District 52 is a by-product of a three-way division of the old District One. As of January 1, 1956, District One consisted of all of the county of Los Angeles. It was headed by District Governor Paul Hornaday. He had a District Lt. Governor, three Division Lt. Governors with fifteen Areas and 978 clubs with 20 or 25 clubs soon to be organized.

The 1950's

On January 24, 1956, the District Executive Committee (DEC) voted to divide District One in to three Districts. A committee of five was formed to consider all aspects of such a division. On February 24, 1956, the DEC heard the Special Committee report. The majority (3) recommended that District 1 remain intact. The DEC voted to hear the minority report (2), which recommended the division. The DEC voted to accept the minority report.

On March 2, 1956,a special District Council meeting was called. The meeting was held at the Occidental College auditorium in Los Angeles. The final vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the division of District One into three Districts.

On April 12, 1956, a Nominating Committee was formed and it met to nominate the three top officers of each of the new Districts. Bob Dunham *Governor), Robert Feindel (Education Lt. Gov.) and Walter Scott (Adm. Lt. Gov.) were nominated for District 52.

In April 1956, Richard Lucas became the first District 52 Secretary and published the first District 52 Directory.

On May 19, 1956, District One held its last Spring Conference at the Veteran Memorial Auditorium in Culver City. During the business meeting, the club delegates were divided according to their new District and each elected its new District Officers. Dunham, Feindel and Scott were elected for District 52. The three resultant Districts commenced operation in July, 1956 with District 50 (44 clubs) District 52 (44 clubs) and District 52 (42 clubs).

In 1956 and 1957, the first two Fall and Spring Conference were held at the L.A. Breakfast Club on Los Feliz Blvd. In Glendale with over 300 people attending each of the four conferences.

The 1960's

In July 1961, the first District Officers Training session was held in Ferndale Park located within Griffith Park. Robert Feindel, Educational Lt. Gov. was the chairman and had the Toastmasters of the host Area instruct the Officers.

In 1962, the first Spanish-speaking Toastmasters club in the United States was chartered. The charter was presented by District Governor Richard Lucas to Victor Ruiz, the first President of Hispano-Americano #3606 at the Azteca Restaurant.

On October 27, 1962, Richard Lucas, representing District 52, attended the opening of World Headquarters in Santa Ana, California. Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, the Board of Directors and other Toastmasters were in attendance at this great occasion. Previously, Toastmasters International had been located in a rented building.

In 1963, the perpetual "Governor's Trophy" was presented for the first time at the Spring Conference. This trophy went to the club that had accumulated the most points in the previous six months in various leadership activities. This trophy was renamed the Robert Feindel Trophy in 1983, in honor of District 52's second District Governor, and was first presented to North Hollywood #147.

In June 1964, District 52 became a 'Distinguished District" for the first time under the leadership of District Governor Ivan Deach, Jr., DTM.

The 1970's

In 1970, C. C. "Pete" Petersen was elected International Director from Region II. Dr. C. Harold Havlik, ATM, served as his campaign manager.

In December 1971, Robert Ayers was honored as the first DTM in District 52.

In 1973, Rudy Valle, DTM, of the Encino #303 Club, won the International Speech Contest in Chicago, Illinois.

In 1973, Earl Johnson, DTM, designed the DTM medal with the red, white and blue ribbon. These medals have been presented to all DTMs until Toastmaster World Headquarters made DTM medals available to all the world, on a blue ribbon.

In 1973, District Governor Ed Casper, DTM, chartered the First Braille Toastmasters Club

In June, 1975, District 52 became a 'President's Distinguished District' for the first time under the leadership of District Governor Ed Hogan, DTM

In June, 1976, District 52 was the host district for the Region II Conference at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in North Hollywood, California. Jim Wildes, DTM, Adm. Lt. Gov-elect, was the Host District Chairman.

In 1978, Mike Thomas of the Van Nuys #172 Club won the Region II Humorous Speech Contest in Claremont, California

In 1978, Ed Casper, DTM, PDG of the Van Nuys #172 Club was awarded the Presidential Citation by International President Durwood English, DTM in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the first such award in the history of District 52. Ed was recognized for bringing in more than 600 members!

In November, 1979, the first woman to achieve DTM in District 52, Linda Folkhard-Stengel, was presented with the DTM award. In November 1982, Alice Zessin of the North Hollywood #147 Club became the second woman presented with the DTM award.

During the 1979 Spring Conference, the District Council approved the election of Area Governors.

The 1980's

In August, 1980, Jeff C. Young, ATM, of the Glendale One - #-8 Club won the International Speech Contest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In August, 1980, Burnt #914 was the recipient of the Top Ten Club award at the International Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the basis of the Distinguished Club Plan (forerunner of the CMP). Burnt had 16 ATMS that year!

In August, 1980, Don Gamble of the Keystone #48 Club was awarded the Presidential Citation by International President, Eric K. Stuhlmueller, DTM, at the International Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In November, 1981, District 52 was honored to have William D. Hamilton, DTM, President of Toastmasters International, visit our District. Dr. C. Harold Havlik, ATM, was Chairman of the Presidential Visitation Committee. The President spoke to the Board of Education in Los Angeles, which eventually resulted in the chartering of several Educators Toastmasters Clubs.

In 1982, Robert Rivera, DTM, Educational Lt. Governor, was instrumental in the formation of the first two Educators Toastmasters Clubs, having been the originator of the concept.

In June, 1982, District 52 again hosted the Region II Conference with Pete Kittredge, DTM, PDG, serving as the Host District Chairman and John Kozlowsky, DTM, PDG as his Assistant Chairman. The conference was again held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in North Hollywood, California.

In August 1982, Captain George S. Doombadze, DTM, of the Van Nuys #172 Club, was awarded the Presidential Citation by International President William D. Hamilton, DTM at the International Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Captain Doombadze won for the speaker's bureau activities - more than 300 presentations during  his year as chairman (at least 200 given by just two members.)

In June, 1983, District 52 became a 'Select Distinguished District" under the leadership of District Governor Robert L. Rivera, DTM.

1988, at the Spring Conference, District 52  voted in a board anti-discrimination policy, and voted to publish it yearly in the district bulletin. Two years later, WHQ adopted our policies for all clubs, and publishes it yearly in the Toastmaster Magazine.

In 1988 and 1989, two years in a row, Distinguished Singles was one of the top 10 clubs in the world.

The 1990's

In 1993-94, the District received the Excellence in Leadership award 2 successive years for having a total of 4 Distinguished years in a row.

As of 1994 every district now has a Public Relations Officer, either elected or appointed, according to individual district policy.

In 1995, the District council voted to have Area Governors appointed by the incoming District Governor.

Since 1995, District 52 has won the International Top 10 Bulletin at least 3 times — and Distinguished District many times.

In August 1997, Toastmaster and Past District Governor Jim Green, DTM, was awarded the Toastmasters International "Presidential Citation" for his contributions to the District, Region, and Toastmasters International programs over 25 years of membership

In 1999, Renaissance Speakers (Club 2374) was one of the top 10 clubs in the world.