The California State Archives' collections document the broad scope of California government and its impact on the people of the state. Over 105,000 cubic feet of records of all types are represented including millions of documents and bound volumes, 20,000 maps and architectural drawings, 250,000 photographs, 7,500 video and audio tapes, as well as hundreds of artifacts. New records are continuously added to the Archives. Some of our more prominent collection areas are listed below.
Minerva: Search the Catalog
Search descriptions of our collections in our online catalog Minerva.
Online Archive of California
Online Archive of California (OAC) provides free public access to detailed descriptions of primary resource collections maintained by more than 200 contributing institutions throughout California.
Explore our collections on the OAC
California Archives Search Portal
The California Archives Search Portal provides increased access to our digital collections and exhibits. The search tool currently uses data from Omeka S.
Please contact the Reference Desk for more information about our collections.
- California Constitutions
- Court Records
- Family History/Genealogy Resources
- Governor's Records
- Labor History
- Legislative Records
- Local Government Records
- Oral Histories
- Photograph Collections
- Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Investigation Records
- Spanish and Mexican Land Grants
- State Agencies and Constitutional Officers Records
- Trademarks
Private collections related to elections and political campaigns: the working files of two private political consulting firms, Whitaker and Baxter Campaigns, Inc. and Braun and Company, are also part of the Archives' collections.
Other Resources for Researchers
There are many online resources available for research and informational purposes. These links are provided as a courtesy and are not endorsed, operated, or owned by the Secretary of State's Office.
