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Title: California Ephemera Collection
Date (inclusive): 1841-2001
Date (bulk): 1880-1980
Collection Identifier: CA EPH
Extent:
140 boxes
(60 linear feet)
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105-4014
(415) 357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Language of Materials: The bulk of the collection is in English, with some materials in German, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Abstract: The collection consists of a wide range of ephemera pertaining to the state of California and each of its constituent counties,
excluding the City and County of San Francisco. Dating from 1841 to 2001, the collection includes ephemera created by or related
to churches; civic associations and activist groups; clubs and societies, especially fraternal organizations; labor unions;
auditoriums and theaters; historic buildings, landmarks, and museums; hotels and resorts; festivals and fairs; sporting events;
hospitals, sanatoriums, prisons, and orphanages; schools, colleges, and universities; government agencies; elections, ballot
measures, and political parties; infrastructure and transit systems; geographic features; and other subjects. Types of ephemera
include: advertisements; brochures; folders; programs; leaflets; pamphlets; announcements; guides; maps; tickets; invitations;
newsletters; constitutions and bylaws; surveys and reports; directories and listings; fliers; badges and ribbons; ballots;
dance cards; invitations; catalogues; report cards and syllabi; journals and journal articles; and newspaper clippings.
Collection is open for research.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director
of Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA
94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. Restrictions
also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
[Identification of item], California Ephemera Collection, California Historical Society.
Ephemera relating to California individuals, businesses, and the City and County of San Francisco was separated and filed
in the
California Biography Collection ,
California Business Ephemera Collection , and
San Francisco Ephemera Collection , respectively. Ephemera relating to printing and publishing was separated and filed in the Kemble Collection. Manuscripts,
photographs, books, and out-of-scope materials were also removed.
Kemble Z3 Ephemera Collection
Menu Collection
Theater Ephemera Collection
Additions to the collection are ongoing.
Collection is arranged in two series: 1) General subjects; and 2) Counties.
Files in series 1 (General subjects) are arranged alphabetically by the name of the organization, thing, event, place, or
topic represented. Files are not nested under topical headings, with the following exceptions: individual labor unions are
arranged in alphabetical order under the heading "Labor unions"; and individual national parks and forests are arranged in
alphabetical order under the heading "National parks and forests."
Files in series 2 (Counties) are arranged alphabetically by county. Within each county, files are arranged alphabetically
by place (e.g., Oakland) or topical heading. Headings include: Art galleries, Auditoriums and theaters, Churches, Clubs and
societies, Festivals and fairs, Historic buildings, Hospitals, Hotels and resorts, Missions, Museums, Parks, and Schools.
Re-processed by California Historical Society staff in 2010-2011.
The collection consists of a wide range of ephemera pertaining to the state of California and each of its constituent counties,
excluding the City and County of San Francisco. (San Francisco ephemera may be found in the
San Francisco Ephemera Collection .) Dating from 1841 to 2001, the collection includes ephemera created by or related to churches; civic associations and activist
groups; clubs and societies, especially fraternal organizations; labor unions; auditoriums and theaters; historic buildings,
landmarks, and museums; hotels and resorts; festivals and fairs; sporting events; hospitals, sanatoriums, prisons, and orphanages;
schools, colleges, and universities; government agencies; elections, ballot measures, and political parties; infrastructure
and transit systems; geographic features; and other subjects.
Series 1 (General subjects) consists of ephemeral items that pertain to general subjects (e.g., Air pollution, Portuguese,
and Thanksgiving); features located in more than one county (e.g., Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, San Andreas Fault, and Tuolumme
River); statewide, regional, and national clubs and associations (e.g., American Protective Tariff League, California Jockey
Club, and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee); and organizations or bodies with multi-county, state, or national jurisdictions
(e.g., Bay Area Rapid Transit, California State Archives, and United Farm Workers). Extensive ephemera files for California
elections, labor unions, national forests and parks, and the University of California, including the Big Game, may be found
in this series.
Series 2 (Counties) consists of ephemeral items that document the social, cultural, educational, religious, economic, and
political life of California counties, cities, and towns, from the mid-nineteenth to the late twentieth century. Ephemera
files for Alameda County (especially Berkeley and Oakland), Los Angeles County, Marin County, Monterey County, Santa Clara
County (especially Stanford University), and Sonoma County are particularly extensive.
The types of ephemera represented in the collection include: advertisements; brochures; folders; programs; leaflets; pamphlets;
announcements; guides; maps; tickets; invitations; newsletters; constitutions and bylaws; surveys and reports; directories
and listings; fliers; badges and ribbons; ballots; dance cards; invitations; catalogues; report cards and syllabi; journals
and journal articles; and newspaper clippings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Advertisements.
Announcements.
Brochures.
Bylaws (administrative records).
California Ephemera Project.
Clippings.
Dance cards.
Ephemera.
Invitations.
Leaflets.
Newspapers.
Organizations--California.
Programs.
Promotional materials.
Reports.
Tickets.
Travel guidebooks.