Inventory of the Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce Collection SPC.2015.003

Robert Bush
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2016-04-11
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu


Contributing Institution: California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce Collection
Creator: Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2015.003
Physical Description: 13 boxes
Physical Description: 4.5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1888-2004; undated
Date (bulk): 1960-1990
Abstract: The collection consists of scrapbooks, documents, publications, photographs, videotapes, and other material related to the history and activities of the Gardena, California, Chamber of Commerce.
Language of Material: English .

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection, except where notated at file-level.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred Citation

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material  guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Robert Bush in March of 2016.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by the Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2015.

Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce History

The Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on April 29, 1933, three years after the creation of the City of Gardena, California. The Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization whose volunteer membership includes businesses, civic leaders, and government officials from the Gardena Valley area, which is located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County.
In its early years, the chamber's main concerns were supporting civic improvements, such as paved streets, street lighting, a sewer system, and gas and electricity. Its primary function historically has been to further the interests of local businesses through promotion, the sponsorship of community events, and engagement on legislative issues.

Scope and Contents

The Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce Collection (1888-2004; undated) contains 13 boxes and 4.5 linear feet of material that documents the evolution of the business community in Gardena. It consists of scrapbooks, minutes, official records, publications, photographs, and awards documenting the organization's history and activities. Chronological scrapbooks include newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia. Publications in the collection include commemorative newspapers, a local business directory, and editions of the chamber's official publication, "Gardena Valley Business Life". Documents include board minutes, organizational charts, annual reports, correspondence, and economic and demographic profiles of the City of Gardena. An extensive collection of photographs documents Chamber of Commerce officers and members, including official photographs of the organization's presidents and board members. Also documented are organizational activities, local business openings, and local and area sites. Local, state, and national dignitaries pictured in the collection include Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, Los Angeles County supervisor Kenneth Hahn, California Governor Pete Wilson, United States Attorney General Edwin Meese, United States Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, and President George H. W. Bush. Individual albums include images of the 1971 Gardena Expo, the Gold Cup motorcycle races held at local race promoter J. C. Agajanian's Ascot Park race track, and the construction of the Hustler Casino. A small collection of VHS videocassettes containing episodes of a Chamber of Commerce television show and other locally broadcast events is also included.

Separated Materials

oversized materials are stored separately from the rest of the collection.

Related Materials

For related material please see: City of Gardena Collection; Gardena Valley News; Donald Greaton Gardena Collection; and James H. Osborne Gardena Photograph Collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Boards of trade
Motorcycles, Racing
Casinos
Chambers of Commerce
Gardena (Calif.)
Los Angeles County (Calif.)
Bradley, Tom, 1917-1998
Bush, George, 1924-2018
Hahn, Kenneth
Meese, Edwin
Weinberger, Caspar W.
Wilson, Pete, 1933-

 

Series I: Scrapbooks and Newsclippings 1962-1998

box 1, folder 1

scrapbook January 1962, April 1963-April 1964

Scope and Contents

Contains clippings mostly from Gardena Tribune; Gardena Valley News; and Daily Breeze.
box 1, folder 2

scrapbook 1967

Scope and Contents

Contains clippins from Gardena Valley Industrial Review; and Gardena Valley News
box 1, folder 3-6

"Scrapbook 1967-1968" 1967-1968

Scope and Contents

Contains Gardena Valley News clippings; photographs; invocations; inviations to Christ in Art Festival and other events; memorandums; action report; information regarding Wooden Nickel Days, and FanFare; and other related material.
box 1, folder 7-9, box 2, folder 6-9

Scrapbook 1969-1970

Scope and Contents

Contains clippings; photographs; luncheon invitations; community calendars; ballot measures; clippings and photographs regarding products expo, art exhibit, 'Gardena Beautiful' award, director of the year event, annex bill, and others.

Processing Information

Scrapbook was disassembled for preservation purposes.
box 2, folder 1-2

scrapbook "Santa's House" August 1970-December 1971

Scope and Contents

Includes clippings; memorandums; photographs; schedules; invitations; greeting cards; and Christmas wish lists.
box 2, folder 3-5

"Scrapbook 1970-1971" July 1970-June 1971

Scope and Contents

Includes: clippings and articles from Gardena Valley News
Los Angeles Times and other publications regarding installation banquet, annexation, Gardena Beautiful Award, Gardena Library Japanese Garden, EXPO, and other topics related to the Chamber of Commerce; photographs; invitations; community calendars; and other material.
box 3, folder 1-2

"Scrapbook 1971-1972" July 1971-June 1972

Scope and Contents

Includes: clippings, articles, memorandums, invitations, flyers, and photographs regarding 4th of July event, installation dinner, "keep it clean" event, awards dinner, Japanese garden perservation committee, mixers, and others.
box 3, folder 3-4

"Scrapbook 1972-1973" July 1972-June 1973

Scope and Contents

Includes: clippings, articles, memorandums, invitations, flyers, and photographs regarding installation dinner, mixers, ribbon cutting events, jobs program, youth talent contest, expo, and others.
box 3, folder 5

scrapbook June 1973-June 1974

Scope and Contents

Includes: clippings, articles, memorandums, invitations, flyers, and photographs regarding Gardena Gold Cup, pan ordinance, groundbreaking and ribbon cutting events, and others.
box 4, folder 1

scrapbook June 1976-June 1977

Scope and Contents

Includes: clippings and articles regarding Bailey installation, Gold Cup, new chamber officers, ribbon cutting, Gardena Beautiful Award, bicentennial, Bob Giuliano roast, Timms Medal of Valor award, and others.
box 4, folder 2

scrapbook June 1977-June 1978

Scope and Contents

Includes: clippings, articles, programs, and regarding installation event, Gold Cup, ribbong cutting event, Medal of Valor luncheon, golf tournament, and others. Also includes copies of The Competitive Edge Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce Newsletter.
box 4, folder 3-4

"Scrapbook 1980-1981" June 1980-June 1981

Scope and Contents

Includes clippings, articles, invitations, photographs, and memorandums regarding installation dinner, awards events, calendar of events, mixers, Gold Cup, 50th anniversary ball, Dodgers event, Anita Bell roast, Medal of Valor luncheon, groundbreaking events, and others. Also contains a copy of "Business and Industry in the Gardena Valley", "Legislative Alert", 1981 Annual Report, and bulletins.
box 2, folder 6

Scrapbook 1986-1987

Scope and Contents

Includes: event flyers; clippings; photographs; material related to Festival of Wines; bulletins.
box 6, folder 9

Scrapbook-California Historical Scenes/Gardena Church of Christ Scientist undated

box 4, folder 5

Gardena Valley News clippings 1975, 1977, 1980, 1984-1985

Scope and Contents

Includes clippings and articles regarding Jill Gomes, Gold Cup, ribbon cutting events, festival of wines, "Free Enterprise Day", Bill Gerber, and other topics related to Gardena Chamber of Commerce.
box 5, folder 1

Gardena Valley News Chamber of Commerce 50th Anniversary Supplement; other newspaper articles April 1983, July 1985, July 1998

Scope and Contents

South Bay Business Vol. 1, No. 4; Los Angeles Times article "Western Avenue: Not Long Ago South Bay Area Cut by Street Was 'Edge of the World'.
box 5, folder 2

Commemorative Newspapers, Gardena Valley Directory 1979-1985

box 5, folder 3-6

Gardena Valley Business Life Official Publication of Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce 1979-1990, 1991, 1993

 

Series II: Organizational Records 1888-2002

box 6, folder 4

historical sketches; board of directors, officials and employee contact lists; memorandums; material related to Hollypark committee meeting 1954, 1969-1973; undated

Conditions Governing Access

Contact lists marked as "confidential" are restricted from access and use.
box 6, folder 1

Board of Directors- roll calls, meeting minutes 1966-1976

box 6, folder 2

Board of Directors- meeting minutes; proposed budgets 1968-1976

box 6, folder 5

Annual Reports 1969-1971

box 6, folder 10

"Business and Industry in the Gardena Valley" [booklet] circa 1980

box 6, folder 3

Presidents' Resumes undated

Scope and Contents

Resumes for Terence J. Matthews; R.S. Bill Bailey
box 5, folder 9

business directory April 1985

box 5, folder 10

Roast of Carol Nichols [program] November 1994

box 6, folder 11

"State of the City 2002"; All-America City buttons and stickers 2002

box 6, folder 6

community economic profile (August 1981); "Summary of Election Results" (1984); "Demographic Economic Social Profile and Development Activity Report" (January 1, 1990); Fact Sheet, Census Data (1990); 1981, 1984, 1990

box 5, folder 11

county property tax receipts- assessed to Elizabeth J. Boucher and William C. German. Property of Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce, donated by fire chief and Mrs. Carl (Geraldine) Carlson 1888-1937

 

Series III: Photographs 1920, 1950-2001; undated

box 5, folder 7

Photographs-Gardena Civic Center, Telephone Directory Cover, Photo Collage April 1979; circa 1970s

box 5, folder 8

Photographs-Gardena Tournament of Roses Floats 1955, 1956, 1959

box 5, folder 12

Photograph of a group of people standing outside of a "Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce Makes Things Happen" sign undated

box 9, folder 1-5

Photographs-Chamber of Commerce Presidents  1950-1996

box 9, folder 6

Photographs-Past Presidents undated

box 9, folder 7

Photographs-Board of Directors undated

box 10

Photographs- Dated Events 1960s-2000s

Scope and Contents

Includes images of Christmas parade and event; groundbreaking for "Galaxy" apartment project; tree planting; award ceremonies; municipal swimming pool; products expo; luncheons; store openings; ambasadors workshop; installation dinners; Loyalty Day parade; dunk tank event; beautification awards; Anita Bell roast; Aloha Days; State of City Mayor's Luncheon; Miss Nisei Week; summer festival; "The Future of Aerospace and Defense in the South Bay" event; Normandie Casino; Korean Cultural Festival; Lions Club; and others.
box 11

Photographs- Undated Events 1950-1959

Scope and Contents

Includes images of Gardena Valley News office; cpr event; Christmas event; Gardena Beautiful Award; groundbreaking; products expo; award dinners; helicopter and balloon release; roller derby; parades; Gardena Heritage Festival; Medal of Valor; and others.
box 12, folder 1

Photographs- Gardena Expo 1971

box 12, folder 2

Photographs-Gold Cup Motocycle Races undated

box 12, folder 3

Photographs- Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournaments 1976-1980, 1994-1998; undated

box 12, folder 4

Photographs- People 1920, 1975, 1985, 1999, undated

box 12, folder 5

"Old Gardena Valley News Pictures" 1973, 1974, 1985, undated

box 13, folder 1-6

Photographs-Business Openings/New Members  1960s-2001; undated

box 13, folder 7

Photographs-Area Sites undated

box 13, folder 8

Photographs- Hustler Casino Construction 1999-2000

 

Series IV: Certificates, Plaques, Ephemera 1971-1998; undated

box 6, folder 7

Certificates 1997-1998

Scope and Contents

Gardena Heritage Festival; California Chamber of Commerce
box 6, folder 8

Ephemera 1971-1994; undated

Scope and Contents

Includes: "Shopper's Guide and Business Directory"; "Retail Sales Seminar" program (1971); "We Belong to the Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce, Do You?" plaque; 46th Annual Dinner and Installation of Officers program (1978); Cruise flyer (1985); Installation of Officers and Directors document (1994); "Wizard of Oz" program; envelope (postmarked 1980)
box 7, folder 1

Plaque-South Bay Area Telephone Directory Cover undated

box 7, folder 2

Plaque-Walter Klasse Perpetual Ambassador of the Year Award 1976-1995

box 7, folder 3

Plaque-Chamber of Commerce 50th Anniversary Commemoration 1983 1983

box 7, folder 4

Plaque-Hall of Fame 1982-1985 1982-1985

box 7, folder 5

Flag-City of Gardena undated

case 2, drawer 3

Sign-"Gardena All-America City" undated

Physical Location: This item is stored separately from the rest of the collection in map case 2, drawer 3.
 

Large circular wooden wall hanging with Chamber of Commerce logo (stored separately) undated

 

Series V: Audiovisual Material 2004; undated

box 8, folder 1

Gardena Chamber of Commerce Television Show [VHS] October 2003; January 2004; March 2004

Physical Description: 3 items
box 8, folder 2

Gardena State of the City Address [VHS] 2004

box 8, folder 2

Gardena Chamber of Commerce Show- Normandie Casino [VHS] undated

box 8, folder 2

Gardena Chamber of Commerce- Business Person of the Year [VHS] undated