Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Processing Information
Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Clerk-Recorder records
Dates: 1840-1982
Collection number: 2009-009 through 2009-164
Creator:
Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder
Collection Size:
6735 bound volumes
168 archival boxes
Repository:
Santa Clara County Archives.
Abstract: This collection consists of groups of officially recorded documents maintained by the County Clerk and the County Recorder.
These include real property records, licenses, certifications, registrations, notary public records, business records, court
records, maps, bonds, cemetery records, wills, articles of incorporation, fictitious business names, assessments, military
records, and other miscellaneous records.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Archives staff.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Spanish
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
The Archives can claim physical ownership only for some collections. Users are responsible for securing permission of the
copyright holder for publication or quotation.
Preferred Citation
Clerk-Recorder records, Santa Clara County Archives.
Acquisition Information
These records were placed in the County Archives by the County Clerk-Recorder from 2006 to 2009.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Michael Griffith and Trista Raezer working under NHPRC grant RA-10047-07, the Santa Clara
County Archives Project. A fuller account of the grant project is available at the Archives website.
Administrative History
The office of County Recorder and County Clerk were established in 1850. The County Recorder maintained records relating to
ownership of real property, vital statistics, and other matters. From 1850 until 1893, the recorder also served as county
auditor. The recorder was elected until 1951 when the new county charter made the position appointive.
The County Clerk created or maintained diverse and important records. The clerk's duties has changed over time. In Santa Clara
County, the clerk acted as clerk of the board of supervisors from 1852 until 1951, when the county charter created a separate
clerk of the board. In addition, the clerk acted as clerk of county courts until 1999. Records for which the clerk is responsible
have included court records, files of the board of supervisors, marriage certificates, registers of licensed professionals,
and business records.
The Recorder's office and Clerk's office merged in 1973 as the office of County Clerk-Recorder.
Scope and Content of Collection
For the scope and content of this collection, see the entries for the major subdivisions.
Arrangement
For the arrangement of this collection, see the entries for the major subdivisions.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Architects
Articles of incorporation
Bonds
Business names
Chattel mortgages
Chiropractors
Deeds
Deeds of trust--California
Dentists
Fictitious names
Maps
Midwives
Mortgages
Notaries public
Oak Hill Cemetery (San Jose, Calif.)
Optometrists
Pharmacies
Physicians
Santa Clara County (Calif.) Genealogy
Santa Clara County (Calif.) Recorder
Santa Clara County (Calif.) Maps
Land titles
Surveyors
Undertakers
Wills