Life & Work with Claudine Burnett of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudine Burnett

Hi Claudine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a retired librarian, who for 25 years spent as much free time as I could pouring over old microfilmed newspapers in the Long Beach Public Library’s Periodicals Department to create the library’s Long Beach History Index, which you can find on the library’s website.

My quest for information began with the year 1881, which was the year William Willmore created the town that would eventually take the name Long Beach, AND the year the Los Angeles Times began publishing. As I followed the Times, the Los Angeles Herald and the Long Beach papers that eventually came into being, I kept coming across stories about wonderful people, and events, that helped shape not only Long Beach, but Southern California as well. Even though I indexed the articles, and made selective copies for the library’s files, I feared these wonderful tales full of valuable information would remain forgotten unless I did something about it. The end result was several books.

Recently, newspaper digitization has added more venues for research. This has allowed me to expand my writing arena and uncover more forgotten history of California.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was helpful that I had many contacts who had come to Long Beach Public Library doing research on local history. They were happy to help publicize my book, which I decided to self publish. After contacting main stream publishers I found they didn’t want to deal with me since I did not work in an academic setting, even though my work was well researched and I have two Master’s degrees. I have had difficulties with the publisher I chose, Author House. When I first started using them they employed college students as contact people, but when the business was absorbed by Author Solutions they decided that those in India and the Philippines were less expensive options. Representatives there were less likely to understand issues, especially the use of photographs and the fact I wanted to index the book myself. I stayed with Author House because I learned how to work around problems and I wanted all my books available from one source.

What is most difficult are the number of e-mails I get each week from others wanting to represent me in republishing, turning one of my books into a movie, and more. Most don’t even mention which of my books they are interested in! It is also difficult because so many book stores that used to carry my books have gone out of business.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a retired research librarian, who keeps active by continuing to investigate issues. I relish finding new information on subjects. I use primary sources such as newspapers, census records and public documents. I discovered that secondary sources are not reliable. I write for a local newspaper, do private research, and write on whatever interests me. All proceeds from my writing and lectures goes to supporting digital preservation.

I have a BA in History from UC Irvine, an MLS (library science) from UCLA, an MPA (public administration) from CSULB. I was the head of the Literature and History Department of Long Beach Public Library, and later became Collection Development supervisor.

I am proud of my many books and what I uncover. (You can read about them on my website claudineburnettbooks.com). In writing my book “African Americans in Long Beach and Southern California” I discovered a little known African American chemical smoke unit that was stationed in Long Beach. A reader on the east coast read the book and said his father was in charge of that unit. He had pictures which he sent. I gave them to the Long Beach History Collection at Long Beach Public Library, and they are now available for all to see on the library’s website. I am so proud this little known piece of African American history has been rediscovered and preserved!

What sets me apart from others is my overall knowledge of Long Beach history, and my determination to find all I can on whatever subject I am researching . Recently we purchased a second home in the gold rush town of Amador City. My latest book is a history of the town, with all proceeds going to historic preservation in this smallest incorporated town in California .

What does success mean to you?
Being appreciated and seeing my research appear in the writing of others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://claudineburnettbooks.com

Image Credits
Photos by author