The archive contains the artist research files of Edan Milton Hughes that informed the contents of his artist reference book titled Artists in California 1786-1940. The files contain exhibition catalogs, magazine and newspaper articles, photographs, copies of death certificates, letters, and other materials with information about the life and works of approximately 7,000 artists active in California from the late 18th century to 1940.

Edan Milton Hughes was born June 4, 1935, in Kentucky and came to San Francisco with the U.S. Navy in 1956 where he became an avid collector of early California art over five decades. He is the author of Artists in California 1786-1940, of which the third edition contains 20,000 artist biographies. The first edition was published in 1986, the second three years later, and the third in 2002 by the Crocker Art Museum. Artist information was obtained from books, newspapers, periodicals, auction and gallery catalogues, census records, and interviews with artists and their descendants. Hughes bequeathed numerous paintings to the Crocker Art Museum where a gallery is named for him. He died in his home on April 21, 2015.

47 linear feet comprised of approximately 7,000 artist files occupying 14 hanging file drawers, two Hollinger boxes of microfiche, and one Hollinger box of slides.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish, where applicable.

Call 916-808-8856 or email library@crockerart.org for an appointment or questions. Collection items are for research purposes only. Researchers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information contained within the archive. Property rights to the physical object belong to the Crocker Art Museum. Due to potential copyright restrictions, reproductions may not be provided for some materials.