Sacramento Union newspaper collection, 1852-1965

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Summary

Extent:
153.5 Linear Feet (252 volumes, 16 card catalog drawers, 271 pamphlet boxes, 1 manuscript box, 1 oversized newspaper box several loose single issues)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Sacramento Union newspaper collection, MS0167, Center for Sacramento History.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains issues of the Sacramento Daily Union newspaper in bound volumes from 1857 through 1904, Nov 1919, and from May 1937 through October 1948. There are also a small number of single issues of the newspaper from 1852 to 1870. The collection also includes a card catalog subject index of the newspaper from ca. 1910 to 1965 and associated research files that include photographs and clippings kept by the Union's library.

Biographical / historical:

The Sacramento Daily Union was founded in 1851 in Sacramento at 21 J Street, with its first issue published March 19, 1851. Its first editor was Dr. John F. Morse. In 1852, the newspaper moved to 121 J Street. Several newspapers were published in Sacramento during the Gold Rush, but the conservative Daily Union and its rival the progressive Sacramento Bee (founded in 1857) were the only two to survive into the next century.

In 1875, Sacramento Publishing Co. purchased the Daily Union and its rival the Daily Record, merging them together; for a short time the newspaper was called the Sacramento Daily Record-Union before being renamed the Union. Notably, Mark Twain wrote for the Union in 1866.

In 1967, the Union moved to its final building at 301 Capitol Mall. The newspaper was unable to compete with the Bee's circulation, and in the latter half of the 20th century, it went through several ownership changes. It was purchased by Copley Press in 1967, Richard Mellon Scaife in 1977, Daniel Benvenuti Jr. and David Kassis in 1989, and Ralph Danel Jr. in 1992. The newspaper folded in 1994, with its last issue published January 14. At that time, it had been the oldest newspaper West of the Mississippi.

Acquisition information:
Material in this collection was received from Argus Books in 1972 (accession 1972/247), the Sacramento Union Library in 1979 (1979/091), the Sacramento Public Library in 1980 (1980/117), Eleanor McClatchy in 1982 (1982/004), Oakland Public Library in 2003 (2003/042), Jim Henley in 2004 (2004/079), and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in 2025 (2025/008).
Processing information:

The collection was processed by Kim Hayden, 2023.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 2 series:

  • Series 1. Newspapers, 1852-1904; 1937-1948
  • Series 2. Indexes and research files, ca. 1910-1965

Series 1. Newspapers, 1852-1904; 1937-1948. The majority of this series consists of bound volumes of the Sacramento Daily Union from 1852 to 1904 and 1937 to 1948. There are also a small number of single issues of the newspaper from 1852 to 1870

Series 2. Index and research files, ca. 1910-1965. This series is made up of a card catalog index and associated research files covering subjects from around 1910 to 1965. The card catalog index is arranged alphabetically by subject, and each card contains an identifying number. Those numbers correspond to the associated research files, which are arranged by those numbers. The research files contain photographs, clippings, and etched printing plates related to the subject. One of the research files boxes is unprocessed.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Sacramento Union newspaper collection, MS0167, Center for Sacramento History.

Location of this collection:
551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95811, US
Contact:
(916) 808-7072
csh@cityofsacramento.org
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