D.J. Waldie is a historian of Los Angeles, a memoirist, and a translator. He is the author of Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir (1995),...
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Speedy and His Camera: The Rolland J. Curtis Collection of Negatives and Photographs
Photo Friends, Thursday, May 24, 2018
Born in Louisiana in 1922, Rolland J. Curtis came to Los Angeles with his wife in 1946 after serving in the Marines during WWII.
What Mother's Day Looked Like in Vintage Los Angeles
In the United States, Mother's Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May. In some countries, it was changed to dates that were significant to the majority religion, or to historical dates.
Will You Go To Prom With Me?
The prom in all its drama has been around a lot longer than I thought. Originating somewhere in the1870s as a college tradition called the Promenade, it was a debutante coming out kind of thing.
Interview With an Author: John Kessel
John Kessel holds a B.A. in Physics and English and a Ph.D. in American Literature. He helped found and served as the first director of the MFA program in creative writing at North Carolina State University, where he has taught since 1982. He is also an award-winning author.
Interview With an Author: Claire Evans
Claire L. Evans is a writer and musician.
What Cinco de Mayo Looked Like in Vintage Los Angeles
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday commemorating just one event: The Battle of Puebla, which was a day of victory for the Mexican army against the French in 1862. Over 150 years later, people still mistake the holiday for Mexican Independence Day which is September 16.
Star Wars Books to Share With Your Children
“Where are your Star Wars books?” This is a very popular question librarians receive from children and their caregivers at the library.
Dodger Thoughts and Beyond: An Interview With Author Jon Weisman
If you're an Angeleno with even a casual interest in the Dodgers, you've probably heard of veteran baseball writer Jon Weisman.
There and Back: Los Angeles Japanese and Executive Order 9066
Photo Friends, Tuesday, May 1, 2018
In the spring of 1942, the City of Los Angeles experienced a population exodus triggered by a presidential executive order. Images in the Los Angeles Public Library's Herald Examiner Collection and Shades of L.A.
Rising From the Ashes: A Love Letter to Central Library
"It happened in New York, April 10th, nineteen years ago. Even my hand balks at the date. I had to push to write it down, just to keep the pen moving on the paper.