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.
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.
On Exhibit: Women on Wheels, California Wind Dancers
The latest exhibit in the California Room features a female motorcycle club from Santa Clara County. Available now through December 2024.
Historic Media & Text Archive on Internet Archive
Browse our audiovisual and text collection, including documentaries, radio spots, TV news features, local publications, and more.
Research Guides & Resources
Latest Blogs
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!
On Exhibit: Women on Wheels, California Wind Dancers
The latest exhibit in the California Room features a female motorcycle club from Santa Clara County. Available now through December 2024.
KRAZY GEORGE
Krazy George, known the world over for his passion, his vision, and perhaps most famously the WAVE! Join the Fine Free Wave with us!
The Alcario and Carmen Castellano Family Collections
The Castellano Collection is available for research online with your San José Public Library card!
