Pacoima Historical Society

05/29/2026

Available on Amazon

05/22/2026

The Pacoima Historical Society mourns the passing of Kyoko Nancy Oda, a beloved educator, activist, and pillar of the San Fernando Valley Japanese American community. A tireless advocate for remembering Tule Lake and Tuna Canyon, she turned her family’s incarceration story into a lifelong mission for justice and public history.

For more than forty years, Kyoko was a pillar of the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center (SFVJACC), eventually serving as president of its board and continuing as an officer long after her term ended. Under her leadership, the Center grew into a home for nearly one thousand families, a gathering place where culture, memory, and community life could flourish in the Valley.

Her generous guidance and support for our Phase 2 historic timeline of the SFV helped ensure that Japanese American stories hold their rightful place in the history of the Valley. We honor Kyoko’s courage, humility, and lifelong service—and will carry her legacy forward in the work we do.

Kyoko passed away on May 14, 2026, at the age of 80, leaving behind a grieving Nikkei community and countless students, colleagues, and friends who were shaped by her example. Her life was an example of quiet courage, tireless service, and a fierce commitment to memory and justice, and the Pacoima Historical Society is deeply honored to have been among the many communities she so generously supported.

Pacoima Historical Society
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05/16/2026

Valley Chronicles - New Song and Book

Song Title: Valley Chronicles | Producer: Mr. Smooth Jazz BiggsDiscover authentic American history in this new book from historian and author Crystal Jackson...

05/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/lon.grandison/posts/pfbid0wMMSrtHHrLTNPWXqaYnssoq7aCbCHQLqGt192mUSyE2wZrynJJSe3ZFPbCCRYSe6l

Congratulations to historian and author Crystal Jackson on the release of her 4th book through Baitcal Publishing. Valley Chronicles: Told and Untold Stories of the San Fernando Valley is a comprehensive historical narrative and photographic archive documenting the evolution of one of Southern California’s most significant regions. Tracing the Valley’s history from its geological origins and Indigenous civilizations through brutal Spanish colonization, industrial expansion, and modern urban development, this literary work provides critical context for understanding the area's transformation into a globally recognized cultural hub.

On June 6, Crystal Jackson will be at The Museum of the San Fernando Valley in Northridge, signing copies of her new book, during the unveiling of the new Historical Timeline of the San Fernando Valley exhibit. The event is free to the public.

05/15/2026

Join the Pacoima Historical Society on June 6, 2026, as we unveil the new Historical Timeline of the San Fernando Valley exhibit at the Museum of the SFV in Northridge. Historian and author Crystal Jackson will be there, signing copies of her new book, "Valley Chronicles: Told & Untold Stories of the San Fernando Valley.

05/13/2026

https://www.facebook.com/theritchievalens/posts/pfbid02y36QhLx7nmhcnEFq7d8mo6QzJbEwL5co2Rux65UTvcHVHTQdgDqARUayJTD7bvjEl

Happy 85th birthday to Ritchie Valens! We're celebrating his life and influence all day today. What song will you be listening to?

05/11/2026

https://www.pacoimahistoricalsociety.org/post/museum-unveiling-of-history-timeline-san-fernando-valley

For years, the Pacoima Historical Society has worked hard to make sure our community’s stories are heard. On June 6th at 11 AM, we will celebrate a major milestone with the unveiling of the new “Historical Timeline of the San Fernando Valley” exhibit at the Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

04/23/2026

For nearly 80 years, Whiteman Airport has been part of Pacoima’s story – and once again, our community is hurting after another crash linked to this facility. Yesterday, a small plane that took off from Whiteman went down in a nearby parking lot, tearing down power lines and leaving a 70-year-old pilot in critical condition. Neighbors and bystanders ran toward danger to lift the wreckage and pull the pilot out, showing the courage and solidarity that define this community.

Whiteman started in 1946 as “Whiteman Air Park,” a private airfield built by Marvin Whiteman Sr. on former farmland here in Pacoima. In 1970, Los Angeles County bought the property and turned it into a public general aviation airport that now hosts more than 600 aircraft and operates around the clock. Over the decades, it has served as a base for helicopters fighting wildfires and supporting law enforcement and emergency response across the region.
But for residents living under the flight path, the history of this airport is also a history of harm, risk, and environmental injustice.

Community groups have documented dozens of crashes and incidents tied to Whiteman, with planes coming down in neighborhoods, along train tracks, and in commercial areas like the one hit yesterday. Each new crash reopens old wounds and renews questions about why a busy general aviation airport sits in the middle of a densely populated, working-class community of color.

Today, many Pacoima residents and local leaders are again calling for serious action, including the potential closure and redevelopment of Whiteman Airport. Others point to its role in emergency response and general aviation, arguing that any decision must be thoughtful and transparent. However, others, such as the Pacoima Historical Society, appreciate its historic marker and want it to stay, but also value safety.

As we reflect on the long, complicated history of Whiteman Airport, let’s hold space for everyone affected by yesterday’s crash and for the families who have lived with this risk for generations. Pacoima has always been more than the dangers imposed on it – it is resilience, organizing, memory, and the demand for justice in the place we call home.

03/13/2026