LATTC Unearths Time Capsule Buried 50 Years Ago

For generations, LATTC campus community members have walked over a plaque installed in the ground outside the college’s Business & Civic Engagement Building, most of whom never knew there was a 50-year-old time capsule buried below. The plaque reads: 

“In dedication of this structure, the Business Science Building, and in commemoration of the college’s Golden Anniversary and the Bicentennial of the United States of America on May 27, 1976, we have entombed a time capsule containing official documents, historical literature, photographs, and other artifacts reflecting the history of this institution and the city of Los Angeles with the expectation it will be unearthed at an appropriate time during centennial celebrations for this institution in the year 2025 AD. 

Fred J. Brinkman 
President” 
 

The time capsule plaque that was installed in the ground for 50 years outside the college's Business & Civic Engagement Building

This year, LATTC celebrates its 100th Anniversary, marking 100 years of student success. At the prompting of the words on the plaque to unearth the capsule “at an appropriate time during centennial celebrations for this institution in the year 2025 AD,” LATTC brought out a jackhammer and shovels on a cool morning this past January and set out to find what was buried below. After some heavy drilling into the concrete surrounding the plaque, LATTC’s physical plant team lifted a steel “box” out of the ground.   

LATTC’s Victor Nieto and Vladimir Nemirovsky lift the steel time capsule using handles that had been installed on the capsule 

What was in that time capsule buried all those years ago? An introduction, and sort of “guide” to the capsule, was gathered in a black binder and began with a letter from LATTC’s President at the time, Fred J. Brinkman, whose name was inscribed on the plaque outside the Business Science Building.  
 
The letter was dated September 14, 1973, which coincided with LATTC’s Business & Science Building groundbreaking, and read, “Los Angeles Trade-Technical College has a long and outstanding history, as we hope some of the items we are placing in this capsule will show...”.  
 
In discussing “THE PRESENT,” Brinkman shared the excitement with the start of the 1973–74 school year, as well as the groundbreaking of the Business & Science Building. He ended with a message to those who would open the capsule in the future: “Our common ground is that we are all a part of the past, present and future of this institution. Soon there will be a new building on this site. Later it will be expanded. Still later you will remove this capsule from its earthen vault so as to know of the past and, perhaps, better prepare for the future.”

LATTC President Fred J. Brinkman’s letter that was included in the time capsule buried on May 27, 1976 
 

Other items in the time capsule included a student handbook and schedule of classes. The handbook provided key insights into the campus life and codes of conduct at LATTC at the time of the time capsule’s burial in 1976. 

A LATTC Student Handbook (left) and Schedule of Classes (right) from 1976

Sections in the Student Handbook included information on the college’s bi-weekly student newspaper TradeWinds, as well as where to go for Lost and Found items 


The 1976 handbook featured an extensive section on student activities such as contests, including the “Campus Sweetheart.” Candidates were able to campaign using posters, floats, and “stunts”. The sweetheart was then selected following a campus-wide election with results announced during the Sweetheart Ball. 

As an interesting side note, Marilyn Denise Pollard was Trade-Tech's Campus Sweetheart in 1976 and assisted with the time capsule burial during the college’s dedication of the Business & Science Building dedication and burial of the time capsule on May 27, 1976. 

The inside of the Business Science Building dedication program which took place on May 27, 1976 

The time capsule burial involved Arthur Bronson, president of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees; Leslie Koltai, Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District; LATTC President, Dr. Fred. J. Brinkman; and LATTC Campus Sweetheart, Marilyn Denise Pollard 


Also included in the Student Activities section was the “Gold Thimble Fashion Show,” a biannual showcase of designs from students in the college’s fashion design program. This beloved event continues to this day, with showcases held once in the Spring and again during the Fall. 

Evidence of the Gold Thimble Fashion show at LATTC was further brought to life with a feature in a May 1976 issue of the college publication, TradeWinds, included in the capsule. The feature teased photos of a student designer fitting her model. 50 students participated in the Spring Gold Thimble Fashion Show that year, which hosted a morning show on May 12 at 9 am, and an evening showing on May 14 at 8 pm. 

A feature on the Gold Thimble Fashion Show in the May 6, 1976 issue of the college paper, TradeWinds

Other items included a Golden Anniversary Catalogue for the 1975–76 academic year. The cover of the catalogue matched a larger printed rendering of the future Business Science Building.  

LATTC’s 1975–76 catalog (left), along with a printed rendering of the Business Science building (right) were included in the time capsule 

Full inventory list of time capsule items: 

• LA Times paper—September 14, 1973—the date of the Business & Science Building groundbreaking 

• LA Times paper—May 27, 1976—the date of the Business & Science Building dedication and burial of the time capsule 

• U.S. Flag 

• California Flag 

• “A Brief History of Los Angeles Trade-Technical Junior College Frank Wiggins Trade School” book 

• 10th Anniversary of the Founding of the Frank Wiggins Trade School, May 1925–1935 catalogue 

• Film reel of registration announcements 

• (5) Los Angeles Community College District facts & services mini brochure 

• (2) Los Angeles Community College District “An Investment in Learning” brochure 

• (2) LATTC “Invitation to a career” / general information brochure 

• Sheetmetal Class of 1976 roster 

• 1972–73 College annual report 

• 1973–74 College catalog 

• 1975–76 College catalog 

• Folder: Business & Science Building groundbreaking program (held on September 14, 1973) and press release 

• Black binder: Letter from LATTC President Fred J. Brinkman, Letter from Associated Student Body President Howard L. Eddings, plus campus archival photo from 1952 and rendering 

• (2) 1975 Student handbook 

• (2) 1976 Schedule of classes 

• (2) Press release on the occasion of the Business Science Building dedication on May 27, 1976 

• May 6, 1976, issue of LATTC student paper, “TradeWinds” 

• Spring 1976 Schedule of Classes 

• Dedication of New Business & Science Building brochure featuring dedication program, Business & Science Building story, and LATTC History 

• Archival photos of the campus, classes, students and instructors 

A display of the time capsule and its contents is now on short-term view in the Library (D3, second floor) through September.