Peek in the Stacks

A number of collections in the Old China Hands Archives document the lives of American military personnel serving abroad in the 20th century, primarily in China but also in other countries in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Alongside photographs of local sites and fellow servicemembers, dogs make fairly frequent cameos. 

In only a few days many people in the United States and around the world will be celebrating Valentine’s Day. For those who celebrate the day and are in need of a bit of inspiration, this post will feature some potential lyrical gifts: love songs.

The Stonehurst Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) is a historic district located in the northeast San Fernando Valley. It consists of 60 to 70 quaint bungalows and a few commercial buildings built in the 1920s for a developer by the name of “Pep” Rempp who was later arrested for embezzlement. Significantly, the homes were all built using native river rock from the local Tujunga Valley area. A considerable amount of the structures were built by local Native American resident Dan Montelongo, whose children were central to helping Albert Knight reconstruct the history of the neighborhood. The Stone Houses of the San Fernando Valley Collection documents Mr. Knight's historical reseach into the neighborhood. 

Major William J. Lodge served as a Statistical Officer in the VIII Fighter Command, 417th Night Fighter Squadron, of the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He kept copies of propaganda leaflets and newsletters dropped over Germany and occupied Europe during the last several months of World War II....