Los Feliz Improvement Association Records, 1922-2002

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Summary

Creators:
Los Feliz Improvement Association
Abstract:
The Los Feliz Improvement Association was formed in 1922 to represent the homeowners of the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. The association worked to protect historic trees and homes, and to prevent developments they felt would harm the upscale residential feel of the neighborhood. Much of the collection deals with fights against zoning changes that would have allowed construction of unsightly walls or that would have allowed commercial development.
Extent:
12.13 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The Los Feliz Improvement Association Records include board minutes, general correspondence, by-laws, president's reports, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and membership lists from 1922 to 2002. In addition, the collection contains a descriptive historical survey of all the homes located in the Los Feliz neighborhood. The collection details the role the organization played in the development of the Los Feliz neighborhood, and has been arranged in three series: Administrative Files (1922-2002), Correspondence (1932-1999), and Special Project Files (1929-2002).

Series I, Administrative Files, contains general records regarding board membership and committee memberships, as well as minutes of the board's monthly meetings and have been divided into two subseries: General Administrative Files (1927-2002) and Minutes (1922-1999). These materials are filed alphabetically by committee.

Series II, Correspondence, contains correspondence to and from the association. This correspondence covers a multitude of subjects, from printing the association directory to concerns about zoning changes, membership issues, and restrictions on residential development. This series has been divided into two subseries: General Correspondence (1932-1999) and Ruth Ney (Corresponding Secretary) (1981-1989). Documents are filed chronologically.

Series III, Special Project Files, includes files and photographs for projects undertaken by the association. These include an historical home survey, an effort to save historic avocado trees, efforts to coordinate with the Hollywood community redevelopment project, a push to save the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ennis-Brown house, beautification efforts in the neighborhood and in Griffith Park. Materials have been divided into two subseries: Los Feliz Historical Survey (2001) and LFIA Special Projects (1929-2002), and are filed alphabetically by subject.

Biographical / historical:

Founded in 1916, the Vermont Canyon Improvement Club was later reorganized and changed its name to the Los Feliz Improvement Association on July 7, 1922. The organization played a significant role in the development of the neighborhood, located just east of Hollywood, for nearly a century. A central area in the neighborhood continues to be Griffith Park, willed to the city of Los Angeles by Col. Griffith J. Griffith in 1919 with specific instructions to maintain the area as a public space. Griffith Park's approximately 4,000 acres includes: the Greek Theater, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the Griffith Observatory, as well as the William Mulholland Memorial Fountain and the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage. The Los Feliz Improvement Association played an important role in determining the locations of all the attractions in Griffith Park. In addition, any future maintenance of the Park and its surrounding neighborhood would be the organization's responsibility.

In the 1930s, the Association oversaw the building and opening of John Marshall High School. The Los Feliz Improvement Association played a vital role in maintaining the neighborhood's residential character and integrity as well, and fought rigorously over the years to prevent zoning changes on Los Feliz Boulevard that would have allowed commercial real estate development and to save 100-year-old trees.

Acquisition information:
Los Feliz Improvement Association, 2003.
Processing information:

Haig Avakian, Katherine Gould, 2011-2012

Arrangement:

Series I: Administrative Files, 1922-2002

Subseries A: General Administrative Files, 1927-2002

Subseries B: Minutes, 1922-1999

Series II: Correspondence, 1932-1999

Subseries A: General Correspondence, 1932-1999

Subseries B: Ruth Ney (Corresponding Secretary), 1981-1989

Series III: Special Project Files, 1929-2002

Subseries A: Los Feliz Historical Survey, 2001

Subseries B: Los Feliz Improvement Association Special Projects, 1929-2002

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Documents
Photographs

Access and use

Restrictions:

The 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 Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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