The Susan LaTempa Magazine Publishing Oral History Collection documents individuals working in the magazine publishing industry in Los Angeles from the 1960s to the 1990s during a golden age of quality and popular print media.

Greater Los Angeles, at the time a leading source of American pop culture, was also a magazine publishing center. Existing L.A.-based magazines were transformed and modernized, new magazines proliferated, publishers located in other cities moved their businesses to L.A., and enthusiasts created new categories of magazines. The eleven interviewees and narrators held many roles, including editor, owner, publisher, collector, critic, writer, commentator, technical expert, and production director, which gave them varying experiences of and perspectives on a range of publications and types of magazines published in L.A.

The publications discussed include mainstream and alternative press titles, such as Architectural Digest, BLK Magazine, Bon Appetit, High Performance, L.A. Weekly, Los Angeles magazine, Los Angeles Times, and Petersen Publishing Company automotive publications. Each oral history is accompanied with a transcript, title page, headshot, and sample magazine cover.

Interviews were conducted by Susan LaTempa. Transcripts were completed by Susan LaTempa. LaTempa worked as an editor at L.A. Style, Westways, and the Los Angeles Times.

The collection is arranged alphabetically at the folder level.