For Us, By Us: Shades of LA Photo Project

It was a watershed moment for cultural preservation! In 1991, the Los Angeles Public Library launched the visionary Shades of L.A. project, a determined effort to finally bridge the glaring gap in cultural representation within its image archive. Under the stellar guidance of Senior Librarian Carolyn Kozo Cole and consultant Kathy Kobayashi, the library team didn't wait for history to walk in—they took action. They fanned out across the city, hosting vibrant "photo days" where Angelenos were personally invited to share and have copies of their priceless family photographs added to the permanent collection. Now, Christina Rice, who took the reins as Senior Librarian of the Photo Collection, is bringing this legacy back into the spotlight! Join her as she delivers a captivating overview of the project's powerful implementation, its spectacular success, and the profound influence it continues to exert on archival practices worldwide.