September 15 to October 15 is Latinx History Month at the University of Southern California and across the United States (sometimes recognized under an alternate name, Hispanic Heritage Month). As the nation reflects on Latinx history, the USC Libraries' public media collaboration with KCET, Lost L.A., is highlighting two recently digitized collections that enhance our understanding of Latinx contributions to the arts in Southern California:
- Broadsides Reveal L.A.’s Once-Booming Hispanic Vaudeville Scene
- Pacifico Dance Company: Sharing the Love of Traditional Mexican Dance Around the World
Both articles are written by the Southern California-based writer and photographer Afroxander. They feature collections—both from USC and from the libraries' L.A. as Subject partners—recently digitized with generous support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more Lost LA content related to Latinx History Month, see Season Two's "Borderlands" episode, which explores the interconnected lives of three people who lived through California's transition from native land to Spanish colony and from Mexican province to American state.