Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives

The Image Archives illustrate the history of Santa Monica area from 1875 to the present day. The Archives consist of historical photograph collections, slides and postcards. The emphasis of the Archives is the City and its landscape, including views of Palisades Park, the beaches, piers, historic buildings, hotels, bathhouses, Douglas Aircraft, streets, Venice, Malibu, Topanga, the Southern Pacific Railroad and more.

The Pacific Palisades Historical Society Catalog of images is now available on a local workstation in the Main Library's Santa Monica Collection Room on the second floor.  This station will provide an interim access to the 3000 image collection while it is being integrated with the SMPL Image Archives database.  Ask at the Reference Desk for information about using the PPHS Catalog and ordering higher resolution images.

The Archives were donated to the Library from both public and private collections. The Archives are intended for personal research, scholarly and educational purposes. Identification and history of each image are provided from information available to the Library. The Library assumes no responsibility for the improper use of any image from its Archives.

Photographic prints or digital reproductions may be ordered from the Library.

For other Archives that preserve materials of the Los Angeles region visit the LA as Subject database.