The largest photograph collection consists of some 2,000 black and white images dating from the 1920s. A gift from the Palos Verdes Homes Association, the images show the progression of the community, from plowed fields with unobstructed ocean views to a scattering of buildings. Additional photos depict the community's social life, such as beach horseback rides, golf tournaments, dances, and garden shows. Most of these images are available through the Digital Archive.
The photograph collection also includes a small group of colored postcards, showing early views of Palos Verdes, Long Beach, Catalina, and other California cities.
The Local History Center also has a selection of more than 150 photographs filmed by Fairchild Aerial Surveys, Inc. These images include views of the Peninsula from 1927 to 1956, with the majority taken in 1945. These photos were the gift of David Cummins, a geologist who worked for many years in the Palos Verdes area.
The Center is actively collecting images as part of its Your Story is the Peninsula's Story (YSPS) that depict post-WWII history and making the scanned images available in its Digital Archive.
High resolution scans of items in the photograph collection are avaialbe for purchase and use in publication. All requests must be made on the Photograph Reproduction Order Form.
