises one portion of the Historical Society of Southern California (HSSC) Collection, which was donated to the Huntington Library in 1992. The HSSC Collection as a whole contains approximately 15,000 photographs and negatives covering the period circa 1870 to circa 1980, and almost exclusively depicts Southern California. As such, it is an important visual record of the growth and history of the region.

12 boxes, 13.92 linear ft.

All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Photographs. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Huntington 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.