Books and Other Published Materials

The Archives’ extensive collection of published materials includes books, pamphlets, periodicals, newspaper clipping files, sheet music, maps and atlases related to Fresno County and Central California regional history. The materials also include such varied pieces as catalogs from local businesses, high school and college yearbooks, and ephemera ranging from programs for sports and entertainment events to menus and invitations.

Ephemera

Ephemera are paper documents produced for a short, transitory life -- an item produced for a specific purpose and normally intended for disposal. The definition of ephemera comes to us from the Greek ‘epi’ (about) and ‘hermeris’ (day). Some examples of ephemera are letterhead stationery, tickets, menus, posters, advertising materials, calendars, programs, paper currency, invitations, theatrical programs, trade catalogues, invitations, postcards, and posters. These materials offer a glimpse into popular products of the day, their prices, how businesses promoted their products, who performed in a city’s cultural and theatrical venues, popular cuisine, different types of music that was in vogue, and the stars of the sports world.
View examples from the ephemera collections.

Manuscripts

Over 250 manuscripts are housed in the Historical Society’s Archives. Since 1919, the founding year of the Historical Society, the Society has collected the personal papers of individuals, families, businesses and organizations from Fresno County and the region.
View manuscript collections.

Newspaper Clipping Files: Ben R. Walker History Files

The Archives’ largest newspaper clipping collection (over 250,000 entries) is the creation of Ben R. Walker – a Fresno historian, newspaperman, professor, and founding president of the Historical Society. Information in the files dates from 1850 through 1953, and topics include individuals and their activities in politics, social and civic events; obituaries; businesses, agriculture, government agencies, ethnic groups, schools, and towns in Fresno City and County. Walker also created special files documenting Fresno County’s participation (both military and home front) in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Entries are organized into 3x5, 5x7, and 8x11 formats.

Oral History

The mission of the Oral History collection is to document the history of Fresno County and the Central Valley region through oral history interviews. In addition to interviews conducted by its own staff and volunteers, the Historical Society accepts donated interviews that enhance its collecting areas. Our staff has offered advice and assistance regarding the practice of oral history to Valley organizations and communities.
View oral history collection.

Photographs

The collections contain over 30,000 photographs ranging from the earliest photographic processes – daguerreotypes, tintypes, glass negative plates, photograph albums to digital collections. The collections receive heavy research use and are also used regularly in exhibits, published works, documentary films, and lectures.
View photograph collections.

Vertical Files

A valuable source of research materials often not readily available elsewhere is the sizeable collection in the Archives’ vertical files. This collection contains newspaper clippings, brochures, pamphlets, anniversary publications of churches and organizations, and annual reports that are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Original Daguerreotype and case,
Daguerreotype Collection.
Fresno Historical Society Archives