Local Resources: How to Get the Most From Your Local Library - Burbank and Glendale

By Barbara Mateer Taylor

Over the years, I have learned that smaller local library systems vary in focus, so I visited Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and South Pasadena libraries to see what their collections provide for genealogists. All except South Pasadena provide an online catalog.

Public libraries usually restrict circulation and reference-search services to residents of their city, but allow anyone to use their materials in the library. In any case, the majority of genealogy materials do not circulate. Most public libraries provide free interlibrary loan services, which allow you to request materials from other libraries at your local branch if you are willing to wait a few days or weeks.

Burbank

The Western Americana Room at the Burbank Central Library is a treasure trove of books about all aspects of western states’ history, much of which will be of interest to genealogical researchers. The collection is especially strong for Southern California counties and cities. Some volumes are in locked cases, but most books in this non-circulating collection are on open shalves accessible any time the library is open. Since the library is near the SCGS Library, it makes no attempt to maintain a genealogy room. It has an incomplete and uncataloged collection of Burbank City Directories but no local newspapers.

Here is a sample of authors, titles and publication:

• “The Larkin Papers”: personal, business and official correspondence of Thomas Oliver Larkin, merchant and U.S. consul in California, 1822-1858.
• Brown, “Harvest of the sun: an illustrated history of Riverside County,” 1985.
• “History of Long Beach and vicinity,” 1927.
• Elliott, “History of San Bernardino and San Diego Counties; California,” 1883.
• Guinn, “History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley; California,” 1902.
• Guinn, “Historical and biographical record of southern California ... containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present,” 1902.
• Sheridan, “History of Ventura County, California,” 1926.
  Holmes, “History of Riverside County, California: with biographical sketches of the leading men and women .. “ 1912.
• Hubbard, “History of Huntington Park: in two parts, narrative and biographical,” 1935.
• McGroarty, “History of Los Angeles County with selected biography ...” 1923.
• Quinn, “History of Downey; the life story of a pioneer community ... from covered wagon to the space shuttle.”
• Young, “Rustic Canyon and the story of the Uplifters,” 1975.
• Robinson, “Lawyers of Los Angeles ...” 1959.
• Storke, “A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California,” 1891.
• Talbert, “My sixty years in California; memories of pioneer days of Long Beach ... and of the lower Santa Ana Valley ... Orange County coast; Bolsa Chica; Huntington Beach, and Newport Harbor,” 1952.
• Wood, “Pasadena, California, historical and personal,” 1917.

The Burbank Central Library is at 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, 91502. The telephone is (818) 238-5600 and the Web site is http://www.burbank.lib.ca.us. For hours and branches, call or check the Web site.

Glendale

Glendale Central Library’s Special Collections Room is most famous for its extensive cat collection. However, George Ellison, the librarian in charge, quickly demonstrated that cats are only a minor part of the treasures to be found there.

Special Collections is the main repository of the history of the city of Glendale. They have collected and cataloges historical materials regarding all aspects of the city, including early settlers, prominent families, city government past and present, schools and community organizations and businesses. They have good coverage of the greater Glendale area and California history.

Materials include books, magazines, yearbooks (including those from middle and senior high schools) and city directories, government documents, pamphlets, clippings, photos, maps, postcards, videos and slides.

The random selection of Glendale clippings are alphabetized by individual names and/or events and California clippings are organized by subject. Clippings, photos and other non-print materials are not cataloged and can be accessed only by request in the Special Collections Room.

Some materials, such as city directories, are in storage and are available by request at the library’s reference desk any time the library is open.

The online catalog, which includes all books and magazines in the library, shows the physical location of each item.
Titles available in this collection include the following:

• “Bancroft’s History of California 1542-1890; Bancroft’s Register of pioneer inhabitants of California 1542 to 1848” and an index to information concerning them in “Bancroft’s History of California,” volumes 1-5.
• “The Historical Society of Southern California Quarterly” (1884-current).
• “California Historical Society Quarterly” (1922-current).
• “Pacific Historian” (1957-1987).
• “Glendale City Employee” (newsletter 1940s to 1990s, sporadically published).
• “Commonwealth” (1940-current, published by the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco).

An incomplete collection of yearbooks from Glendale and Hoover high schools, Glendale Community College and a few middle-school yearbooks.

Special Collections materials are references and may be used only the Special Collections Room, which is open Saturdays from 1:30 to 5:30pm. Arrangements can be made for the photocopying of materials.

Glendale Central Library is at 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale 91205. The telephone is (818) 548-2027, and the Website http://library.ci.glendale.ca.us/

© Beverly Mateer Taylor. Used with permission.