From the California State Library: California Historical Society
Established in 1871, the California Historical Society was
designated the official California State Historical society
in 1979. Headquartered in San Francisco with a library and
museum, the Society collects, preserves and exhibits materials
about the history of California and the West.
The North Baker Research Library houses a large collection of
manuscripts, maps, posters, printed ephemera, books, and
pamphlets. The collection of photographs numbers over 500,000
and includes works by noted California photographers such as
Carleton E. Watkins, Eadweard Muybridge and Ansel Adams. The
Society also has a large collection of art that depicts the
history of California. In addition to its library and museum
function, it also offers lectures, family and school programs
and other activities on a scheduled basis.
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