Blog post by Julie Graham, Accessioning Archivist (and Friend of Mother-Earth)

What better way to commemorate Earth Day 2014 in Los Angeles than a flash exhibition featuring two recent accessions to Library Special Collections? Andy Lipkis founded TreePeople in Los Angeles in 1973, at age 18. Through his leadership, the organization has grown into one of California’s largest independent environmental organizations. Through the hard work of volunteers and help from supporters, TreePeople has spearheaded an approach using trees and forest-inspired technologies to make cities sustainable while mitigating floods, drought, pollution, and climate change. TreePeople’s efforts have resulted in the planting of over two million trees in forests, urban neighborhoods and school campuses. Over two million children have participated in its award-winning Environmental Education programs for students, youth groups and teachers. TreePeople has received numerous honors and awards including recognition by the United Nations World Forestry Organization for its work as a global model for other large cities. The TreePeople Records will be processed this summer, and will be open for research later in 2014.

TreePeople’s efforts have resulted in the planting of over two million trees in forests, urban neighborhoods and school campuses. Over two million children have participated in its award-winning Environmental Education programs for students, youth groups and teachers. TreePeople has received numerous honors and awards including recognition by the United Nations World Forestry Organization for its work as a global model for other large cities.

In the late 1930s, in response to a pair of deadly floods, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors called in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to control the unruly Los Angeles River. After 20 years and 3 million barrels of concrete, over 400 miles of the River and its tributaries were narrowed, straightened, deepened and encased in cement. Within a short time, important native species were largely gone and the Los Angeles River gained the reputation of being a huge concrete eyesore. In 1986, Roger Wong, Pat Patterson and Lewis MacAdams formed the Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), now the oldest LA River advocacy organization committed to protect and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Los Angeles River and its riparian habitat. Among FoLAR’s many programs to connect people to the River are an annual river clean-up, the "Gran Limpieza," which brings several thousand people to the river to clean up every spring; and an on-going series of conferences and planning workshops dealing with every aspect of the river. Over the years, two former railroad yards along the river have been transformed into state parks and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority have created half a dozen riverfront pocket parks, and a bike path that continues to grow. Processing of Friends of the Los Angeles River Records will begin later this year.

Over the years, two former railroad yards along the river have been transformed into state parks and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority have created half a dozen riverfront pocket parks, and a bike path that continues to grow.

Earth Day involves yearly events designed to focus political and community attention on environmental concerns. Taking place on April 22, Earth Day provides the opportunity for us to celebrate Mother-Earth while considering ways to protect her. For the TreePeople and the Friends of the Los Angeles River, every day is Earth Day. Sources: TreePeople: Andy Lipkis, Founder and President “A river -- again -- in Los Angeles,” by Lewis MacAdams, October 27, 2013; Los Angeles Times article