Lakewood seeks historical items for display

Published on March 27, 2025

1960s Civic Center Postcard

The City of Lakewood is reaching out to longtime residents who may be willing to lend or donate an artifact or piece of memorabilia that tells a part of the city’s story through social events, family and school photos, materials that show the development of businesses and faith communities, and items celebrating city milestones.

“Our goal,” said city Historian Emeritus Don Waldie, “is to display these historical materials in an interesting and educational collection that will show Lakewood residents how their hometown grew and changed and is still shaping its bright future.”

Do you have these types of items?

If you have any of these types of items, and are willing to loan or donate them to the city for the historical display, please let us know through the online form.

Booklets, flyers and publications, such as:

  • Publications by Lakewood civic and social clubs, particularly 1950 to 1980.
  • School annuals from 1957 through 2000.
  • School histories that tell the origin of the school and its namesake and mascot.
  • Booklets, flyers and advertisements by Lakewood businesses that were begun in the 1950s through the 1980s.
  • Histories of churches and other religious congregations that tell about their start in Lakewood.
  • Lakewood Chamber of Commerce business guides and other Chamber publications that will help tell the economic history of Lakewood.
  • Historical materials from Lakewood’s employers: Lakewood General Hospital, Douglas/Boeing, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Lakewood Center, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and others.
  • Marketing and promotional booklets and advertisements for the new residential developments that came after 1954. (The city already has plenty of the original sales brochures from the Lakewood Park Corp. from 1950-53.) 

Mementos and memorabilia:

  • Pins, giveaways, prizes, and other nostalgic items that were offered at community events such as park playdays, school carnivals, church festivals, business promotions and anniversaries, club celebrations, and the like.
  • Mementos imprinted with Lakewood-specific identification (for example, a plaque honoring a resident that also refers to Lakewood).
  • Artifacts that are uniquely connected to Lakewood.

Photographs:

  • Family photographs that show major events in the city’s history since 1950, particularly those that show how these events were celebrated by residents—with dates and identification of those depicted.
  • Photographs of notable people and places that have had a significant place in Lakewood’s story. (Dates and identifications are important.)
  • Please be sure photos include dates and identification of subjects.

What's NOT needed

Some items are not needed because we already have enough examples, such as:

  • City newsletters and annual reports.
  • Newspapers.
  • Original sales brochures from the Lakewood Park Corp. from 1950-53.

In addition, we can't use:

  • Photos without captions or identification of those depicted.
  • Artifacts that cannot be connected to Lakewood’s story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to loan or donate your items

  1. Take a clear digital photo of each item.
  2. Complete the online form (see below), uploading the photo and information about the item. 
  3. Please do not bring the items to City Hall until requested.
  4. Wait for the city to contact you after reviewing your form and photos. 

 

Questions?

If you need help, have a question or want more information, please contact:


Community Relations 

562-866-9771, extension 3123

Communityrelations@lakewoodca.gov

 

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