Historic CSULA yearbooks from our special collections 
are now on display in the University Library exhibit area
(Library North 1st Floor, SW corner)

In 1947, two years after the end of World War II, higher education in Los Angeles was in a panic.  UCLA and Los Angeles City College were inundated with returning veterans armed with the G.I. bill, federal legislation which included provisions for educational or vocational training. Many veterans at LACC had reached upper-division status and were unable to transfer to UCLA because of overcrowding. To meet this crisis, an “instant college” was conceived through California Assembly Bill 586 signed into law on July 2, 1947.*   The first fall semester at Los Angeles State College opened on Monday, September 22, 1947.   Through a number of name changes, Los Angeles State College eventually became California State University, Los Angeles.   In conjunction with Los Angeles City College, the first seven bachelor degrees were awarded on June 17, 1948. 

After a student survey in the fall of 1948, a committee composed of students, faculty, staff, and administrators selected the L.A. State College mascot, the Diablos (Spanish for devils).  The first yearbook to commemorate the previous academic year was published in 1949 with the title Pitchfork, chosen to accent the State College mascot.  The Journalism Department in 1954 developed a special projects 1 to 2 unit course for the Pitchfork. That same year, selected pages in the yearbook were published in 3D. 



The 1955 yearbook (the Pitchfork) included a vinyl record with sound bytes from various student activities, such as Homecoming, etc.

< < < Click on the record to listen (MP3 format) 

As a result of anti-establishment philosophy held by many students, the Cal State L.A. yearbook was not published between 1968 and 1975.  With editorial control, the Cal State L.A. Alumni Association began publishing the Pitchfork again in 1976.  With less student involvement, a private vendor began assisting the Alumni Association with the Pitchfork.  In 1981, the Cal State L.A. mascot was changed from Diablos to Golden Eagles.  As a result, the title of the yearbook was changed to Aerie (which is the lofty nest of a bird of prey).   The yearbook continues to be published by the Alumni Association, though the title Aerie was dropped in 1998.     

*Source:  California Legislature 57^th Session, 1947.
Final Calendar of Legislative Business. (Call Number J 87 C2 1947 pt.1) page 139.