Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- San Fernando Valley Audubon Society Records
- Dates:
- 1901-2023
- Creators:
- San Fernando Valley Audubon Society
- Abstract:
- The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society Records consist of administrative records, publications, photographs, and ephemera documenting the evolution of regional bird populations, environmental conservation efforts, and ornithology culture in the San Fernando Valley.
- Extent:
- 7.99 linear feet (17 boxes, 1 oversized folder) and 13.45 Megabytes
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection houses materials related to the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society (SFVAS) from 1906-2022. The content is primarily from the 20th century. It includes the publication Phainopepla, first published in 1928. Issues accounted for in this collection became sparse after 1970.
There are also records of prominent members and award-winners, a scrapbook, children's art, correspondence and programming records with local schools, newspaper clippings, yearly bird-counts, and other collected ornithology ephemera. Included in this collection are general SFVAS administrative records including the society's official histories, articles of incorporation, chapter certification, annual reports, and board meeting records. Records from the 21st century are less extensive.
A large portion of this collection is centered around a community restoration and preservation project for the Sepulveda Basin. This includes the restoration project's administrative records, legal correspondence with the city, budgeting, subsequent educational programming, and related newspaper clippings.
There are also documents related to SFVAS' additional educational programming and wildlife restoration projects including Descanso Gardens, the Holm Property, Malibu Creek, Tucker Bird Sanctuary, Griffith Park, and Chatsworth Reservoir. These documents are not as inclusive as the Sepulveda Basin records.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
- Biographical / historical:
-
San Fernando Audubon Society was founded in 1906 as a California chapter of the National Audubon Society that was named after 19th century ornithologist John James Audubon. In 1956 it selected a territory, isolated its endeavors and officiated its present-day title. Founded in part as a response to the trafficking of birds for their feathers, the SFVAS advocates the protection of birds and their habitats while promoting the scientific and cultural value of avifauna. It founded the first official bird sanctuary in the state: Fern Dell. Its history has tightly orbited the creation, maintenance, and preservation of local bird sanctuaries.
- Processing information:
-
Cheryl Acuna, 2026
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Photographs
Documents
Ephemera
Scrapbooks
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-07-24 10:18:33 -0700.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is open for research use.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Preferred citation:
-
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.
- Location of this collection:
-
18111 Nordhoff StreetNorthridge, CA 91330, US
- Contact:
- (818) 677-4594