City of Gardena

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2023-015

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The City of Gardena Collection (1900-2013; undated) contains 20 boxes and 105 linear feet of photographs, scrapbooks, clippings, awards, certificates, plaques, reports, programs, and other material regarding the City of Gardena, California. Material relates mostly to city council meetings; city events such as heritage festivals, medal of valor, wall of fame; the sister city exchange program between Gardena and Ichikawa City, Japan, and Huatabampo, Mexico; and the Gardena Fire Department. Series I: Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Clippings contains photographs from city council meetings and includes images of former mayors Donald Dear and Terrence Terauchi, events such as 5k race, fishing, heritage festivals, Ichikawa and Huatabampo sister city visits, award ceremonies, and employee recognition events. Also included are photographs (photocopies and reproductions only) and negatives of Gardena from the early 1900s-1940s and feature images of strawberry festivals, farming, city streets, and more. Also included in this series is a recreation park women's club scrapbook, City of Gardena 50th anniversary scrapbook, Sumitomo Bank Album, and Gardena Valley News clippings. Series II: Sister City and Exchange Programs contains dinner programs, invitations, photographs, booklets, postcards, clippings, certificates, plaques, and a scrapbook related to the Ichikawa City and Huatabampo Mexico sister city programs; as well as letters of appreciation for the Yonsei Basketball Exchange Program, and Sanda Young Men’s Judo Team visit. Series III: Gardena Fire Department contains a scrapbook; photographs; awards and certificates; California Fire Training Program manuals; rules and regulations; and a fireman's protective uniform and hat. Series IV: Plaques, Awards, and Certificates contains awards, plaques, certificates, placards, proclamations, and resolutions regarding various entities within the City of Gardena. A majority of the awards and certificates are of recognition and appreciation. Series V: General File contains articles, programs, reports, booklets, fact sheets, hats, flags, and other material related to the Gardena High School art collection and "Painted Light" exhibit; Gardena history; Normandie Club; Gardena Adult Buddhist Association; Mitch Lansdell; Gardena Valley JACL; Lions Clubs; various events including employee recognition banquets; Beautification Committee; and others.

Dates

1900-2013; undated
Majority of material found within 1980-2000

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

The City of Gardena was incorporated on September 11, 1930. It combined the rural communities of Gardena, Moneta, and Strawberry Park into a Municipal Corporation, Sixth Class City. Prior to its incorporation, Gardena was a small farming community of about 20,000 people.

For more information about the history of the City of Gardena see: "Gardena History" https://cityofgardena.org/gardena-history/ and "Gardena Community History" https://lacountylibrary.org/gardena-local-history/

Extent

20 boxes (four document boxes; two record storage box; four photograph boxes; one negative box; nine oversized boxes; one oversized item)

105 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains photographs; scrapbooks; newspaper articles and clippings; certificates; booklets; plaques; event programs; flyers; pamphlets; reports; and issues of Gardena Valley News regarding the City of Gardena. A majority of the material relates to Sister City visits from the sister city program with Ichikawa City, Japan, and Huatabampo Mexico; the Gardena High School art collection, and CSUDH Painted Light exhibit; employee recognition banquets; Gardena Valley JACL; Lions Clubs; Beautification Committee; and other subjects and events regarding the City of Gardena. A majority of the photographs feature images of city council meetings and events; City of Gardena events such as heritage festivals, car shows, a fishing event, 5k race, and others; and images of Ichikawa City.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into five series:

Series I: Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Clippings, circa 1900s-1970s
Series II: Sister City and Exchange Programs, 1963-1982, 2007, 2011; undated
Series III: Gardena Fire Department, 1935, 1957, 1962, 1970-2000; undated
Series IV: Plaques, Awards, and Certificates, 1957, 1974-2013
Series V: General File, 1930-1995; undated

Related Materials

For related collections please see: Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce; Gardena Valley News; Donald Greaton Gardena Collection; and James Osborne Gardena Photograph Collection.