Marshall spearheaded the creation of "Los Angeles as Subject: The Transformative Culture of Los Angeles Communities Project," a collaboration of 178 organizations, universities, museums, cultural and religious institutions and private collectors which lists where researchers and others can find information about the Los Angeles region.

Marshall led the Los Angeles and Collections Advisory Forum, a 42-member group convened by the Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities that gathered the information for the directory.

"The response by the general public and the research community statewide to the work of 'LA as Subject' has been extremely gratifying," Marshall said. "It has always been one of our main goals to give a strong voice to the less visible communities in Los Angeles through the artifacts, documents, and images they themselves have created. By giving researchers the opportunity to find and explore the archives and collections of the diverse cultures of Los Angeles, we have helped to discover new and challenging interpretations of our city's history.

"For me personally," Marshall added, "it has been a wonderful experience working with Angelenos from all walks of life who have become excited about the preservation of our city's past. Being recognized on the state level for our work here in Los Angeles will certainly help broaden the scope of our activities in the future."

"Los Angeles as Subject" identifies what collections are available, where they are and what they contain.

By putting the information together, forum members hope to make it easier for scholars, researchers and community historians to find the information they need as they examine cultural and historical issues effecting Los Angeles.

For more information about "Los Angeles as Subject," call Robert Marshall at (818) 677-2832 or Karen L. Stokes, research and education for the Getty Research Institute at (310) 440-7782. Also visit the website at www.getty.edu/research/programs/public/lasubject/.