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Local History Room
Welcome to the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library Local History Room & Collection
The Local History Room at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library collects and preserves materials which illustrate the vibrant history of the City of Monterey Park.
Collection Highlights
Significant holdings include local newspapers such as the Monterey Park Progress, Monterey Park Cascades, the Monterey Park Journal, and the Monterey Park Comet. The Library also has a microfilm collection featuring articles from the Monterey Park Progress, the Los Angeles Times, International News Daily, the Alhambra Post Advocate, and the China News Daily. The Library owns a collection of books written by Monterey Park authors including bound editions of Monterey Park’s Around the Writer’s Block group containing original works from residents and first time authors. Lastly, there is a vertical file containing newspaper clippings and photographs.
Collection Size and Scope
Holdings currently comprise 181 bound items, three file cabinets of microfilm, Monterey Park City Directories, City Council Minutes from 1916-2011, Mark Keppel High School Yearbooks, and scrapbooks. Most of the collection ranges in date from the 1900s to the present.
Local History Digital Resource Project
This collection of photographs, slides, postcards and picture clippings documents the history of the City of Monterey Park and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley. These photographs were collected over the years by the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library and the Monterey Park Historical Society. The collection tells the story of the establishment of Monterey Park as a city in 1916, emergence of business and industry, and documents some of the well-known historical faces of Monterey Park. Because the library has digitized this collection of images, anyone with access to the Internet can view these images without risking damage to the photographic originals.
California of the Past Digital Storytelling Project
This collection of 24 digital stories documents the experiences of people coming to and living in Monterey Park and in California. The stories feature three topics of people, places, and events. Highlights include stories about local theatre productions and plays, family stories about immigrating to the United States and to Monterey Park, stories from local artists and authors, the establishment of East Los Angeles Community College, and general experiences in the community. Anyone with access to the Internet can watch this collection of digital stories. Digital stories were recorded in the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library and in the local community. Storytellers contributed photographs and videos from their personal collections to create these miniature two-to-five minute films highlighting their experiences.
California Revealed Oral History Program
Funded by a grant from the California State Library in 1990, this collection of interviews documents the the stories of long time residents and past Mayors.
DigiLab
Sponsored by the Southern California Library Cooperative (SCLC), the Monterey Park DigiLab collection features photos and other items documenting the history of Monterey Park, CA.
The physical collection is housed in the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library and is available for research and viewing by appointment only. Patrons are also welcome to contact the Reference Desk at (626) 307-1368 to speak with a staff member.