California Room - Local History Collection
Welcome to the California Room! The California Room collects materials on California history with an emphasis on San Jose and Santa Clara Valley.
Our collections are non-circulating and may be visited at the King Library.
Updates
Hours
| Monday | 1 PM - 6 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM - 6 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM - 6 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM - 6 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM - 6 PM |
| Saturday | 1 PM - 6 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Top Collections
School Yearbooks
This collection includes yearbooks from high schools, middle schools and universities within Santa Clara County.
Photographs
The Historic Photograph Collection includes over 2,500 historical images focused on San Jose and Santa Clara County.
Newspapers and Clippings
This collection includes clipping files, scrapbooks and microfilm of area newspapers.
Directories, City of San Jose and Vicinity
City directories for San José, San Francisco, and others in print, on microfilm, or online, Haines Criss Cross directories, and phone books.
School Yearbooks
This collection includes yearbooks from high schools, middle schools and universities within Santa Clara County.
Photographs
The Historic Photograph Collection includes over 2,500 historical images focused on San Jose and Santa Clara County.
Newspapers and Clippings
This collection includes clipping files, scrapbooks and microfilm of area newspapers.
Directories, City of San Jose and Vicinity
City directories for San José, San Francisco, and others in print, on microfilm, or online, Haines Criss Cross directories, and phone books.
This source indexes materials not found in the library catalog including maps, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and research collections that pertain to people, places, and events in California, San Jose, and Santa Clara County history. The A-Z index is helpful if you are not sure of spelling.
New & Featured Resources
Newsbank: San José Mercury Historical & Current Collection
(1884-2024) Digital access to archived issues; full-page scans include articles, obituaries, classifieds, and other advertising.
Historic Media & Text Archive on Internet Archive
Browse our audiovisual and text collection, including documentaries, radio spots, TV news features, local publications, and more.
Latest Blogs
Looking Back: A Brief History of Bicycling in San Jose
Ralph looks back at the early history of bicycling in San Jose and the Valley.
Lost Architecture: Garden City Bank Building
Did you know that you can find historical photos in the California Room? Find out more!
A Library Fit for a King
Check out our refreshed King Collection Exhibit on the 3rd Floor and the story of how our library got it's name.
Looking Back: Lost in Willow Glen's Quicksilver Mines
Let's explore the Hillsdale Quicksilver Mines near Willow Glen and the story of a five-year-old boy who got lost in them!
Looking Back: A Brief History of Bicycling in San Jose
Ralph looks back at the early history of bicycling in San Jose and the Valley.
Lost Architecture: Garden City Bank Building
Did you know that you can find historical photos in the California Room? Find out more!
A Library Fit for a King
Check out our refreshed King Collection Exhibit on the 3rd Floor and the story of how our library got it's name.
Looking Back: Lost in Willow Glen's Quicksilver Mines
Let's explore the Hillsdale Quicksilver Mines near Willow Glen and the story of a five-year-old boy who got lost in them!
