The California Room collects materials on California history with an emphasis on the city of San Jose and the greater Santa Clara Valley.
The California Room collections are non-circulating and may not be removed from the room. Many materials are unique and fragile. Special rules for handling are required for their care and protection.
Monday 1 PM - 6 PM
Tuesday 11 AM - 6 PM
Wednesday 11 AM - 6 PM
Thursday 11 AM - 6 PM
Friday 11 AM - 6 PM
Saturday 1 PM - 6 PM
Sunday Closed
This source indexes materials not found in the library catalog including maps, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and research collections that pertain to people, places, and events in California, San Jose, and Santa Clara County history. The A-Z index is helpful if you are not sure of spelling. More about the Index
The aerial collection includes aerial and street level photographs from the City of San Jose Planning Division (1931, 1948, 1960, 1968, 1981) from Fairchild Aerial Photography and the U.S. Geological Survey. more details...
San Jose building permits in print, digitized, and on microfilm. more details...
This collection includes city directories for San José, San Francisco, and other cities in print, on microfilm, or online as well as Haines Criss Cross directories and phone books. more details...
This collection includes clipping files, scrapbooks and microfilm of area newspapers including the San Jose Mercury News. more details...
The Historic Photograph Collection includes over 2,500 contact prints, negatives, transparencies, and 35mm slides comprising diverse subjects including schools, churches, businesses, parades, valley views, theaters, street scenes, hotels, the 1906 earthquake, the Winchester House, and residents. more details...
This collection includes yearbooks from high schools, middle schools and universities within Santa Clara County. View a list of all yearbooks available: more details...
The California Room would like to explain why preservation is important, about a free service we provide and provide preservation tips.
Estella Inda
05/01/2020 - 10:00 AM
We will be celebrating 140 years of service on Friday, May 1, 2020!
Ralph Pearce
04/30/2020 - 2:30 PM
Want to visit popular museums without actually having to go to them? Check out these virtual tours.
Brandy Maldonado
03/27/2020 - 7:00 AM
