Photographs from the 1971 earthquake show building damage, and photographs of rescues and action from first responders. They also depict patients and staff post-earthquake. A photograph of then governor, Ronald Regan, at Olive View just after the earthquake is included. Extensive building photographs that were taken for insurance purposes are included.

A small collection of photographs from the 1994 Northridge earthquake are included in this series. These mostly include damage, which was minimal for this earthquake.

This file set contains articles, compilations, filed paperwork, and reports, including a large bound volume by the U.S. Department of Commerce on the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake. Some of the photographs in box 55 are mounted on paper with additional information, report-style.