Library
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Library

See: FOOD & RESTAURANTS, Winemaking
See: COLLECTIONS, Archives

Many University and college libraries house both a Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Oral History Programs are usually housed within the library's Special Collection section. The University Archives are the repository for the papers of school presidents, faculty, and other material relating to the school. There are many libraries on university and college campuses that house material such as manuscripts, photos, clippings, and taped interviews. Visitors should contact the particular library before visiting since some of the material may be in storage and therefore not readily available. (by Jean Cirrito Melley, Librarian)

Online Archive of California (OAC), California Digital Library: http://www.oac.cdlib.org

OAC is a searchable database containing "finding aids" and digital objects collections from many libraries, archive collections, and museums in California.

A finding aid, also referred to as a register or inventory, is a detailed guide describing the holdings of the institution submitting its information to the OAC. The database includes Universites such as UCLA, Berkeley, and Stanford; private libraries such as the Huntington Library; and other institutions including the California State Library and the San Diego Historical Society.

University Special Collections: UCLA

Charles E. Young Research Library
Department of Special Collections

Box 951575, A1713
Charles E. Young Research Library
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Tel: (310) 825-4988
http://www2.library.ucla.edu/about/2378.cfm

Watts Towers: UCLA Department of Special Collections houses the papers of the Committee for Simon Rodia's Towers in Watts. The Committee formed in 1954 when the Department of Building and Safety of the city of Los Angeles declared the Towers unstable and issued an order to have the pieces demolished. The Committee sponsored and performed an engineering test in 1959 that proved that the Towers were safe.

The rich and varied collection of 25 boxes is fully processed and includes the papers of Bud Goldstone, the engineer who performed the test, as well as photographs, audiotapes, slides, and transcripts of interviews with Simon Rodia.

Orsini Family Papers & Franklin Murphy Collection of Incunabula: UCLA Special Collections houses the papers of the Italian Orsini family dating from the 14th century and containing information on marriage settlements, inheritances, attendance on the papal throne, and descriptions of Orsini property. It also contains a fine collection of early Italian printing (Franklin Murphy Collection).

UCLA Oral History Program
Charles E. Young Research Library
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Tel: (310) 825-4932

UCLA Center for Oral History Research
Box 951575, 11717 Charles E. Young Research Library
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Tel: (310) 825-4932
http://www2.library.ucla.edu/about/2681.cfm

Interviews with Charles Speroni, University Administrator and Professor, Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco, composer and Holocaust survivor from Florence, Italy, and others.

Of related interest:

See: COLLECTIONS: Sound, Italian Oral History Institute Collection

California State University, Northridge

Oviatt Library, Urban Archive Center
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge CA 91330-8326
Tel: (818) 677-2285
http://library.csun.edu/Collections/SCA/UAC/index.html

The Urban Archives of CSUN, houses the papers of Frank De Santis, former National President of the Order of the Sons of Italy (OSIA).

Special Collections: Cal Poly Pomona

California State Polytechnic University
3801 W. Temple
Pomona, CA 91768
Tel: (909) 869-3074
Fax: (909) 869-6922
Email: library@csupomona.edu
http://www.csupomona.edu/~library/

History and development of the southern California winemaking industry.

Los Angeles Public Library: Central Library

Los Angeles Public Library
Central Library
630 W. 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Tel: (213) 228-7000
Fax: (213) 228-7069
http://www.lapl.org/central/

The International Languages Department contains many books in Italian as well as Italian language films. The Italian language collection is especially strong in the areas of history, biography, and literature.

Istituto Italiano di Cultura: Lending library of publications and videos. See: INSTITUTIONS, Italian Gov't Offices