California State Library Foundation

02/22/2025

An 1872 Carleton Watkin stereograph of crowds in San Francisco on Feb. 22 for the City Hall cornerstone laying, which sadly perished in the 1906 earthquake. 📷Courtesy of the California State Library.

02/21/2025

A February 21st, 1882 souvenir program for the San Francisco Grand Opera House featuring Australian opera singer, Marie Geistinger in Madame Fovart, an operetta by composer Jacques Offenbach. Courtesy of the California State Library Collections.

02/20/2025

It's Throwback Thursday! Let's take a moment to appreciate the rich history captured in the California State Library collections. Dive into the past and discover fascinating stories and images that shape our present 📚✨

02/14/2025

Is it just us, or would you love a delivery of fresh books today? Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Which this year also falls on International Book Giving Day... coincidence? We think not. May your loved ones bless you with many books! 💘 What book would you love to receive today? Share in the comments!

02/13/2025

Happy World Radio Day! Today we celebrate Louise Eddy Taber, daughter of photographer I.W. Taber, who was known for her writing at the S.F. Examiner and S.F. Chronicle, and her 1930s radio programs “California Memories” and “Gold Rush Days.” This beautiful image from the California State Library catches her during one of her broadcasts. #

02/12/2025

Happy National Charles Darwin Day, everyone! We're excited to celebrate with this wonderful portrait from the California State Library. �

02/06/2025

On February 6th, 1912, the Imperial County Free Library was founded under the County Free Library system provided and supplied by the Extension Department of the California State Library. “This [county library] system is designed to give library service to the people of the county as a unit; and its success, so far, has in every way justified its existence.” – State Librarian James Gillis, 1911. What do you think about the role of libraries in our community today? Share your thoughts!

11/02/2024

Today marks the start of ! Throughout the month, we will be posting photos and materials from our collection to recognize the ancestry and traditions of Native Californians and Native Americans.

11/02/2024

A new photograph album has been digitized! Ozcot was the family home of L. Frank Baum, author of Wizard of Oz, in Hollywood, California. Many of the photographs are dated from 1911 showing various views of the outside of the house, some of the rooms (library, bedrooms, sunroom), an informal picture of the author in his garden, and several studio photographs of him.

There's no place like home, especially when it's digitized. Check out the album here https://delivery.library.ca.gov:8443/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE328120

04/16/2024

Do you like books and historic documents? Are you interested in helping to preserve California's history? Then this might be the job for you! You'd be creating digital surrogates of the library's photographic and manuscript collections, and help maintain digital preservation files. Apply by April 22 here https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=425725

10/05/2023

10/05/2023