The Vertical Files

What are vertical files anyway?

 

    • They are the hidden treasures of the archive. Groups of subject-based materials, compiled over time, and stored vertically in file cabinets.

    • They include brochures, news clippings, programs, and any other type of ephemera that recalls the history of Brea.

    • They are generally not catalogued into the archival database  because the content is incomplete, but they are valuable for research because they contain surprising tidbits of information about our past.

    • Because they are paper based, deterioration is a concern and so digitization is always preferred.

    • The Brea Museum has a considerable Vertical File collection that is in the process of being digitized.

    • The index below are live links to subjects already digitized. Tap the link to open the pdf and take a walk back into history.

    • Please note, use of the material is allowed but full attribution to the Brea Museum is expected.

We understand some of the images in these files may not reflect the highest resolution or level of detail. Unfortunately, that is beyond our control. Some items are photo-copies of photo-copies. If you would like to see an original document, please fill out a research request and we will try to accommodate your needs.

 

Research Guidelines and Research Request Form 2024

 

 

 

 

 

A
Actors
Air Mail
Annexations 1950
Architecture
Anniversary & Brea Celebrations
Arovista Park
Arovista Park 2
Arovista School
Art
Art Gallery
Art in Public Places
Aviation
B
Bakeries
Baptist Churches
BasquesSheep
Beer
Brea+The Bicentennial
Bicentennial
Billie Bowland
Birthday Celebration
Birger Johnsen
“Blue Bungalow”/Davis
Bob Meusel
Books On Brea
BOHS New
BOHS old
Boy Scouts
Boys + Girls Club
Brea 75th Celebration
Brea Blvd
Brea Cano, Church History See Also Shaffer Opera
Brea Cañon Oil Company
Brea Canyon
Brea Cinderella Town
Brea City Development
Brea City Pioneer Hall
Brea Civic Cultural Center
Brea Community History Project
Brea Country Fair + Fireworks
Brea History Society
Brea Hotel
Brown & Danser Lumber
Birch Street
Brea Grammar School
Brea High School
Brea History Society Board
Brea History Revisited
Brea Hotel
Brea Houses
Brea’s Jubilee 1992 75yr
Brea Lions Club
Brea Mud House + Dr. Jackson
Brea Mall Development
Brea’s Old Clock
Brea Olinda High School
Brea Opinion
Brea Theater
Brea Tour
Brea Volunteers
Breal A Volunteer Effort
Brea Welcomes You Sign
Burrill,Frank
Businesses
Business Card Blanks
</tr

C
Cable TV
California
Calvary Church
Canyon Fire 1980
Car Wash Appeal
Carbon Canyon
Carbon Canyon Pt 2
Carbon Canyon Fire
Carbon Canyon Park
Carlson, Emil Former Mayor
Casa Brea Inn
Celebrations
Census
Central Garage
Chamber of Commerce
Chicksan
Christian Church
Christian Church 2
Christo’s Umbrella
Churches
City Improvements (Early)
City Parks
Civic & Cultural Center
Clubs
Cold War
Coloring Book
Community Center
Community Center 2
Congregational Church
Council Grove
Craig, Peggy
Crime
CS Forester
Curtis, Dr Memorials 1964+1975
CURTIS Display
Curtis, Glenn
Curtis, Naming of the Theatre
Curtis Theatre All
Curtis Theater
D
Dean Millen, Dean
Delany House
Depression
Dexter Martin
Downtown Charette
Dr. CC Jarvis
Dr. Davis House
Dyer Bennett Mr. Brea
E
Early Aviation In Brea
Eddie Martin (Part 1)
Eddie Martin (Part 2)
Extra Copies of Early Articles about Brea
F
Fanning
Fanning School
Fireworks
Flood Control
Freedom Commitee
Fred Thaheld
G
Good Old Brea Pt 1
Good Old Brea Pt 2
Golf Courses
H
Habitat for Humanity
HBIC
Heritage Block
Heritage Museum Proposal Part 1
Heritage Museum Proposal Part 2
Hicks, Norma
Historical Board Meeting
Historical Materials
Hist Organizations Directory
History of Shaffer Tool Works
Hole, W.J.
Hobo Camp
Home & Downtown Tour
Hospitals & Medicine
Hotel On Pomona (never built)
Housing
I
Ice Rink at Brea Mall
Imperial Cafe
Imperial Highway
J
Jarvis
Johnson-Ruth Baseball Game
Jones, Randy
Jubilee
Jubilee Bus Tour
Jubilee News Articles
Jubilee Parade 75th
Jubilee PR
Jubilee Time Capsule
Jubilee 75th Home Tour
K
King Bldg
Kinsler Log
Kinsler Hotel Records
Kirkhill
Kirkhill Rubber Co
Kiwanis Address
L
La Brea Hills, S.S. 1
La Brea Hills, S.S. 2
La Brea Hills, S.S. 3
La Brea Hills, S.S. 4
Lagos De Moreno Park
La Habra
La Habra Valley
La Habra Valley Bank 1
La Habra Valley Bank 2
Letters To Editor
Library
Living On a Brea Canton Oil Lease
Log Cabin
M
Mariposa Tour
Masons
Mayor’s Balls
Memorials
Memorial Photos
Military
Misc 1987
MJB Box Car
Moore (Judge Moore)
Movies in Brea
N
Naming of Streets
North Brea Hills Fire (1920)
O
Obituaries (1)
Obituaries (2)
Oilfields National Bank in Brea
Oil Orange-Op
Old City Hall
Old Clock
Olinda Schools
Oranges
Orange 57 Freeway Research
P
Paul Moore Pt 1
Paul Moore Pt 2
People (C) 1
People (C) 2
People (D)
People (G)
People (H)
People (L)
People (S)
Police Dept
Practice House BOHS
Presentation to City Council
Preservation Concerns Heritage Block
President Kennedy Tribute
Purl Harding + History of Brea Book
Q
R
Racism in Brea
Randolph City
Randolph School
Raynoso, Cruz
Red Lantern Theater 1
Red Lantern Theater 2
Redwood St. 1
Redwood St. 2
Remembrences Of 1918
Roads – Rail Crossing 1
Roads – Rail Crossing 2
Roads / Streets
Rodeos
Ron Isles
Rotary Club
Rubber Co. Fire
S
Sam’s Place
School Teachers + Pay
Schweitzer Rose Garden
Scout House
Sewage Disposal Plant
Sewell Bldg
Sexton, Jay
Shafco Shaffer Donald Shaffer
Shaffer Family
Shaffer Fountain
Shaffer Memorial Fountain Rededication
Shaffer Tool Co Part 1
Shaffer Tool Co Part 2
Shell Oil
Shopping Centers (Not Mall)
Shopping Centers (Not Mall) 2
Sister City- Lagos Demoreno
Ski Slope in Carbon Canyon
Snow
Soroptomists
Sphere of Influence
Spire, City Hall Park
Spire, City Hall Park 2
Sports
(St Jude) Sister Jane Francis
Streets, Roads
T
Tank Farm Fire
Ted Craig
The Depression in Brea News Articles
Tonner Canyon
Transportation
Trees
Tri-City Park
U
Union Oil Research Center
V
W
Walter Bergman
Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson Part 1
Walter Johnson Part 2
Walter Johnson Part 3
Water
Wayne Wedin
W.D. Casner
Wildlife Corridor
World War I
World War II
W.E. Fanning Pt 1
W.E. Fanning Pt 2
WWII in Brea
X
Y
Youth Sports
Yriarte Family
Z
Others
1920s Brea Progress
1930-1939
1940 Baseball School
1940’s
1950’s
1960-1964
1965-1970
1968-69 Push for New Brea Airport
1970-1974
1974-1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1986
1988
1989
1990
1990 part 1
1990 part 2
1992
1997
2001 Newsletters
2002 Mayor’s Prayer
33 EARTHQUAKE AND FLOODS
57 Freeway & Dedication