Collection Guide
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Guide to the LACMTA Transit Videos Collection
05-DPGTL
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Table of contents
Title: LACMTA transit videos collection
Dates: 1979-present
Collection number: 05-DPGTL
Creator:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Collection Size:
27 shelves (81 linear feet).
Repository:
Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archives.
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Abstract: The LACMTA Transit Video Collection contains over 700 items in video format from the 1970's forward. Items come in a variety
of video formats: VHS, Beta, 3/4 inch Umatic, and other commercial grade video.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Spanish
Please contact the Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archives for information on collection access and restrictions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library. Permission for reproduction
or publication is given on behalf of the Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library as the owner of the physical items. The
researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials
from the Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library collections.
LACMTA transit videos collection, 05-DPGTL. Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library.
The Transit Video Collection was started during the days of the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) and has
continued to grow through the years. Copies of in house productions are transferred from the Public Relations Department
to the archive. Copies of non-MTA productions are provided by production companies to the archive.
Items in this collection have been in the continuous custody of the transit agency library and/or archive.
Collection has been developed and maintained by the agency libraries and archive. A Microsoft Excel worksheet has been used
to maitain a running inventory of collection holdings.
Biography / Administrative History
The videos held in this collection were produced and/or collected by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
and its predecessor agencies. The Scope Content note provides more detail regarding the context of creation of these videos,
which agency departments were involved, and out of which functions and activities they were produced.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Transit Video Collection contains over 700 items in video format from the 1970s forward. Items come in a variety of video
formats: VHS, Beta, 3/4 inch Umatic, and other commercial grade video. The archive only has a VHS video player for viewing
videos. Please contact the archive to discuss options for viewing non-VHS items.
Transit agencies represented in the collection include the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD), the Los Angeles
County Transportation Commission (LACTC), and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). The great
majority of the collection was produced, shot, and edited by agency departments. In addition, some work was contracted out.
Items in the Transit Video collection can be grouped into three distinct logical series based upon the function or activity
that generated them.
Communications: Much of the material was shot during the course of public relations or publicity functions that were the responsibility
of the Communications, Press Relations, or Media Relations departments. Typically, these items include footage of ceremonies,
milestone dates, accomplishments, speeches, panels, conferences, and other public events that document the agency's activities.
Some items are of an advertising and/or public awareness nature and amount to full-blown programs, for example ad campaigns
for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics or anti-graffiti campaigns in the late 1970's. Still other items are simply b-roll for
broadcasters, i.e., images of a train or bus going by while the newscaster is doing a voiceover. Finally, some items contain
overhead footage of rail rights of way for insurance purposes.
Training: Some material was meant for employee training and orientation. This material covers safety, operations, equipment, diversity,
and other human resource issues, and thus are primarily the product of the Human Resources Department.
Private Production: The transportation agencies have also collected non-agency material such as local news clips that either features agency
equipment or operations, or is transit related in some way. Radio TV Reports Inc. provided many of the news clips.
Items are arranged by a control number assigned by the library and archive. A complete listing of holdings is available from
the archive.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission.
Southern California Rapid Transit District.
Local Transit -- California -- Los Angeles County.
Transportation -- California -- Los Angeles County.
Public Relations -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Videotape cassettes.
Advertising -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Videotape cassettes.
Publicity -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Videotape cassettes.
Occupational training -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Videotape cassettes.