Los Angeles and Southern California *

Image from USC Digital Library - Volunteers of America camp (El Porto beach near Manhattan Beach), 1952

Welcome to the Los Angeles and Southern California Research Guide

Materials related to the study of Los Angeles and Southern California are as diverse and widespread as the geographical area they document. Use the tabs above to explore USC's varied collections, as well as other primary source materials available online and at other institutions.

The Regional History Collection at USC Libraries is one of the main resources for the study of L.A. and Southern California. This collection includes materials that document approximately one hundred years of political, social, cultural, and urban history of Southern California, and includes books, photographic images, manuscripts, film, ephemera and other archival items. 

The links below provide information about accessing the Regional History Collection in person at USC Libraries Special Collections and through the USC Digital Library, where some collection materials are available online:

Requesting and accessing resources for use in the Special Collections reading room

Accessing digitized collections in the USC Digital Library