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Title: California Ephemera Collection
Date (inclusive): 1841-2001
Date (bulk): 1880-1980
Collection Identifier: CA
EPH
Extent: 140.0 boxes (68 linear feet)
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
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.
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates:
https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/
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.
Menu Collection
Theater Ephemera Collection
Additions to the collection are ongoing.
Re-processed by California Historical Society staff in 2010-2011.
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.
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.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog:
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.