Historical Society of Southern California

The Historical Society of Southern California (HSSC) is a membership-driven, nonprofit organization founded in 1883 in Los Angeles. It is dedicated to weaving the diverse threads of the region's past into a vibrant narrative for the future through academic scholarship and community engagement. The Society seeks to connect people to their past and to the places they live by combining inclusive historical scholarship and community engagement to explore and disseminate the complex multicultural history of Southern California and the West. The HSSC traces its origins to November 1, 1883, when a group of fifteen citizens in Los Angeles gathered to discuss the formation of a local historical society. Their first official meeting took place in the old Temple Block in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of Main and Market Streets. The group began presenting scholarly papers and collecting manuscripts, books, and artifacts on California history. On February 13, 1891, the Historical Society of Southern California was officially incorporated. Publication has been a goal of the HSSC almost since its inception. The Historical Society of Southern California Annual was first published in 1884, making it the oldest continuously operating historical journal in California history. In 1935, the annual became a quarterly publication, which was renamed the Southern California Quarterly in 1962. That year the Society also began publishing a regular newsletter and eventually began publishing a series of books on the political, social, cultural, and environmental history of Southern California. Today, the HSSC continues its mission through academic scholarship, community engagement, and a variety of programs and publications. It is governed by a Board of Directors and led by an Executive Director. The Society's contact information lists its address as 5737 Kanan Road, Suite 656, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. It remains a vital institution for preserving and interpreting the history of Southern California and the West.

The Historical Society of Southern California (HSSC) was founded in 1883 in Los Angeles. On November 1, 1883, a group of fifteen citizens gathered to discuss the formation of a local historical society. Their first official meeting took place in the old Temple Block in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of Main and Market Streets. The group began presenting scholarly papers and collecting manuscripts, books, and artifacts on California history. On February 13, 1891, the Historical Society of Southern California was officially incorporated. Publication has been a goal of the HSSC almost since its inception. The Historical Society of Southern California Annual was first published in 1884, making it the oldest continuously operating historical journal in California history. In 1935, the annual became a quarterly publication, which was renamed the Southern California Quarterly in 1962. That year the Society also began publishing a regular newsletter and eventually began publishing a series of books on the political, social, cultural, and environmental history of Southern California. Throughout its history, the HSSC has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the region. It has evolved into a membership-driven, nonprofit organization that combines inclusive historical scholarship and community engagement to explore and disseminate the complex multicultural history of Southern California and the West. The Society continues to operate today, governed by a Board of Directors and led by an Executive Director, with its headquarters listed in Agoura Hills, California.

• 1962

  The quarterly was renamed the Southern California Quarterly; the Society also began publishing a regular newsletter and eventually a series of books.

• 1935

  The annual became a quarterly publication.

• 1891

  On February 13, the Historical Society of Southern California was officially incorporated.

• 1884

  The Historical Society of Southern California Annual was first published, making it the oldest continuously operating historical journal in California history.

• 1883

  On November 1, a group of fifteen citizens in Los Angeles gathered to discuss the formation of a local historical society.

A nonprofit historical society focused on inclusive scholarship and community engagement to preserve and share the multicultural history of Southern California and the West.

• Southern California Quarterly

  A quarterly journal published by the HSSC, formerly the Annual, covering the history of Southern California.

• Historical Society of Southern California Annual

  The oldest continuously operating historical journal in California, first published in 1884.

• Newsletter

  A regular newsletter started in 1962.

• Books

  A series of books on the political, social, cultural, and environmental history of Southern California.

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