George Pepperdine Collection

The George Pepperdine Collection features rare and unique materials—including photographs, writings, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, collectables, and home movies—from the personal and professional life of this notable Los Angeles philanthropist and founder of Pepperdine University. George Pepperdine (1886-1962), who made his fortune as the entrepreneur behind Western Auto Supply Agency, was inspired by his deep Christian faith to reinvest his wealth in charitable activities, including the university, which he founded as George Pepperdine College in 1937. Drawing from select items in the Pepperdine University Special Collections and University Archives collection George Pepperdine Family Papers, this digital collection chronicles this history through primary source materials in a variety of media. The collection also sheds light on the personal life of George Pepperdine, particularly his family life with Helen Louise Pepperdine (1903-1990) and their children. For more images of George and Helen Pepperdine see the University Archives Photograph Collection on the Digital Collections homepage.