Guide to the Canoga Park High School Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Canoga Park High School Collection
Creator:
Canoga Park High School, 1914-1957
Creator:
Hicks, Ermon K.
Identifier/Call Number: URB.CPHS
Extent:
1.00 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1914-1957
Abstract: The Canoga Park High School Collection
consists of photocopies of the student newspaper, commencement programs, playbills, football
rosters and schedules, programs from installation and awards ceremonies, and high school
events. The collection also contains programs for community and holiday events, a yearbook,
and Ermon K. Hicks' graduation announcement. The History of Canoga Park High School is
documented by two publications, the first a narrative fragment compiled from the Canoga Park
High School History Scrapbook, and the second, a collection of letters written to the
school, the school principal, or members of the faculty by alumni in military service during
World War II.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
Canoga Park High School (CPHS) is the oldest high school in the west San Fernando Valley.
It opened with 14 students and 2 teachers on October 4, 1914. CPHS was originally named
Owensmouth High School. In 1914, CPHS was located on the second floor of Owensmouth Grammar
School. The first graduation on the campus of Owensmouth High School occurred in June 1916.
The graduating class consisted of two students, Edith Haas and Solly H. Patrick. On
September 11, 1916, Owensmouth High started the school year with a new building and a new
location at 6850 Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Canoga Park. Included in the new campus was an open
air theater known as the Greek Theater which served as a venue for entertainment, plays and
commencements.
On June 12, 1929, a fire destroyed the upper floor of the school. The left and right wings
remained in use, but bungalows were required until the completion of new buildings in early
1931. In 1931, the town of Owensmouth changed its name to Canoga Park and the school was
also renamed Canoga Park High School. In 1953, the Greek Theater was torn down to make room
for a physical education field and in 1971 an earthquake destroyed many of its original
iconic buildings. New air conditioned structures opened in 1978. The mascot for the school
is a hunter and their sports teams are known as the Hunters.
Scope and Contents
The
Canoga Park High School Collection consists of two parts,
the first a narrative fragment compiled from the Canoga Park High School History Scrapbook,
and the second, a collection of letters written to the school, the school principal, or
members of the faculty by alumni in military service during World War II. The Canoga Park
High School Collection is divided into two series, the
Ermon K. Hicks
Files
(1934-1937), arranged alphabetically, and
Historical Files
(1914-1957), arranged
chronologically.
Arrangement of Materials:
Series I: Ermon K. Hicks Files, 1934-1937
Series II: Historical Files, 1914-1957
Conditions Governing Access:
This collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Ermon K. Hicks. 2003.
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Shawn Stamm, September 2010
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Series I: Ermon K. Hicks Files, 1934-1937
Box 1, Folder 1
Commencement Programs,
1935-1937
Box 1, Folder 2
Ermon Hicks Graduation Announcement,
1937
Box 1, Folder 3
Football rosters and schedules,
1934-1937
Box 1, Folder 4
Holiday and community event programs,
1934-1935
Box 1, Folder 5
Hunters' Call (school newspaper), Vol.
VII-VIII,
1936 October 13-1937 June 24
Box 1, Folder 6
Installation and Awards Ceremony programs,
1935-1936
Box 1, Folder 8
Theater playbills,
1935-1937
Series II: Historical Files, 1914-1957
Box 1, Folder 10
Mellie M. Calvert, "History of Canoga Park High School,
1914-1957,"
September 1973
Box 1, Folder 11
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
Box 1, Folder 12
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
Box 1, Folder 13
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
Box 1, Folder 14
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
Box 1, Folder 15
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
Box 1, Folder 16
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
Box 1, Folder 17
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
Box 1, Folder 18
H. O. Duke, Principal, "Letters from Alumni During World War II, Canoga Park
High School,"
1956
