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Monomania L.A.

Through a series of short films and articles, Monomania L.A. profiles five L.A. as Subject collectors who have turned a monomaniacal obsession with a particular aspect of Southern California history into a public resource. These collectors have documented disparate subjects -- the California orange, sci-fi reading circles, political graphics, a Mexican rancho, African American photographers--but their stories share one thing in common: a passion for history that has enriched our understanding of Southern California's past.

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09.CW.N45.01.08
Monomania L.A. profiles collectors who have turned a monomaniacal obsession into a public resource. An Artbound special episode showcasing the series debuted March 17 on KCET.
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Kent Kirkton's collection of images by African-American photographers is an essential resource for anyone researching the history of African-Americans in L.A.
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Ernest Marquez' family arrived in California in 1771. What began as a quest to illustrate a family history turned into a collection of 4,600 rare photos of historical Southern California.
Jim Kepner | Courtesy of the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries.
The science fiction collection of pioneering LGBTQ rights activist Jim Kepner reveals hidden harmonies between sci-fi fandom and LGBTQ activism in the 1950s.
David Boulé has assembled perhaps the largest single collection of materials related to the production and promotion of California oranges.
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