Assessor's Office Records

Michael Griffith

Santa Clara County Archives

1875 Senter Road

San Jose, CA 95112-2527

Phone: (408) 755-7895

Fax: (408) 755-7897

URL: http://archives.sccgov.org

Email: Archives@ceo.sccgov.org

Assessor's Office Records

Collection number: 2006-008 and 2007-003

Santa Clara County Archives

San Jose, California

Processed by:: Michael Griffith
Date Completed:: 2007
Revised by:: Trista Raezer
Date Completed:: 2011
Encoded by:: Michael Griffith and Trista Raezer

Descriptive Summary

Title: Assessor's Office records

Dates: 1912-1945

Collection number: 2006-008 and 2007-003

Creator: Santa Clara County (Calif.) Assessor's Office

Collection Size: 4 volumes and 4 oversize map books

Repository: Santa Clara County Archives.

San Jose, CA 95112-2527

Abstract: This collection contains assessment records created by the County Assessor's Office.

Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Archives staff.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

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

Assessor's Office records, 2006-008 and 2007-003, Santa Clara County Archives.

Acquisition Information

These records were among collections transferred by the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in 2006 and by the County Surveyor in 2007.

Processing Information

The material in this collection was identified and separated from the larger accessions of which it was a part. The assessment records were placed in chronological order. An index was created for the map books.

Administrative History

The Asessor's Office was established as an elected position in 1850 and remains so today. The principal duty of the assessor is to fix the value of all real and business personal property in the county as a basis for tax calculations. The assessor also grants exemptions to qualifying properties. During the nineteenth century, the assessor on occasion carried out additional tasks, including serving as superintendent of schools in the early 1850s.

Scope and Content of Collection

For the scope and content of the collection, see the descriptions of the major subdivisions.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into two major subdivisions, assessment records and school district assessment map books.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Santa Clara County (Calif.) Assessor's Office

Real property maps

Assessment records, 1912-1931

Physical Description: 4 volumes.

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series consists of four volumes of assessment records, two volumes of the secured assessment tax roll for San Jose in 1912, one volume of delinquent assessments for 1912, and one volume of assessments of property owned by public service corporations in the county for 1931.

School district assessment maps, circa 1925-1945

Physical Description: 4 map books.

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains four school district assessment map books. Each volume contains maps for school districts that are, for the most part, in the same geographical area of the county. The maps are only partially identified. Some include the name of the school district, some the name of the town or city, and others have no name. The maps normally include street names and subdivision or addition names. For each parcel on a map, the owner's name is indicated, and sometimes an identifying number and/or the tax are included. Cities and towns covered include San Jose, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Alviso, Milpitas, Campbell, and Los Gatos. At least thirty-three school districts are identified by name.

Arrangement

Each volume has been assigned an identifying letter. An index has been created, listing towns and school districts with volume and page references. This index is available at the Archives.