Institutions such as the Plaza Church deserve our respect and care; it is a noble house of worship with a noble heritage, and it is an honor to speak here before you on its behalf.   
                                                                                     ~Professor William Deverell (Addressing the Los Angeles City Council, November 2011)

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The Museum is home to an extensive archival collection. Dating back to Los Angeles’ earliest days through its dramatic century of transformation, the collection meticulously documents the dedication to social change at the heart of our mission.
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​As a result of our ongoing initiative with our educational partners, the first phase of digitizing and cataloging nearly 10,000 images has begun. We have only scratched the surface of the history that is going to be told, beginning with the city’s pioneer days through the Civil Rights Era.

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The historical archives both house and showcase the collection through exhibitions at the museum and online. In an era where we have the ability to reach the widest audience ever, the history of social justice has become more vital then ever before.

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