Description
The Harold Hambrick
Photograph and Video Collection is a small collection of photographs and videos that largely
document the Watts and the South Los Angeles area within the time period of 1966 to
2005, and primarily the 1990s and 2000s. Harold Hambrick was an African American businessman
and active community member in Watts and surrounding areas. For over 40 years he held many
roles at the Watts Health Foundation (WHF), and in the late 1990s he became President of the
Los Angeles Black Business Expo (BBX), which surged in attendance during his tenure.
Significant subjects and organizations featured in this collection are the community and
history of Watts (including the 1992 L.A. Uprising) and the Watts Health Foundation (Watts
Health Center or Watts Healthcare Corporation).
Background
Harold Hambrick, Jr. was born in 1943 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in the small
town of Slidell. His father, Harold Hambrick, Sr., owned a funeral home. At St. Tammany High
School (a segregated school), Hambrick excelled at his studies and in 1961 became President,
Salutatorian, as well as star quarterback. That same year, he moved to Los Angeles and
attended Woodbury Institute, Los Angeles City College, and UCLA. He later graduated from
Pepperdine University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Early on,
Hambrick showed an interest in community service. While joining the Victory Baptist Church,
Hambrick was exposed to the civil rights movement and was present for the visit of Martin
Luther King, Sr. and Jr. to their church. Later, Hambrick co-founded the Greater Liberty
Baptist Church and the Band of Men associated with the Ward A.M.E. Church. His first jobs in
Los Angeles included voter registration, Controller at Jefferson High School, and
administrative intern at IBM.
Restrictions
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of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.