Welcome to our Online Collection!
You will find historic papers and photographs of Monrovia. Early businesses, clubs, schools, farms and railroads. Images and stories of people — movers and shakers and ordinary citizens. Historic homes and parades celebrating its birthday. There are phone, street, and business directories, newspaper articles, ledgers, and maps. And bits of history told by historians.
Together they tell the story of Monrovia.
To find something specific, start with the Keyword Search page and follow the tips. Enjoy this rich treasure-trove of Monrovia’s unique history!
Featured Collections
What's New in 2025
In the summer of 2025, over 2500 new records were added. This section lists some of the most noteworthy. Click a collection name to read more about the highlights of each collection and to see suggested searches. Special treasures are in CAPS. To find everything in the group, do a Keyword Search by the tag at the end of each collection name, e.g., “AHJ”. Remember you can also simply search an individual’s name, address, year, etc.
Anna H. Jones & Dr. Sophia B. Jones Family (AHJ)
Photos. Family genealogy scrapbooks. Writings by and about Anna, her achievements in education, status among the African American intellectual elite and suffrage movement. Correspondence with W.E.B. Du Bois. Dr. Sophia’s achievements in medicine, academic writing, and founding the first training programs for African American nurses. Their relatives, homes and last home in Monrovia. The Anna H. Jones Club of Monrovia. Video, “THE INCOMPARABLE JONES FAMILY”, details their remarkable ancestors and accomplishments. Their new grave markers, laid in 2025.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “AHJ”, “THE INCOMPARABLE JONES FAMILY”, “1301 S Shamrock”, “AHJ 205”, “AHJ” AND “Gravemarker”, “AHJ” AND “Scrapbook”, “AHJ 184”, “AHJ 196”, “AHJ 179”, “AHJ 255”
Anson Family (ANS)
Yetta Dexter Anson and her husband Charles H. Anson. Family photos and articles of their long lives in Monrovia, homes (first at SE corner of Myrtle Ave. and Foothill Blvd., later on Stedman), and work. Yetta taught in Monrovia schools for 50 years. Charles was Postmaster. Family photos of Yetta’s Dexter and Fessenden ancestors, and relatives Stephen Robert “Steve” Baker and his sister Susan Keller (and their father Robert Munson “Bobbie” Baker) and La Force family. Neighbors Rehrman and home on Palm Ave. News articles about changes to “Anson Corner”. Monrovia Feature Film Co. Productions. MONROVIA POST OFFICE. FOOTHILL & IVY, ORIGINAL DRAWING BY FORMER STUDENT AND FUTURE ART TEACHER EDNA CHESS.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “ANS”, “ANS 02”, “ANS 01”, “ANS 31”, “ANS 89”, “ANS 91”, “ANS” AND “Newspaper Article”, “ANS 256”, “ANS 273”
Bartle family (BAR)
John and Amelia Bowerman Bartle and their family and homes in Monrovia. John was President of First National Bank of Monrovia and Amelia was the force behind the first Monrovia Public Library and the Monrovia Woman’s Club. Family records, will, deeds, land records, their daughter Kathleen Bartle Brown, military record of son Gerald and photos of his wife Doris Spinks. Papers related to Monrovia Savings Bank, First National Bank of Monrovia and Security Trust & Savings Bank acquisition.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “BAR”, “BAR 28”, “BAR” AND “Bank”
Telephone Directories (DIR)
Telephone Directory, Business Directory, Monrovia Street Guide and Householder’s Directory.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “DIR”, “DIR” AND “Telephone”
Dick Singer (DS2)
Old Monrovia Today magazines, State of the City Mayoral Speeches, Redevelopment Agency Newsletters, City of Monrovia Annual Reports, Citizen Satisfaction Reports.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “DS2”
Homestead and Temple Family Museum Photos (HMST)
Photos of early Monrovia from the archives of the Homestead and Temple Family Museum.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “HMST”, “HMST 02”, “HMST 03”, “HMST 05”
Metrolink Construction Photos (MG)
Photos taken in 2014 by a resident who lived nearby.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “MG”
Kim Anderson’s postcards (KA3)
Keyword Search Suggestions: “KA3”
May (Mae) Baker (MBAK)
Photos taken by her of her life in Monrovia, friends, first husband Jack Hosfield, local power plants and canyons, travels to Mexico, second husband boatman George Farnsworth and life on Catalina, travels around the world, silent film star friends, life in Paris, musical score dedicated to her for her donation to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church pipe organ. Her vast inheritance. Information on the “Studebaker” home at 409 W Hillcrest where she was raised by her adoptive parents Col. R.M. and Sarah Baker. LOCAL GOSSIP COLUMN “OVER THE BLACK COFFEE” ABOUT HER LIFE.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “MBAK”, “MBAK 555”, “MBAK 558”, “MBAK 570”, “MBAK 571”, “MBAK 577”, “MBAK” AND “May Baker's Photo Album 4”, “MBAK 586”, “MBAK 745”
Monrovia High School yearbooks (MHS)
Monrovia High School yearbooks from 1919-2019.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “MHS”, “Yearbook”
Monroe Family (MONFAM) & (MONR)
The W.N. Monroe (considered the founder of Monrovia), his wife Mary Jane Hall, their children and homes. Monroe family genealogy. Photos, hand-written notes by “Daddy Monroe”. Evans family – in-laws of son George O. Monroe, who married Annetta Evans. Her father W.H. Evans was also an important early Monrovian. George O. Monroe Clerk of the Cour and witness at Los Angeles Times bombing trial (Clarence Darrow was defense attorney).
Keyword Search Suggestions: “MONFAM”, “MONR”, “MONFAM 01”, “MONFAM 02”, “MONR 18”, “MONR 09”, “MONFAM 57”, “MONFAM 58”, “MONFAM 52”, “MONFAM 73”, “MONFAM” AND “Monroe Family”
The Old Timers collection (OT)
Photos, letters and records of the gatherings of “Monrovia’s Old Timers”.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “OT”
Steve Baker Miscellany (SB3) & (OS)
Steve Baker’s family, Monrovia maps, zoning documents, bonds, large-size photos of schools and businesses, schools, public building bonds, Safer Aeroplane Co., Ivy Ave. School Newspaper – Ivy Avenue School Pioneer. Biography of Pat Ostrye - Monrovia’s first woman mayor. 1950 PANORAMIC PHOTO OF MYRTLE AVENUE.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “SB3”, “SB3 70”, “SB3 69”, “SB3 60”, “SB3” AND “Map”, “SB3” AND “Schools”, “SB3” AND “Baker Family”, “OS”
YMCA Records (YMCA)
Club formation documents and by-laws. List of 1887 members.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “YMCA”, “YMCA 03b”
What's New in 2024
In 2024, over 2700 new records were added. This section lists some of the most noteworthy. Click a collection name to read more about the highlights of each collection and to see suggested searches. Special treasures are in CAPS. To find all that’s new, do a Keyword Search by the tag at the end of each collection name, e.g., “BR”.
Burr Family (BR)
Burr Family photos and papers, school materials, and property. Monrovia High School Commencement Programs (1880s-1930s). An 1888 booklet “BR 119” is a rare promotional booklet touting Monrovia to prospective settlers.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “BR”, “BR” AND “Schools”, “BR 119”
Ella Long (EL)
Ella Long and the Long family, photos and homes on W Palm. Photos and post cards by E.B. Gray (renowned photographer of the San Gabriel canyons). First Congregational Church.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “EL” AND “E.B. Gray”, “EL” AND “Churches”, “Ella Long”
Steve Baker (SB2)
Steve Baker’s papers, written or collected by him.
TIMELINES.
House and building histories. Notes for his speeches, ghost stories, short histories of local churches, organizations and people, maps, Live Oak Cemetery, and many others. Susie Ling’s writings on the history of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Mexican Americans in Monrovia.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “SB2”, “Timelines”, “SB2” AND “Map”, [Search by name of church or family, e.g., “Wright” or “Second Baptist”], “SB2 214”, “SB2 215”, “SB2 202”
Pottenger (PO)
Photos and articles about the Pottenger family and Sanatorium. Memoir about and diaries of Dr. Frances Pottenger.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “PO” “Pottenger” AND “Diary” “Pottenger” AND “Memoir”
Canyons Photos & 1936 News-Post Special Edition (B7)
New additions are B7 186-221 and B7 331-440. More E.B. Gray photos of the San Gabriel canyons, campgrounds, and Mt. Wilson. B7 331-440 also has property deeds, maps, post cards.
Keyword Search Suggestions: MONROVIA NEWS-POST GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY EDITION 1936, “B7” AND “Mt. Wilson”, “B7” AND “E.B. Gray”
Shrode, Cramlet, Col. R.M. Baker (B8)
Shrode family documents. Charles Cramlet (prolific builder in Monrovia) family photos and papers. Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) photos of prominent Monrovians (W.N. Monroe and others). Photo album with rare photos of the Col. R.M. Baker family and home at 409 W. Hillcrest (the actual “Studebaker house”, demolished in 1940) taken by his daughter May Baker. May Baker Hosfield’s first building projects in Los Angeles.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “B8” “Shrode Family”, “Cramlet Family”, “GAR”, “Col. R.M. Baker”, “May Baker”
Monrovia High School Newspapers (B10)
Monrovia Wildcats (the Monrovia High School newspaper) 1943, 1934-35, 1936-37, 1943-44. Monrovia Days Parade photos from 1986.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “B10”, “Monrovia Wildcats”, “B10” AND “Monrovia Days”
School Reports, Pioneers Register of Early Monrovians and a La Vista Grande Hotel Register (B11)
Monrovia School Annual reports and publications (e.g., songs). Monrovia High School Wildcat football programs.
PIONEERS REGISTER of early Monrovia Residents (when they arrived and where they were living in 1926 -- handwritten during Monrovia Days.)
HOTEL REGISTER for the La Vista Grande Hotel in 1914-15, before it was destroyed by fire in 1916.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “B11” “B11” AND “Schools”, “Pioneers Register”
Monrovia Day Parades, Monrovia Woman’s Club, Early Buildings and People, Deeds. Annetta Monroe’s Scrapbook, Sanborn Maps, Tract Maps. (B13)
Monrovia Days Parades 1939, 1971, 1986. Telephone directory excerpts with names of S. Myrtle Avenue businesses for some years between 1921 and 1970. Hand painted covers of Monrovia Woman’s Club scrapbooks 1925-1940. Photos of historic buildings. Important Monrovians, e.g. Judge Sturgeon. Post cards. Residences, school photos, churches, deeds, airport, families (including the Hotchkiss family). Mrs. George O. Monroe’s scrapbook. “B13 442”- “B13 580”) Rare photo of the Monroe Cottage (“B13 117”). Sanborn Maps & Tract Maps: “B13 583-623”
Keyword Search Suggestions: “B13” “B13” AND “Monrovia Woman's Club” Also search by family name, e.g. “Hotchkiss Family”. “Businesses on S. Myrtle Avenue” “Scrapbook” AND “Annetta” “Sanborn” “Monrovia Days” AND “1939” "Monrovia Days” AND “1971” “Monrovia Days” AND “1986” “Streets” AND “Map”
Monrovia Days (MD)
Monrovia Days parade 1910. Other Monrovia Days images are in other groups.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “MD” AND “1910”
City Functions (DS)
Photos of City functions and people from 1940s to 2000s – ceremonies, parades, officials. All America City competition. WWII articles. Dick Singer’s collection.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “DS”, “DS” AND “WWII”, “DS” AND “Myrtle Ave”, “DS” AND “All America City”
Parker Family (JPWW or Park)
Julius Parker’s WWII scrapbook. Photos of the Parker family.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “Parker” AND “Scrapbook” “Parker, Julius” OR “Parker, John”
Rehrman Family (3Rehr)
Photos and tax records of the property the Rehrman and their descendants Switzenberg and Duensing owned on W. Palm between Myrtle and Primrose, their bakery and flower shop on Myrtle Ave., and garages where they worked.
Keyword Search Suggestions: “W Palm” AND “3Rehr” “Switzenberg Family” “Monrovia Floral” “Tax Receipts”
About the Legacy Project Collection
The Monrovia Legacy Project was created to share with the public the historical collections passed down from generations of Monrovia’s historians and history lovers. Myron Hotchkiss -- Monrovia’s official City Historian until 1989 – compiled what came before him -- added his writings, books, maps, and photographs -- and left it to the Monrovia Historical Society. Steve Baker succeeded him as City Historian and, with his passing in 2022, left his own work and collections to be added.
The Legacy Project team has been tackling the herculean task of identifying organizing, digitizing, and archiving it all. The work continues and the collection grows.
We are excited beyond words that these treasures are now both protected and available online -- to be enjoyed from anywhere. We are enriched by what is possible through technology.
This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of the City of Monrovia, special partners, and funding from the Gerald Bartle Fund. Read more about the remarkable Bartle family and their gift. The City of Monrovia has supported the continuation of the work through additional phases. In 2025 a significant gift in honor of Stephen (“Steve”) Robert Baker by his sister Susan Baker Keller and nephew Matthew William Keller Shapero facilitates the expansion of the collection. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude for all of this support.