Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Inventory of the Office of the Secretary of State Records, Part I
See series descriptions
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Description
The records of the Secretary of State's office comprise one of the largest record groups at the Archives. This finding aid,
identified as "Part I," describes many records that are no longer created by the various programs within the agency. Part
I is comprised of 13 sub-groups: Accounting Office Records, Administrative Office Records, Architects' and Live Stock Auctioneers'
Licensing Records, Corporation License Tax Records, Corporations Section Records, Motor Vehicle Records, Notary Public Records,
State Library Records, Trademark and Service Mark Records, and Filed Documents (these sub-groups closely reflect the organization
of the Secretary of State's office during the latter half of the 19th century and the early half of the 20th century). The
last three sub-groups are Census Records, Constitutional Conventions Records, and Spanish and Mexican Land Grant Records.
Background
Article V, section 19 of the 1849 state Constitution provided that the Secretary of State "shall keep a fair record of the
official acts of the legislative and executive departments of the Government; and shall, when required, lay the same, and
all matters relative thereto, before either branch of the Legislature; and shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned
him by law."
Restrictions
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult California State Archives staff. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, as the owner of the physical
items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication
of materials from the California State Archives' collections.
Availability
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions will be noted in the record series descriptions.