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Libraries In The ‘Hood: A Social History Of The Florence And Graham Branch Libraries In The Community Of Florence-Firestone, 1912-2012, Jonathan P. Bell

Jonathan P. Bell

This study explores the history of the Florence and Graham branch libraries in the unincorporated community of Florence-Firestone in South Central Los Angeles. Two of the oldest county library branches, Florence and Graham have no published histories. Similarly, no scholarly history has been written about Florence-Firestone. Only modest historical work has been published about the County of Los Angeles Public Library system. In addressing these gaps, this thesis serves as the first historical study of the Florence and Graham libraries and the Florence-Firestone community. As the study’s literature review illustrates, this research contributes to the literature on Los Angeles urban …