collections

Research Library & Archives

 

PMH maintains the area’s largest and most comprehensive collection of documents and artifacts related to the history of Pasadena and the west San Gabriel valley. The ever-expanding collection spans the years 1834 to the present and contains well over 1,000,000 historic photographs, rare books, manuscripts, maps, architectural records, and more.  Significant collections include:  the Pasadena Star-News Photo Collection, the Tournament of Roses Collection, the Pasadena Black History Collection, the J. Allen Hawkins Photo Collection, the Flag Photo Collection, the Sylvanus Marston Architectural Collection, the Giddings-Hollingsworth Family Collection, the Helen Lukens Gaut Photo Collection, and the Ernest A. Batchelder Archives.

The Research Library and Archives will be open from Friday to Sunday from 1 to 4 pm

  • There are charges for photocopying, scanning and mailing the results of our research (see Reproduction Services).
  • The Research Library & Archives can be contacted at 626-577-1660 ext 205 or research@pasadenahistory.org.
  • Please note that the entire Museum is closed on all major holidays. Check our calendar for specific dates.

Note to Researchers: We also encourage you to search the photograph collections of PMH and other institutions on the Pasadena Digital History Collaboration website.

Archival Collections

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View more than 50,000 records from the collections of PMH, the Pasadena Public Library, and Pasadena City College, Shatford Library, and more!


black and white archival photograph

black and white photograph of ostrich farm