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Jeff Allen Collection, 2004-2007
General Photo Collection (GPC) Boxes 84 - 88
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Title: Jeff Allen Collection, 2004-2007
Dates: 2004-2007
Collection Number: General Photo Collection (GPC) Boxes 84 - 88
Creator/Collector:
Allen, Jeff.
Extent: 5 boxes (2.5 linear feet)
Repository:
Los Angeles Public Library
Los Angeles, California 90071
Abstract: The Jeff Allen Collection, 2004-2007, documents the exterior and interior of current and former Christian churches in the
Los Angeles County area and a handful of churches in Orange County. Church denominations include Protestantism, Catholicism,
Mormonism and Nondenominational. This collection also documents how some churches have changed their denomination and/or demographic
over time as noted on church plaques.
Some demographics include Korean, Latino, African-American and Samoan Christian churches. There is also a small portion of
photos of a wall mural depicting the history of Mexico in Compton.
Language of Material: English
This collection is stored on-site at the Central Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.
Offline images made be viewed via appointment only. Approximately 500 images from this collection, primarily from boxes 84
and 85 may be viewed digitally, via the Los Angeles Public Library website at: https://tessa.lapl.org/
[Identification of item]. Jeff Allen Collection, 2004-2007. Collection Number: General Photo Collection (GPC) Boxes 84 - 88.
Los Angeles Public Library
The photographer personally donated this collection of his photographs to the Central Library prior to 2009.
Biography/Administrative History
Jeff Allen was born in 1955 and was a field volunteer for the Los Angeles Central
Library Photo Collection under Senior Librarian Caroline Kozo Cole. He predominately
took photos of current and former Christian churches throughout the Los Angeles area.
Allen also took photos of churches in the Orange County area and of flowers, trees and
murals. He did not mind going to “rough” neighborhoods as his mother taught him to not
be afraid of people who were different due to language or race but rather to gain a new
perspective. He was a Cost Accountant for over thirty years and as of 2013 has retired to
Colorado with his wife, Lynn. Allen considers Norwalk, California his hometown. He
graduated from Norwalk High School and got his accounting degree from Cal State Fullerton.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Jeff Allen Collection, 2004-2007, consists primarily of current and former Christian
churches in the Los Angeles County region such as Pasadena, Hollywood, Long Beach,
San Gabriel, Compton, Pico Rivera, Gardena, Montebello, Huntington Park, Bell
Gardens, Commerce, Cerritos, Downey, Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, East LA, Little
Tokyo, Lincoln Heights, South LA and in Orange Country with cities such as Santa Ana,
Los Alamitos and Cypress. Allen also focused on churches along Hooper Avenue in Los
Angeles. There is a small portion of photos of a wall mural depicting the history of
Mexico in Compton. Almost all of Allen’s photographs document the exterior, interior
and location of a church including close-ups of stain glass windows, altars, pews and
statues to a full exterior view of the church from across the street. He photographed the
church marquees, street signs and cornerstones or plaques placed on the church wall that
would document the building’s date of construction or how it was formerly a different
religious denomination than the one it is now. After the 1933 Long Beach earthquake
many churches were rebuilt and have plaques documenting this. Of the former Christian
churches they include current Mini Markets, Buddhist Temples and Jewish Synagogues
Nearly every single photograph has the church’s name and address printed or handwritten
on the back. Almost the entire collection is devoid of people.
Churches--California--Los Angeles.
Church architecture--California--Los Angeles.
Los Angeles (Calif.)