Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives

Title: Cal State LA Pictures of Our Past

Identifier/Call Number: UA.2016.002

Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/2/resources/48

Physical Description: 46.1 Linear Feet

Date (inclusive): 1879-2006

Abstract: Most of the collection consists of photographs of historical and everyday moments at Californias State University of Los Angeles. This collection consists of a mixture of photographs, negatives, contact sheets, scrapbooks, and reels. Some of the significant photos include the construction and expansion of the campus and various departments of the university. Several aspects of student life, like Greek life, cultural events, and protest showcase different eras of change on the campus. Also, it features the 1984 Olympic's Judo event hosted at the Eagle's Nest Gym. Overall, it captures various moments from Cal State LA's history and legacy.

Language of Material: English .

The Pictures of Our Past Collection is the physical property of California State University, Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Folder title, Series, Box number, Collection title, followed by Special Collections and Archives, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, California State University, Los Angeles

The collection is organized into six series: I. Photographs; II. Negatives and Slides; III: Audio/Visual Materials; IV: Oversized Photographs; V: Scrapbooks; and VI: Oversized Prints. Three of the six series consist of subseries. Series I. Photographs is organized into eleven subseries: a. Campus and Buildings; b. Events; c. Departments; d. Student Life; e. Commencement; f. Athletics; g. Programs; h. Faculty/Staff and Donors; i. Solar Eagle; j. Historical; and k. Miscellaneous. Series II. Negatives and Slides is organized into three subseries: a. Negatives; b. Slides; and c. Oversized Negatives. Series III. Audio/Visual Materials is organized into three subseries: a. Film; b. VHS; and c. U-Matic.

In the 1850s, the Batz family acquired Rancho Rosa Castilla, the land that would eventually be home to California State University, Los Angeles. Los Angeles State College was opened in 1947 on the Vermont Avenue campus of Los Angeles City College. It was presided over by LACC President P. Victor Peterson and produced its first graduating class in 1948. In 1949, LASC underwent the first of three name changes, becoming Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts & Sciences. Howard S. McDonald became the first full-time president. The campus was moved to its current location in 1955. Albert Graves became the third president in 1962 and was succeeded by Franklyn A. Johnson the following year. Johnson presided over a second name change to California State College at Los Angeles before he was succeeded by John E. Greenlee in 1966. During Greenlee's time, CSCLA established the country's first Chicano Studies Department in 1968. The campus also expanded exponentially. In 1972, CSCLA received university classification and was renamed to California State University, Los Angeles. After Greenlee retired in 1979, James M. Rosser became the sixth university president. He is the longest serving president to date and presided over a period of change and prosperity for Cal State LA. In 1981, the mascot was changed from the Diablo to the Golden Eagle. New facilities were also built including student housing and the Metrolink Station in 1994. Cal State LA also had the historic honor of being the site of the 1984 Olympiad judo events. An Olympic mural by Guillermo "Bill" Granizo was also installed. The university celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1987 and mourned the loss of a student in a devastating earthquake the same year. In 1990, Cal State LA's Engineering and Technology Department broke ground with the first Solar Eagle, a solar-powered electric car that would go on to win national recognition for the university. From the university's beginning to today, Cal State LA faculty, students, and alumni have earned recognition worldwide.

The materials in this collection were created from 1879-2006. The bulk of the collection is photographs collected by the California State University, Los Angeles Office of Communications and Public Affairs. The photographs portray important events in Cal State LA's history as well as general university life. Duplicates and redundant photographs were removed from the collection. The materials in this collection also include negatives, slides, and audio/visual material pertaining to the campus.

Series I: Photographs Inclusive Dates: 1879-2006 Arrangement: Alphabetical and there under chronological

This large series consists of eleven subseries: a. Campus and Buildings, 1879- 2006; b. Events, 1959-2006; c. Departments, 1949-2003; d. Student Life, 1949- 2003; e. Commencement, 1948-2001; f. Athletics, 1949-1992; g. Programs, 1976-1998; h. Faculty/Staff and Donors, 1961-2003; i. Solar Eagle, 1970-1997; j. Historical, 1987-1907;and k. Miscellaneous, 1984. Some of the most noteworthy photographs include historical photographs of the Batz Family from 1870-1897. These offer insight into nineteenth century California life. This series also includes photographs of student protests. These offer a view of political turmoil on college campuses from the 1950s through the 70s. The rest of the series includes photographs documenting a plethora of events and general student life.

Series II: Negatives and Slides Inclusive Dates: 1948-1998 Arrangement: Alphabetical and there under chronological

This small series is organized into three subseries: a. Negatives, 1948-1998; b. Slides, 1967-1998; and c. Oversized Negatives, 1966. Some of the most notable negatives in the series are 8x10 negatives of aerial views of the campus from 1966. The slides subseries contains academic and statistical information about Los Angeles unseen in the rest of the collection.

Series III: Audio/Visual Inclusive Dates: 1957-1988 Arrangement: Alphabetical and there under chronological

This small series is organized into three subseries: a. Film, 1957-1964; b. VHS, 1986-1988; and c. U-Matic, 1983. The largest portion of this series is 16mm film including color footage of the campus and Los Angeles City Hall. The series also includes two small rolls of 35mm film in color created by Public Relations.

Series IV: Oversized Photographs Inclusive Dates: 1890-1965 Arrangement: Alphabetical and there under chronological

This small series consists of oversized photographs. The series includes historical photographs from as early as 1890. It also includes large photographs of the campus from 1947-1965.

Series V: Scrapbooks Inclusive Dates: 1980-1978 Arrangement: Alphabetical and thereunder chronological

This small series consists of two scrapbooks. The Batz Family Album contains photographs from 1890-1975 and handwritten text about the history of the family. The Broadcast Service Center scrapbook contains photographs of the center and its activities from 1960-1978.