Left: Protest demonstration held at MacArthur Park (Anne Knudson, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection)
Right: The 1956 Machris Brazilian Expedition (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles)

Please join us for a webinar with our 2023 LACHS Scholarship recipients from California State University, Long Beach. The two students will present their essays followed by a Q&A session. The webinar will also be recorded and published on our website.

Both essays are available for download here: lacityhistory.org/scholarship

The 1956 Machris Brazilian Expedition (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles)

7:00 pm
”The 1956 Machris Brazilian Expedition: A Vehicle for Scientific Discovery and Ecological Conservation”

by Araceli Ramos

The 1956 Machris Brazilian Expedition, led by Maurice and Paquita Machris in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, represents a pivotal moment in mid-twentieth-century scientific exploration. Amid concerns about human-induced biodiversity loss, the expedition ventured into the Amazonian jungle, aiming to document and preserve the region's rich wildlife and ecosystems. Over the course of their journey, the team collected over 60 new species and amassed a vast array of zoological and botanical specimens, anthropological artifacts, and photographic material. This ambitious endeavor not only contributed significantly to scientific knowledge but also served as a catalyst for conservation efforts and public education initiatives. Through exhibitions, educational documentaries, and the establishment of the scientific journal Contributions in Science, the expedition's impact transcended mere data collection, shedding light on international museum networks, indigenous contributions to science, and the complex socio-political dynamics of scientific exploration during that era.

About Araceli Ramos

My name is Araceli Ramos, and I am a graduate student at CalState University Long Beach studying the history of exploration, the environment, and conservation and the natural sciences. My research delves into field expeditions conducted in Central and South America during the 19th and 20th centuries. I place particular emphasis on the historical and scientific impact of botanical and zoological specimens housed in natural history museums, and their contributions to biological and environmental conservation. My current research project uses a series of expeditions conducted by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County as a case study to explore the scientific contributions of explorers during the mid-twentieth century. This research is being used for a Getty funded PST exhibit about the NHM’s dioramas and serves as the basis for my master’s thesis.

Left: Protest demonstration held at MacArthur Park (Anne Knudson, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection)
Right: Salvadorans against U.S. aid (Anne Knudson, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection)

7:30 pm
"Conspirando en Los Ángeles"

By Hazel Carias-Urbina

I argue that political organizing in 1980s MacArthur Park transformed its spatial and cultural meaning into a site of resistance and civic life for the local Central American community. Using a combination of archived photographs and newspaper articles from Calisphere, the Historical Los Angeles Times, and La Opinion, I identify multiple political protests during the 1980s that reveal the important political issues within the Central American community. By uncovering who got involved in protests and how the park was used, it reveals how the recreational area gave opportunities to Central American immigrants to organize and advocate for peace in their home countries, which extended to their participation in other leftist movements in Los Angeles against Reagan era policies. My research adds to the existing literature about the Sanctuary Movement and late-20th century Los Angeles history by detailing how these demonstrations played an influential role in affecting local immigration and labor policies, as well as establishing a robust immigrant community in the city.

About Hazel Carias-Urbina

Hazel Carias-Urbina received her education at California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor's degree in History and a minor in Latin American Studies. As a Mellon Fellow, she researched the emergence of a Central American community in the Pico-Union/MacArthur Park area during the 1980s. She sought to understand her earliest experiences growing up in this part of Los Angeles. Volunteering at Cal State LA's Special Collections Room piqued her interest in archives and helped her finalize her undergraduate project "Conspirando en Los Ángeles". Hazel is currently working at the Southern California Library, where she strives to make meaningful connections with visitors who, like her, are trying to make sense of the world.

LOCATION

Webinar via Zoom

REGISTRATION

This is a free event but registration is required.

If you have questions about the event, please email us at lacityhistoryevents@gmail.com.

About the LACHS Scholarship Program

In 2019, the Los Angeles City Historical Society implemented a program to award scholarships to outstanding history graduate students at local universities and colleges. We hope that LACHS members and friends wish to support the program by donating funds to the program.  Please note that 100% of all donations will go to students. 

The Board recognizes the critical value of the study and analysis of history to our democracy and seeks to encourage outstanding students in the field.

For more information about the LACHS Scholarship Program and to read the students’ essays, please visit lacityhistory.org/scholarship