The History of LA as Subject: 25 years of championing less visible archives
LA as Subject is a research alliance dedicated to preserving and accessibility to the archival materials related to the rich history of Los Angeles. Much of the city’s history is preserved in libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions. Many significant and valuable collections – those that tell the stories of families, communities, and prominent Angelenos – are scattered across Southern California, curated by smaller institutions and individual enthusiasts. With an online directory of over 230 separate collections, LA as Subject ensures that researchers know what materials are available, where they are located, and how to access them. Readers can search and browse the directory online.
LA as Subject’s biggest undertaking is the annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar, where members congregate and bring their unique collections together into one place. The event allows scholars, researchers, archivists, librarians, students, and history enthusiasts to browse the broad collections of the alliance’s members.
Members also meet on a bimonthly basis at the Archives Forum which is held at a different location each time. These meetings allow participants to network, observe different preservation methods, and share best practices. The Member Meetings Archives are available on line.
History
The Archives Forum was originally convened in 1997 by the Getty Research Institute as the LA as Subject Advisory Forum supported the work of its four-year research project, LA as Subject: The Transformative Culture of Los Angeles Communities (1995–1999). In 1999, the Advisory Forum produced the landmark print publication Cultural Inheritance/L.A.: A Directory of Less-Visible Archives and Collections in the Los Angeles Region and simultaneously released a companion online database.
In 2000, the online database was transferred to the USC Libraries, which remains the administrative home for the consortium today. Entities in the directory became “members,” and a formal executive committee was established. They created a new charter that solidified four major goals: to improve the visibility of and access to archives; promote a more inclusive narrative; promote services to archives; and advocate for the preservation and sustainability of Los Angeles focused collections.
