War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921, 1914-1921

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Summary

Title:
War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921
Dates:
1914-1921
Creators:
Abstract:
Extent:
(Boxes: 25 letter, legal)
Language:
Preferred citation:

War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Background

Scope and content:

Los Angeles County region. World War I information. Lists of enlistees and inductees by local boards, and some lists include addresses and nearest relatives. Correspondence of the committee, and biographies and photos of veterans of the war, including those who died while in service. Records include regional subcommittees, in example the Compton Branch of the committee and Pasadena. The committee also compiled reports and histories of local civilian war organizations, in example, Women's Improvement Association of South Pasadena; American Protective League; California Loyal League; Daughters of the American Revolution; local induction boards; the Los Angeles chapter of the American Red Cross; Jewish Women's Red Cross Auxiliary and the LA Council of Jewish Women; Pasadena chapter of the Red Cross; Japanese war work; volunteer intelligence and secret service organizations in the county; and there is one historical narrative of the Southwestern Ship Building Company in San Pedro. See also GC 1070.

Biographical / historical:

The War History Committee of Los Angeles County was organized under the California War History Committee of the State Council of Defense in Sacramento, California. The goal of this volunteer project was to create a historical record of veterans who served in the war as well as to document domestic war efforts. Correspondence indicate that Mrs. Frances M. Harmon was the chairman of the county committee. Veterans' photograph portraits were compiled as early as 1918-19. In 1920 Harmon solicited heavily to county branch librarians to get questionnaires completed by veterans of the war. Other establishments were also asked, in example the records show that the downtown L.A. Broadway Department Store supported the war history effort.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County staff.
Date Prepared:
1914-1921
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Research is by appointment only

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder

Preferred citation:

War History Committee for Los Angeles County Records, 1914-1921. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Location of this collection:
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007-4057, US
Contact:
(213) 763-3359
seavercenter@nhm.org
Website