Books

Reference Books

Laguna Woods History Center, Editors: Bob Ring, Myra Neben, Pat Wilkinson. Laguna Woods Village at 50 Years: 1964 - 2014. ISBN 13: 978-1-66315-756-9 (Hardcover).
Edited by the Laguna Woods History Center and traces the history of the land back to Spanish settlements in 1819. Can be purchased at LagunaWoodsHistory.org. Limited edition printing of 1,0000.

Charles Phoenix. Southern Californialand: Mid-Century Culture in Kodachrome. ‎ Angel City Pr; 1St Edition (March 1, 2004). ISBN-13 978-1883318420 (Hardcover).
Phoenix presents the colorful region as the locals saw it through the lens of their cameras in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s--more than 170 images printed from the best of Phoenix's collection of other people's old slides. He takes us into the living rooms and backyards of real people, and travels with them uptown and downtown, visiting the famous attractions along the way. He shows the lifestyle and landscape from Santa Barbara to San Diego, from the desert to the sea, filled with futurism, escapism, the unconventional and the hauntingly normal. The Leisure World Globe is featured on Page 110.

Judith Ann Trolander. From Sun Cities to The Villages: A History of Active Adult, Age-Restricted Communities (Sunbelt Studies). University Press of Florida; May 29, 2011. ISBN 978-0813036045 (hardcover). ISBN 978-0813044484 (paperback). LCCN: 2010054036.
Judith Ann Trolander has written the first book-length history of the "active adult" lifestyle. Examining the origins, development, failures, and challenges facing these communities as the baby boomer population continues to age, she offers a truly original defense of a sometimes controversial aspect of American life. This books profiles Ross W. Cortese, developer of Leisure World, Seal Beach, CA, and Del Webb, developer of Sun City, AZ. The author visited Seal Beach and Laguna Woods for her research. The book includes interviews with Seal Beach Historical Society founders Claire and Ken Walker.

Ralph Schoenstein. Every Day is Sunday: One Man's Lighthearted Search For America's Best Retirement Village. Little Brown & Co; 1st edition (January 1, 1986). ISBN: ‎978-0316774284. LCCN: 85-18075.
Describes daily life at retirement communities and leisure villages in New Jersey, Arizona, Florida, and California. ‎Pages 93-127 are Leisure Worlds. Seal Beach specific pages are 100, 104-110, 111, 150-151.

Larry Strawther. Seal Beach, A Brief History. ISBN 13: 978-1-62619-489-2.
Seal Beach.... Starting in the 1860s as Anaheim Landing, the first seaport in what would become Orange County, is soon became a summer retreat for squatters and illegal saloons. Despite the efforts of real estate developers to turn the town into an amusement resort and an early center for aviation and motion pictures. Seal Beach became neighboring Long Beach's tavern, brothel and gambling destination.

Time Life Books. This Fabulous Century. Volume VII America 1960 - 1970. New York. Time-Life Books, ©1970. LOC 69-16698 (Hardcover).
The years 1960 through 1970 are brought to you in exciting detail through vivid photography and engaging, informative text. Leisure World, Seal Beach, CA, is profiled on pages 116 - 127.