Since 1883, the Historical Society of Southern California has preserved, interpreted and promoted the diverse history of Southern California and the West through a wide range of publications, programs and recognition of outstanding scholarly research.
Founded in 1883, the Historical Society of Southern California (HSSC) is the oldest historical society in California. HSSC programs reach out to a diverse cultural community through a conference, lectures, and tours. Publications of the organization include the Southern California Quarterly journal, a newsletter, and a distinguished series of books. We also honor members of our community with our awards.
Mission Statement
The Historical Society of Southern California seeks to connect people to their past and the places they live by combining inclusive historical scholarship and community engagement to explore and disseminate the complex multicultural history of Southern California and the West. Founded in 1883, the HSSC is a membership-driven, nonprofit organization.
Our Principles
The HSSC strives to realize its mission through the application of these fundamental principles:
Integrity
Honesty and integrity are essential to the practice of history, including the prompt acknowledgment of errors and omissions. The Society believes in evidence-based practices in all of its work, recognizing that evidence comes in many forms–written, oral, visual and quantitative–and the historical evolution of what is considered evidence.
Equity and Inclusion
Everyone and everything has a history. The Society seeks to uplift underrepresented voices, empowering community partners to tell their own stories and create an inclusive narrative about the history of Southern California and the West–a narrative that can feature both agency and anguish. The Society acknowledges that history cannot be limited to a single article, book or point of view. We embrace varying and sometimes conflicting points of view, recognizing that history is continually being redefined to reflect new research and new perspectives.
Community
The HSSC seeks to foster a sense of community among scholars, community members, history enthusiasts and others by providing a space to discuss, debate, disagree, and learn from each other in print, online and in person about how and why our region was shaped.
Accountability
Like many historical societies founded in the 19th century, the HSSC was shaped primarily by white males who produced narratives that focused on the European settler experience. The HSSC acknowledges and owns its institutional history, which is essential to its efforts today.
