Los Angeles Examiner Exhibit and Contest Collection, 1942-1951
Finding aid created by Los Angeles Public Library staff using RecordEXPRESS
Los Angeles Public Library
2022
630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, California 90071
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http://www.lapl.org/
Title: Los Angeles Examiner Exhibit and Contest Collection, 1942-1951
Dates: 1942-1951
Collection Number: Examiner Exhibit and Contest – Boxes 01-05
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 5 boxes in collection (12.25 linear ft. or 1.25ft. stacked)
Repository:
Los Angeles Public Library
Los Angeles, California 90071
Abstract: The Los Angeles Examiner Exhibit and Contest Collection consists of 207 photographs in two parts: (1) thirty-five mounted
news photographs submitted to Kent State University School of Journalism’s Short Course in News Photography tenth annual National
Press Photography Contest (nine of which were selected for an exhibition that took place March 20-23, 1951) and (2) enlarged
news photographs (both bound and unbound) originally published in the Los Angeles Examiner submitted to the William Randolph
Hearst annual photography competition among staff photographers from Hearst-owned newspapers. The photographs document local
Los Angeles news stories covering a variety of subjects, including human interest, celebrities, children, pets, sports, natural
disasters, accidents, crime, domestic disturbances (abuse, custody battles), suicides and murders, and the bereaved.
Language of Material: English
This collection is stored on-site at the Central Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. It is open for research by appointment
only.
[Identification of item]. Los Angeles Examiner Exhibit and Contest Collection, 1942-1951. Collection Number: Examiner Exhibit
and Contest – Boxes 01-05. Los Angeles Public Library
Gift of the Hearst Corporation, March 6, 1991.
Biography/Administrative History
The Los Angeles Examiner was a daily newspaper founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1903. It ran from December 12, 1903 until
January 7, 1962 when it merged with the Los Angeles Herald-Express and became the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. In 1934, Hearst
began an annual photo contest among staff photographers at all his newspapers. A photographic trophy was awarded to the “best
illustrated Hearst newspaper.” Individual prizes were also awarded. In 1956, the annual contest was changed to include writing
and photography contests. There were also monthly photographic contests among Hearst’s newspapers.
Kent State University School of Journalism’s short course in news photography, in existence from 1938 to 1962, was one of
the earliest professional workshops of its kind. The three-to-five day courses included lectures and presentations by leaders
in the field of photojournalism. It also sponsored a national photography contest, with cash and other prizes awarded and
photographs exhibited during the course (excerpted from: Kent State University Special Collections Finding Aid: https://www.library.kent.edu/special-collections-and-archives/school-journalism-short-course-news-photography-records).
Scope and Content of Collection
The Los Angeles Examiner Exhibit and Contest Collection is composed of the Examiner’s news photograph submissions to the annual
William Randolph Hearst Photographic Competition spanning the years 1942 to 1953 (some years are incomplete and some are missing
altogether) and the Kent State University School of Journalism’s Short Course in News Photography National Photography Contest
and exhibition that took place March 20-23, 1951. The photographs document local Los Angeles news stories covering a variety
of subjects, including human interest, celebrities, children, pets, sports, natural disasters, accidents, crime, domestic
disturbances (abuse, custody battles), suicides and murders, and the bereaved. The collection includes 12.25 linear feet (1.25ft.
upwards/stacked) of photographs dating from 1942 to 1951. There is a total of 207 photographs (35 mounted on matte boards
for exhibition, 146 photos in five over-sized bound folios, and 26 loose items). The date for nine loose items could not be
determined.
Contests--California--Los Angeles.
Newspapers--California--Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Herald Examiner (Newspapers)
Los Angeles (Calif.)