Government Records

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Building Permits

San Jose building permits in print, digitized, and on microfilm. About the Collection The California Room has the following San José building permits:

  • 1895-1900: Index
  • 1910-1922: Index (Note: the index transcription for this period is incomplete. Further information, including permit application number, architect, contractor, building type and status, and the number of stories and rooms, can be found in the original ledger. See California Room staff for access.)
  • 1920-1929: Index. Originals held by the Sourisseau Academy, located next door in the Special Collections area.
  • 1926-1943: Index
  • 1940-1986 Images of originals on microfilm.
Building permits from the 1950s to the present can be found at City of San José Online Building Permits.

Government Records

Building Permits

San Jose building permits in print, digitized, and on microfilm. About the Collection The California Room has the following San José building permits:

  • 1895-1900: Index
  • 1910-1922: Index (Note: the index transcription for this period is incomplete. Further information, including permit application number, architect, contractor, building type and status, and the number of stories and rooms, can be found in the original ledger. See California Room staff for access.)
  • 1920-1929: Index. Originals held by the Sourisseau Academy, located next door in the Special Collections area.
  • 1926-1943: Index
  • 1940-1986 Images of originals on microfilm.
Building permits from the 1950s to the present can be found at City of San José Online Building Permits.

Caltrans Right of Way Assessments 1960 - 1970

This collection includes Right of Way Assessments for the County of Santa Clara from 1938 through 1979.

About the Collection This collection includes Right of Way Assessments for the County of Santa Clara from 1938 through 1979, with the bulk of materials being from the 1960s and 1970s. The assessments include descriptions of property, maps and photographs. Right of Way is the division of Caltrans that administers the acquisition of property required for Caltrans projects, oversees the relocation of affected families, businesses and utility facilities, and clears properties prior to construction. For information about using images from this collection, contact the California Room.

San José City Records, 1850-1950

This collection includes City of San José Council Minutes, Ordinance and Resolution Records, the bulk of which are from 1850-1950, and photographs and records from the Office of the City Clerk.

About the Collection This collection includes City of San José Council Minutes, Ordinance and Resolution Records, the bulk of which are from 1850-1950, and photographs and records from the Office of the City Clerk. The City of San José was officially incorporated on March 27, 1850 by Legislative Act through Chapter 47 of the Statutes of California. For information about using images from this collection, contact the California Room. The San Jose City Clerk's office holds additional records for viewing online, including archived recordings of city council and planning meetings from 2005 to present. 

San José Planning Division & Code Enforcement

This collection includes records from the City of San José's Planning Division and Code Enforcement Departments (PCBE).

About the Collection This collection includes records from the City of San José's Planning Division and Code Enforcement Departments (PCBE) from 1931 - 1975. Subjects include maps, plans, and photographs of historic structures, aerials views, and documents. Please let us know if you can identify any unknown locations, people and or dates. For information about using images from this collection, contact the California Room.

San José Public Library

This collection chronicles more than a century of San José library history beginning in 1880.

About the Collection The one-room “free” library opened in 1880 in the Murphy building near what is now the intersection of Post and Market streets. Between 1882 and 1970, the library occupied five different locations. The branch system had its origins in the establishment of the Grant School Library in 1909, and quickly expanded in the post-World War II boom. By the time the San Jose Public Library moved to West San Carlos Street in 1970, the library managed nine branches throughout the expanding city, with plans for seven additional branches. In 2013, there were twenty-two branches in addition to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at 150 East San Fernando Street. Do you recognize someone in a photograph? Do you know about one of the locations? Can you identify a piece of equipment? If you have information that you would like to share about any of the images in the San Jose Public Library Collection, or questions about using images from this collection, please contact the California Room.

Weather Records

This collection includes United States Weather Bureau weather logs for 1906-1962, with entries recorded by hand. About the Collection The United States Weather Bureau opened an office in San José on October 1, 1905 in the Dougherty Building on South 2nd Street near San Fernando. The building, as well as all instruments and records, were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The Bureau opened a new office in the old Post Office Building at Market and San Fernando on July 1, 1906.

Willow Glen Annexation

This collection includes documents pertaining to the annexation of Willow Glen. About the Collection The Willow Glen neighborhood developed within the Willow Glen School district, established in the 1860’s. When the Southern Pacific Railroad made a bid to run a track through the area, the residents took action to prevent it, and the independent incorporated city of Willow Glen was born. The city lasted for only nine years, from 1927 until 1936, when it was annexed by San José in order to benefit from city services. Today it is considered one of San José’s heritage neighborhoods.

A-Z Collections Index