Shades of L.A.: A Los Angeles Family Album

  In 1990, the Southern California Library for Social Studies & Research was mounting an exhibition on the Watts Rebellion of 1965 and turned to the Los Angeles Public Library for help. They were seeking images of the predominantly Black community of Watts in the 1960s. Photograph curator Carolyn Kozo Cole searched the library’s files and the only Watts photos she found were of the local Pacific Electric station. The photo collection provided a general survey of the Los Angeles landscape, but it did not reflect the cultural diversity of its population. Cole concluded the best place to find photos of the city’s residents was in their homes. The photos stored in their albums, scrapbooks, and shoeboxes of Angelenos would tell the story of the region’s multi-cultural history. Shades of L.A. was born. Through donations and grants, and the aid of library staff, volunteers, and the newly formed Photo Friends support group, the Shades of L.A. community collecting project was conducted from