Fairplex Records on Exhibition at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library
In celebration of American Archives Month in October, Cal Poly Pomona Special Collections and Archives (SC&A) introduced the Fairplex Records through a new exhibition at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library, Ribbons, Rides, and Regional Roots: More Than a Century of the Los Angeles County Fair. Curated by Andrew Kopp, Digital Projects Coordinator and Cal Poly Pomona alumnus (History, ’17), the exhibition features photographs, souvenir programs, documents, and other fair ephemera that highlight the fair’s 100-year history.
About the Fairplex Records
In November 2021, SC&A announced the acquisition of archival materials from the Los Angeles County Fair Association. Beginning in May 2022 while he was serving as Project Archivist, Kopp processed, arranged, and preserved the collection, and developed its finding aid. With assistance from David Castro, Archives and Rare Books Coordinator, processing and arrangement were completed in January 2024 and the finding aid was published to the Online Archive of California (OAC).
The Fairplex Records trace the Los Angeles County Fair’s evolution from a small regional fair in 1922 into a dynamic, year-round destination. The collection documents the rapid development and expansion of the fairgrounds, which were renamed Fairplex in 1984 and eventually grew beyond hosting annual fair activities to support entertainment, education, culture, and commerce.
Today, the venue features permanent attractions such as the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, the RailGiants Train Museum, and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Fairplex also hosts numerous year-round events, including the Grand National Roadster Show and the Pomona Swap Meet and Classic Car Show.
The Fairplex Records includes over 275 linear feet of primary and secondary source materials. The collection includes administrative documents, photographs, negatives, slides, audio and video recordings, newspaper clippings, fair memorabilia, and other materials documenting the Los Angeles County Fair, Fairplex, and affiliated attractions. Together, these materials illuminate the historical, cultural, social, and economic development of the Fair and Fairplex, as well as the broader history of Pomona and the greater Los Angeles region.
The Los Angeles County Fair on Display
Ribbons, Rides, and Regional Roots: More Than a Century of the Los Angeles County Fair explores the cultural, historical, and social significance of the Los Angeles County Fair and Fairplex through materials from the Fairplex Records. The exhibition features prize ribbons from the inaugural 1922 fair; photographs documenting the fairgrounds’ controversial wartime use by the U.S. military during World War II; promotional materials tracing the evolution of “Thummer”; records highlighting technological innovations such as the monorail; and materials documenting the property’s transformation into a year-round, multi-use venue.
Visitors can also view original sketches, attraction renderings, promotional materials related to community celebrations, and souvenirs. Collectively, these materials reveal how the Fair reflected changing technologies, traditions, industries, and regional identities while highlighting periods of expansion, progress, and modernization throughout a history that is more than a century long.
Two highlighted displays examine influences essential to the Fair’s story. One display focuses on C.B. “Jack” Afflerbaugh, the fair’s founder and inaugural general manager, and features one of Afflerbaugh’s original datebooks. The second explores the longstanding relationship among the Los Angeles County Fair, the Kellogg Ranch, and Cal Poly Pomona through a 1930 souvenir program featuring the “Three Graces,” an overview of the Kellogg Ranch, and original horse show prize ribbons.
A second exhibit extension, From America 200 to America 250, connects the Los Angeles County Fair’s 1976 Bicentennial celebration to the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The exhibit extension features objects highlighting the Bicentennial theme, including Home Arts books featuring America-themed baked goods and patriotic-themed documents.
Together, the exhibitions connect the Los Angeles County Fair’s celebrations, traditions, and institutional history to its ongoing role as a cultural institution serving the region. By bringing together materials documenting community life, technological innovation, wartime history, agricultural and equestrian traditions, and national commemorations, the exhibitions demonstrate how the fair has evolved alongside the communities that support it. They also underscore the importance of preserving Fairplex’s history so future generations can understand the people, events, and cultural experiences that have shaped this significant regional landmark.
General Information
The exhibition is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Guided tours are available subject to staff availability and scheduling. For updates, contact SC&A at speccollections@cpp.edu.