The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles Photograph Collection is comprised of 225 black and white photographs, which were produced by the Los Angeles Housing Authority during the 1940s and 1950s. These photographs depict images of public housing projects such as Elysian Park Heights (Chavez Ravine), Rose Hill Courts, Pueblo del Rio, Aliso Village, Hacienda Village, William Mead Homes, Estrada Courts, Ramona Gardens, Basilone Homes and Rodger Young Village. Also included in the collection are photographs of public housing officials Frank Wilkinson and Howard Holtzendorff, housing advocate Monsignor Thomas O'Dwyer, and municipal officials including Los Angeles Mayors Fletcher Bowron and Norris Poulson. Additionally represented here are powerful images of Los Angeles slum conditions during the 1940s.

During the Depression era, the City of Los Angeles was in the throes of a severe housing crisis. The need for affordable and decent housing was acute, as overcrowding was common, and deteriorated and substandard housing were widespread. Such urban conditions were not limited to Los Angeles, causing concern in cities across the nation.

2.5 linear feet (6 document boxes; 1 flat box) 200 online items

Copyright has not been assigned to the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. Researchers may make single copies of any portion of the collection, but publication from the collection will be allowed only with the express written permission of the Library's director. It is not necessary to obtain written permission to quote from a collection. When the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research gives permission for publication, it is 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 by the reader.

The collection is available for research only at the Library's facility in Los Angeles. The Library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Researchers are encouraged to call or email the Library indicating the nature of their research query prior to making a visit.