Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Appraisal
Processing Information
Biography / Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Sacramento (Calif.) Center for Sacramento History records
Dates: 1953-1978
Collection number: CTY0006
Creator:
Sacramento (Calif.) Center for Sacramento History
Collection Size:
15 linear feet
(15 boxes)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Abstract: The City of Sacramento Museum and History Division, Administrative Files is comprised of 15 cubic feet of administrative
files. The bulk of the collection dates from 1950 - 1980.
Physical location: 25H1-25H5
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Publication Rights
All requests to publish or quote from private collections 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], Sacramento (Calif.) Center for Sacramento History records, CTY0006, Center for Sacramento History.
Acquisition Information
This material was produced or collected by the Center for Sacramento History during the period of the 1950s through the 1970s
(Accession #1980-018).
Appraisal
Collection was originally 21 boxes. Three boxes from original accession (1980-018) were not located. After processing the
collection went from 21 to 15 boxes in total.
Processing Information
The collection was partially processed around 1980. At that time, the collection was not placed in archival folders, and
only general subject headings were given. Photographs were removed and placed in the photo archive under the number 1980/018,
but no listing was compiled of the photographs.
The current processing included placing material in archival folders and separating the material into series. The reference
files still frequently used were removed from this collection and placed in the current Research File Collection. The collection
was processed in 2019 by Ruth Craft.
Biography / Administrative History
In 1953, the City of Sacramento established an Historic Landmark Commission. Their duties included the establishment and administration
of a History Museum for the Sacramento community. The Commission began to collect artifacts within a year or two after its
establishment. In the late 1960s, the Commission, in co-operation with the non-profit, Sacramento Pioneer Association, opened
a temporary City and County museum at 1009 7th Street in a building called Pioneer Hall. The building had approximately 1,000
square feet of collection storage.
By 1969 the County joined with the City in support of the Commission and Museum. The Commission would be re-named the Sacramento
Museum and History Commission. The staff was recognized as City staff under the direction of the City Manager and the Commission's
role became advisory. The staff began to actively collect to build up a museum. The Commission focused on the development
of a permanent new museum facility. The 1009 7th Street facility soon was inadequate and safety issues related to the building
prompted the City to obtain leased facilities in the Mayflower Building on 20th Street, between J & K Streets. Part of the
move was also motivated by the acquisition of a very large block of County records in 1976. These records became the basis
for the archives program. The Mayflower Building provided about an 800% increase in storage space totaling about 15,000 square
feet. The collections and archives remained in the Mayflower site until 1987. An exhibition facility was constructed in Old
Sacramento at 101 I Street in a reconstruction of the first City Hall (1854). It was called the Sacramento History Center
(now called the Sacramento History Museum) and opened in 1985.
The City and County recognized the archives as their official repository in 1976. The National Historic Publications and Records
Commission (NHPRC) made their first local government grant in California to organize the public records at the archives, publish
a finding aid, and develop records retention schedules for the City and County (1979).
By 1978, very significant County record groups began to flow into the archives. Large private collections, including the KCRA-TV
film collection were donated in 1978. The Eleanor McClatchy collection was accepted in 1982. From 1980 to 1983, over 2,000
linear feet of County records were deposited at the archives.
In 1987, the City lost its lease on the Mayflower Building and the collections were relocated into two storage facilities
for almost two years while a new building owned by the City was completed at 551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd. The building, named
the Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center (SAMCC), opened in 1990. The physical size of SAMCC was not larger than
previous facilities, but it was designed for its use as a collection facility and compact shelving increased the density of
storage, which housed the existing collections and provided for an estimated ten years of growth.
SAMCC exceeded its estimated growth projections and was experiencing space issues in eight years rather than the projected
ten years. SAMCC has now been at the Sequoia Pacific Blvd. site for over 20 years and because of the lack of space for properly
storing a growing collection, 14,000 square feet of leased space at McClellan Park was opened in 2008. The adoption by the
City of a Records Management program has already placed over 1,000 linear feet of records at the new temporary McClellan Park
site.
In January 2009, the Manager of SAMCC became the Director of the Sacramento History Museum and the Historic Old Sacramento
Foundation. The move was made to streamline historic interpretation in Old Sacramento and re-establish links between SAMCC's
collections and the Museum. In May of that year, an organizational name change was made from SAMCC to the Center for Sacramento
History, a name that better reflects the community mission of the Center. From 1965 to today, the full-time staff has grown
from one to four. In addition, there are three additional positions funded via public/private partnerships and approximately
30 volunteers that dedicate at least four hours per week to the Center.
Scope and Content of Collection
Series 1. Historic Landmarks Commission
This series contains the minutes of the Historic landmarks Commission from the years 1960 - 1972
Series 2. Sacramento Museum and History Commission
The Historic Landmarks Commission was renamed after the County joined with the City to support the collection of records.
The meeting minutes cover the years 1973 to 1976.
Subseries 2.1 Administrative files
Subseries 2.1.1 Correspondence
This subseries contains correspondence from the years 1953 through 1978. These files
demonstrate some of the early concerns of the Commission
Subseries 2.1.2 Finance
This subseries contains budget information from the year 1964 through 1967.
Subseries 2.1.3 Personnel
This subseries contain the Employee Rules and Regulations from the years 1969 to 1976. Some consultant contracts are also
found in this series
Subseries 2.2 Project files
Subseries 2.2.1 Old Sacramento Project. This subseries contains information about the development of Old Sacramento. Beginning
in 1964 and continuing through 1975, staff were very much involved in the decisions regarding both the inclusive area, redevelopment
and, preservation efforts, and historic themes to be presented in the part of the city to be called Old Sacramento.
Subseries 2.2.2. Sacramento Redevelopment Agency
This subseries contains the meeting minutes of the Sacramento Redevelopment Agency from 1968 through 1975. This agency was
involved in funding for the redevelopment of Old Sacramento.
Subseries 2.2.3 Special Events
This subseries contains information about the City of Sacramento Birthday celebration from the years 1963 through 1976. Other
events include History week, the Gold Spike Centennial, and the Bicentennial Celebration.
Subseries 2.3 Exhibit files
This subseries contains information about exhibits developed for display
Subseries 2.4 Subject files
Subseries 2.4.1 Railroad Museum
This subseries contains correspondence and plans concerning the building of the Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento.
Subseries 2.4.2 Historic Structures
This subseries contains information about various historic Sacramento structures that were examined for research purposes
Subseries 2.4.3 Historic Sites
This subseries contains information about various historic sites that were examined for research purposes
Subseries 2.5 Museum
This subseries contains information about the development of a museum to display and hold portions of the collection, first
at Pioneer Hall, later at the Mayflower building, and then at the museum built in Old Sacramento.
Series 3. Photographs
This series contains information on photographs that were removed from the collection and placed in the photo archives.
Series 4. Assorted
Subseries 2.4.1 Reports
This subseries consists of a rough draft report on proposed street activities for Old Sacramento
Subseries 2.4.2 Publications
This subseries contains notes, rough drafts, and publications pertaining to Sacramento.
Subseries 2.4.3 Brochures and Programs
This subseries contains sample brochures and programs flyers
Subseries 2.4.4 Conferences and Workshops
This subseries contains information about conferences and workshops attending by staff
Subseries 2.4.5 Organizations
This subseries contains information about some of the organizations to which staff belonged including the Conference of California
historical Societies, the Sacramento Pioneer Association E Clampus Vitus, and the Western History Association.
Arrangement
Series 1. Historic Landmarks Commission
This series contains the minutes of the Historic landmarks Commission from the years 1960 - 1972
Series 2. Sacramento Museum and History Commission
The Historic Landmarks Commission was renamed after the County joined with the City to support the collection of records.
The meeting minutes cover the years 1973 to 1976.
Subseries 2.1 Administrative files
Subseries 2.1.1 Correspondence
This subseries contains correspondence from the years 1953 through 1978. These files
demonstrate some of the early concerns of the Commission
Subseries 2.1.2 Finance
This subseries contains budget information from the year 1964 through 1967.
Subseries 2.1.3 Personnel
This subseries contain the Employee Rules and Regulations from the years 1969 to 1976. Some consultant contracts are also
found in this series
Subseries 2.2 Project files
Subseries 2.2.1 Old Sacramento Project. This subseries contains information about the development of Old Sacramento. Beginning
in 1964 and continuing through 1975, staff were very much involved in the decisions regarding both the inclusive area, redevelopment
and, preservation efforts, and historic themes to be presented in the part of the city to be called Old Sacramento.
Subseries 2.2.2. Sacramento Redevelopment Agency
This subseries contains the meeting minutes of the Sacramento Redevelopment Agency from 1968 through 1975. This agency was
involved in funding for the redevelopment of Old Sacramento.
Subseries 2.2.3 Special Events
This subseries contains information about the City of Sacramento Birthday celebration from the years 1963 through 1976. Other
events include History week, the Gold Spike Centennial, and the Bicentennial Celebration.
Subseries 2.3 Exhibit files
This subseries contains information about exhibits developed for display
Subseries 2.4 Subject files
Subseries 2.4.1 Railroad Museum
This subseries contains correspondence and plans concerning the building of the Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento.
Subseries 2.4.2 Historic Structures
This subseries contains information about various historic Sacramento structures that were examined for research purposes
Subseries 2.4.3 Historic Sites
This subseries contains information about various historic sites that were examined for research purposes
Subseries 2.5 Museum
This subseries contains information about the development of a museum to display and hold portions of the collection, first
at Pioneer Hall, later at the Mayflower building, and then at the museum built in Old Sacramento.
Series 3. Photographs
This series contains information on photographs that were removed from the collection and placed in the photo archives.
Series 4. Assorted
Subseries 2.4.1 Reports
This subseries consists of a rough draft report on proposed street activities for Old Sacramento
Subseries 2.4.2 Publications
This subseries contains notes, rough drafts, and publications pertaining to Sacramento.
Subseries 2.4.3 Brochures and Programs
This subseries contains sample brochures and programs flyers
Subseries 2.4.4 Conferences and Workshops
This subseries contains information about conferences and workshops attending by staff
Subseries 2.4.5 Organizations
This subseries contains information about some of the organizations to which staff belonged including the Conference of California
historical Societies, the Sacramento Pioneer Association E Clampus Vitus, and the Western History Association.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Old Sacramento Historic District (Sacramento, Calif.)
Sacramento (Calif.). Historic Landmarks Commission
Sacramento (Calif.). History and Science Division
Sacramento (Calif.). Museum and History Commission
Sacramento (Calif.). Museum and History Division
Archives--California
Museums--California--Sacramento
Sacramento (Calif.)--History--20th century