Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives
Title: Boyle Heights Archive
Identifier/Call Number: MS.2005.001
Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/2/resources/6
Physical Description:
0.83 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1973-2005
Abstract: Boyle Heights is a historic neighborhood of Los Angeles,California which was diversely populated by Jewish, Latino, Russian,
and Japanese Americans in the mid-Twentieth century. It was once home to the largest Jewish community in the Western United
States, however many Jewish families left because of the freeway development in the community and banks redlining the neighborhood.
Currently, Boyle Heights is a working-class, heavily Mexican American, youthful neighborhood of almost 100,000 residents.
Language of Material: English .
The Boyle Heights Archive is the physical property of California State
University, Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections
and Archives.
The collection is organized into three series: I. Reports II.
Audio/Visual; and III. Miscellaneous.
Folder title, Series, Box number, Collection title, followed by
Special Collections and Archives, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, California
State University, Los Angeles
Boyle Heights is a historic neighborhood of Los Angeles, California which was
diversely populated by Jewish, Latino, Russian, and Japanese Americans in the
mid-Twentieth century. It was once home to the largest Jewish community in the
Western United States, however many Jewish families left because of the
freeway development in the community and banks redlining the neighborhood.
Currently, Boyle Heights is a working-class, heavily Mexican American, youthful
neighborhood of almost 100,000 residents.
The Breed Street Shul was built as a place of worship in 1922. After the Jewish
community left Boyle Heights, the Breed Street Shul was the last synagogue in
Boyle Heights; there had been around thirty when the Jewish population was at
its peak. In the 1980s, the Shul was essentially abandoned and was damaged by
vandalism, earthquakes, and neglect. Today the mission of the project is to bring
together the Jewish, Latino and other communities of Los Angeles by
rehabilitating the landmark Breed Street Shul in Boyle Heights. By transforming
the campus into a center of arts, culture, education and service for its current
neighbors.
This collection represents the initial installment of the Boyle Heights Archive in
2005. This archive was initiated to serve as a setting for studies that explore the
ongoing history of Latino/Chicano/Jewish community relations of Boyle Heights.
The materials in this collection were created from 1973-2005. The bulk of the
collection includes Reports most of which were maintained with the original title
given by Victor Valle. The Reports contain information about the Boyle Heights
area, cultural and community reports, and information about the Breed Street
Shul. Smaller series include Audio/Visual Series and the Miscellaneous Series.
Series I: Reports
Inclusive Dates: 1995 - 2001
Arrangement: Chronological
This series consists of reports concerning possible Metro Transit improvements
to the Boyle Heights area, varying topical reports on Boyle Heights history, and
reports about the Breed Street Shul.
Series II: Audio/Visual
Inclusive Dates: 1996, 2005
Arrangement: Alphabetical
This small series consists of a compact disc containing the Breed Street Shul
Project CCHE Grant application, and a VHS tape of "Meet Me at Brooklyn and
Soto" which is about the historic Jewish community in East Los Angeles.
Series III: Miscellaneous
Inclusive Dates: 1973, 2002
Arrangement: Chronological
This small series consists of a photocopy/printout of information about
cemeteries of Los Angeles, specifically the Evergreen Cemetery. Also contains a
database search of the Huntington Library for the cemetery document.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California--East Los Angeles