Glen Creason
Glen Creason is an American libriarian who was formerly the map librarian in the History & Genealogy department[1] at the Los Angeles Central Library, a post he held from 1979 to 2021. He is also the author of Los Angeles in Maps[2] and is a guest writer for many publications such as Los Angeles Magazine,[3][4] additionally serving as a public speaker on the topics of maps, local history, and music.[5] Creason is featured in Susan Orlean's chronicle of the Central Library, The Library Book.[6]
Early life[edit]
Creason's family descended from immigrants from the British Isles who came to America in the 1760s. Growing up in South Gate, Creason attended Catholic school.[7] As a kid, his father sent him to sell programs at the Coliseum for real-world job experience.[7] Over time, Creason lived in many areas of L.A., including Silverlake, Long Beach, West Los Angeles, and Culver City.[7]
Career[edit]
Creason worked at the Herald Examiner library for two years after college, then was offered a job at a library in San Dimas as a children's librarian.[8] He started as a reference librarian at the Central Library in 1979.
Creason retired in October 2021.[9][10]
Feathers map collection[edit]
Creason was the librarian called when an enormous map collection was discovered at a private residence in Los Angeles in 2012.[11] It was absorbed into the library's collection, doubling its size. Creason is featured in the L.A. Review of Books documentary, Living History: The John Feathers Map Collection,[12] about the collection's discovery.
Speaking engagements[edit]
| Date | Venue/Series/Medium | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| October 28, 2010 | Library Foundation of L.A.-sponsored ALOUD series, L.A. Central Library[13] | Maps and map history |
| January 6, 2011 | Google: Santa Monica offices[14] | Maps and map history |
| September 16, 2011 | Libros Schmibros at the Hammer Museum[15] | Maps and map history |
| July 24, 2013 | California State University Fullerton video[16] | Maps and map history |
| October 2013 | You Can't Eat the Sunshine podcast, Episode 39: "Maps & Montezuma"[17] | Maps and map history |
| Aug. 2014 | Stories from the Map Cave; a Los Angeles Public Library series[18] | Maps and map history |
Bibliography[edit]
- Los Angeles in Maps (2010)
- LAtitudes: An Angeleno's Atlas (2015)
External links[edit]
- 2015 Los Angeles Times profile of Creason, "Following L.A.'s history through maps,"[19] by David Ulin
- 2012 Los Angeles Times profile of Creason, "Los Angeles librarian is all over the maps,"[20] by Larry Harnisch
References[edit]
- ^ "Glen Creason, Librarian III, History & Genealogy Department | Los Angeles Public Library". lapl.org. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "www.amazon.com/Glen-Creason/e/B004KO6PPG%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share". amazon.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Los Angeles Central Library Turns 90 Today Los Angeles Magazine". lamag.com. July 6, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "This Is What the Fourth of July in L.A. Was Like 100 Years Ago Los Angeles Magazine". lamag.com. June 30, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Glen Creason, Author at Los Angeles Magazine". lamag.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (October 15, 2018). "The Library Fire That Ignited an Author's Imagination". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ a b c "The neighborhood's first TV set was the Creason family's 'pride and joy' - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Los Angeles librarian is all over the maps - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. September 20, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-10-15/los-angeles-public-library-map-librarian-glen-creason-retired
- ^ "Fare Thee Well, Glen Creason".
- ^ "A Huge Vintage Map Collection's Unlikely Journey". video.nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ Living History: The John Feathers Map Collection, retrieved November 13, 2019
- ^ "Los Angeles in Maps: Glen Creason & D.J. Waldie on Vimeo". vimeo.com. November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Glen Creason | Talks at Google". YouTube. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Libros Schmibros: Lower Left Blue: L.A. Cartography". Hammer Museum. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Glen Creason". YouTube. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Episode #39: Maps & Montezuma". Esotouric. October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "Stories from the Map Cave: Los Angeles Street Guides". YouTube. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Following L.A.'s history through maps". Los Angeles Times. February 9, 2015.
- ^ "Los Angeles librarian is all over the maps". Los Angeles Times. September 20, 2012.