Long Beach History
About the Long Beach History Collection
The Long Beach History Collection at the Main Library contains printed matter, photos, and artifacts that offer unique insight into Long Beach and the people who have lived here. Many of the items are rare and fragile. Most original items are for use only in the library in order to better preserve them.
Acrobats perform on the nose of a bi-plane, 1928. | 
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| LBPL Digital Archive - NEW! | 
New car, 1934, Long Beach.
| Watch the Long Beach History Collection go digital. Discover Long Beach City Directories, Long Beach High School yearbooks, and photos from the Long Beach History collection, online! Check out the LBPL Digital Archive How To sheet (PDF). Browse the collection or search by keyword in the LBPL Digital Archive. You can also search the LBPL Digital Archive from within Encore. In Encore, enter your keyword search and then click on the Images link (at the top between Catalog and Articles) OR click on the LBPL Digital Archive link under Location on the left side of the page. In late 2009, we started digitizing our collection of 10,000 historic photographs. As the work progresses, more unique Long Beach History Collection photos will be digitized and added to the LBPL Digital Archive. The images in the LBPL Digital Archive are low-resolution copies that are intended for personal use only. Any reproduction, redistribution, publication, or other use, by any means, without prior written permission is prohibited. The sole exception to this rule is for students using images in classroom projects. Please include a link back to the LBPL Digital Archive in your project. For high resolution images or for information about requesting images, please see the Ordering Long Beach History Photos section below. |
Photos are also available for viewing at the Main Library Central Information Desk. Photographs may not be taken out of the Library. Please bring a valid library card or driver's license to view the photo files.Ordering Long Beach History Photos To order a photo for non-commercial, one-time, personal use please download and complete this form. For more information about ordering Long Beach Collection photos for media or for-profit uses, please contact the Long Beach History Librarian at lbpl_reference@lbpl.org. Additional fees and usage guidelines may apply.
Long Beach History Index The Long Beach History Index is a selectively indexed database of Long Beach history related citations. It is best searched by keyword. Full-text articles are not included in the database. Articles cited can be found in full-text format on microfilm at the Main Library, Periodicals Department. No appointment is necessary, and printing is available. Ask a librarian to demonstrate how to search the Long Beach History Index. The Long Beach History Index is temporarily only available in-house at LBPL locations. We apologize for the inconvenience. Be sure to select History Index from the drop-down menu.
Long Beach Obituaries and Biographical Information Some obituary and biographical article citations can also be found in the Long Beach History Index. The Long Beach History Index is temporarily only available in-house at LBPL locations. For more information about obituaries, or to request a copy of a Long Beach obituary for a fee, see Obituary Requests.
Researching a Long Beach Home or Building Find out How to Research a Long Beach Home.
Newspapers, City Directories, and High School Yearbooks ON MICROFILM Please visit the Periodicals Department of the Main Library for these resources. For newspapers, consider searching the Long Beach History Index mentioned above to locate the correct reel of microfilm. Daily Telegram - Dec. 26, 1904 - Mar. 6, 1923 (scattered holdings until 1905)
Evening Tribune - Dec. 1900 - Sep. 1, 1907 (scattered holdings until 1905)
Independent - Jan. 1964 - Mar, 31, 1981
Long Beach Press - Jan. 2, 1902 - Aug. 31, 1924 (scattered holdings until 1905)
Los Angeles Times - Dec. 4, 1881 - Dec. 31, 1902 (scattered holdings until 1900)
Press Telegram - Sept 1, 1924 - Dec. 31, 1969 & April 1, 1981 - Dec. 31, 2004.
Note: The Press-Telegram website contains current articles and archives from 1990-present. Archive search is free, but article retrieval is fee-based. Free full-text 2005-present articles are available to library card holders via the ProQuest database. Search selectively indexed Press-Telegram and other vintage, Long Beach history-related newspaper articles available for free in the Long Beach History Index (see above).
Most Polk & City Directories, 1911 - present
Some Long Beach high school yearbooks, 1911-present
Long Beach History Research Requests & Help Research requests are evaluated individually. Researchers should email project requests to the Long Beach History Librarian at lbpl_reference@lbpl.org so that she can provide an estimate before work begins. Do not send money until this step is completed! The Long Beach History Librarian may also offer suggestions or alternatives to lower the cost of the search. LBPL only accepts cash, checks, or money orders. Questions about the Long Beach History Collection? Email the Long Beach History Librarian at lbpl_reference@lbpl.org.
Policy for Donations of Historic Materials The library accepts Long Beach history-related donations but reserves the right to utilize these gifts in any way that is advantageous to the library, including adding gifts to the collection, selling, disposing, or transferring gifts into or out of the collection. The library cannot act as an agency for the disposal or recycling of unwanted items. Donations must be in good condition, free of stains, mildew, grime, odors, and vermin. In addition, newspapers and magazines cannot be accepted due to their ephemeral and flammable nature. The library provides no appraisals and reserves the right to refuse any donated material. Thank you for your help in donating only suitable items. Your gifts are appreciated.
Additional Resources for Long Beach History Research Long Beach Postcard Images - Along with a narrative, this site includes vintage hand-colored postcards of Long Beach landmarks, including the Virginia Hotel, Daisy Avenue School, Pacific (Lincoln) Park, the Library, and Farmer's Market. Long Beach Heritage Museum - Images on this site are part of a private collection owned by Ken Larkey, long-time Long Beach resident and curator of the Long Beach Heritage Museum. Independent Researchers Available - Research referral from the National Archives and Records Administration. Researchers are independent contractors, charge a fee, and are not associated with LBPL or the National Archives and Records Administration.
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