It’s 2026, and here at the Library, we’re looking forward to commemorating 100 years of the Central Library. Dedicated in July 1926, the opening of this architectural icon was a milestone not only for the Library system but for the entire city. It was such an important moment that we’ve decided to celebrate all year long. We hope you’ll join us!...
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The Central Library cornerstone is shown being laid on 5th Street, along with a time capsule which has been unearthed for the 2026 centennial. Pictured here are City Librarian Everett Perry with Board of Library Commissioners Frank H. Pettingell, Katherine G. Smith, and Frances M. Harmon-Zahn, 1924 (colorized using Adobe Photoshop)
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National Deaf History Month: Celebrating an American Community
National Deaf History Month, which runs from March 13 to April 15, celebrates deaf history and promotes awareness of American deaf culture. The celebration spans two calendar months to include several key dates:
Visionary Women Who Pursued Their Dreams and Changed the World
“We’ll all grow up someday, Meg; we might as well know what we want.”—Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Remembering Old Chinatown
The Big Read this year is The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu.
Chinatown: On the Map
Chinatown in Los Angeles has been demeaned and misunderstood for about a century and a half.
What Mardi Gras Looked Like in Vintage Los Angeles
I must confess I didn't really know that much about the history of Mardi Gras, but with a little bit of librarian research, I found out some interesting facts.
The First With the Latest! Aggie Underwood, the Los Angeles Herald, and the Sordid Crimes of a City
A picture may say 1,000 words, though there is possibly another story lurking just outside the frame.
A Quiet Gentleman: Paul Revere Williams and His Los Angeles Dream
Steven Kilgore, Administrative Clerk, Special Collections & Digitization, Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The Personal Side of History – Shades of L.A.: African American Community
Photo Friends, Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Over 25 years ago, while organizing the photo collection of the Los Angeles Public Library, librarian Carolyn Kozo Cole found many photos that documented the city’s political and professional history—political rallies, building construction, front page stories—but few images showing the personal side of it
A Kiss Cam View of Vintage Los Angeles
Ah Valentine's Day! The day to celebrate romantic love.
For some, it's a day of love and kisses to look forward to with your sweetheart, for others, well, not so much.
Reading the Map: A Celebration of African American Stories Across the United States
Black History Month is a time to remember the contributions that African Americans have left on our country and world. This year’s theme, Black Migrations, explores the impact the African diaspora has made around the globe.