California Historical Society facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | CHS |
|---|---|
| Established | 1871 |
| Founded at | Santa Clara, California |
| Dissolved | 2025 |
| Legal status | Official historical society of California |
| Purpose | Preserving and promoting Californian history |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California |
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Interim CEO
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Jen Whitley |
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Chief Operating Officer
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Jen Whitley |
| Publication | California History |
The California Historical Society (CHS) was a special group dedicated to California's past. It was the official historical society for the state. The CHS was started in 1871 by smart people at Santa Clara University.
In 1979, it officially became the state's historical society. Even though its main office was in San Francisco, it shared interesting exhibits all over California. In January 2025, the Society closed down. Its amazing collections were moved to the Stanford University Libraries so they could still be used and enjoyed.
Contents
Exploring California's Past: The CHS Story
The California Historical Society began in June 1871. Important politicians and professors from Santa Clara University created it. John W. Dwinelle, a key figure in starting the University of California, led the group.
Their main goal was to find, share, and publish information about how the west coast of America was first settled. This included areas like California and Oregon. The Society published many papers until 1901.
After a big earthquake hit San Francisco in 1906, the Society stopped its work for a while. It started up again in 1922, thanks to Templeton Crocker. In 1979, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill making it the official state historical society.
The Society kept many historical items like documents, photos, and art. It also gave out a book prize and published a journal called California History. Sometimes, it hosted talks about California's past.
For example, in 2015, it celebrated 100 years of the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. In 2017, it helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love.
In 2024, the Society sold its San Francisco building to save money. It also had fewer employees. In January 2025, the CHS announced it was closing. Its collections became part of the California History Collection at Stanford University.
Where the CHS Called Home
- Headquarters of the CHS throughout history
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Wells Fargo Building, 1922–38
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Flood Building, 1955
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Whittier Mansion, 1956–95
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Builders Exchange, 1995–2024
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After restarting in 1922, the Society rented an office in the Wells Fargo Building. Later, it moved to other places in San Francisco. In 1956, the Society bought the Whittier Mansion in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
In 1993, the Society sold the mansion. It then bought the San Francisco Builders Exchange Building at 678 Mission Street. This building was fixed up, and the Society moved in during 1995. In 2012, the building was painted international orange, like the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Society thought about moving to the Old San Francisco Mint building. This would have been a museum and community center. However, in 2020, the Society decided to sell its building to save costs. It planned to store its collections in different places. It also wanted to create traveling exhibits for other historical societies. In June 2024, the building was sold.
Amazing Collections of California History
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The California Historical Society had a huge collection. It showed the environment, economy, society, politics, and culture of California. The collection included many different types of items.
It had 50,000 books and pamphlets. There were also 4,000 collections of old papers and 500,000 photographs. The Society also kept posters, maps, newspapers, and 5,000 pieces of art. It even had old clothes and other artifacts.
Beautiful Fine Art Collection
The Historical Society had over 5,000 pieces of art. This included paintings, drawings, and lithographs. Famous artists like Albert Bierstadt, Maynard Dixon, and William Keith had their work in this collection.
Important Manuscripts Collection
The Manuscripts Collection held old papers and documents. These came from important groups and businesses. Examples include the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.
It also had papers from influential people. These included San Francisco Mayor James Rolph, Jr and Isaias W. Hellman.
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Everyday Ephemera Collection
The ephemera collection held items meant for short-term use. These were things like tickets, labels, or flyers. They showed everyday life in California from 1841 onwards.
The collection included items from churches, clubs, and activist groups. It also had things from theaters, hotels, and sporting events. There were items from schools, government agencies, and political parties.
In 1964, the Kemble Collection on Western Printing and Publishing was started. It focused on the history of printing in the West. It included old printing libraries and business records.
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Amazing Photography Collection
The Historical Society also had many documentary and fine art photographs. These were taken by famous photographers. Some of these included Arnold Genthe, Eadweard Muybridge, and Carleton Watkins.
See also
- List of historical societies in California
- History of California
- List of museums in San Francisco
