New Acquisition: Pony Express Bible
Pony Express Bible Donated
Joe Nardone, the Master Historian of the Pony Express, generously donated to the Foundation an original “1858 RUSSELL, MAJORS & WADDELL” Bible. These Bibles were ordered by the company in 1858 and should be called Alexander Majors Transportation Bible but have come to the be known as Pony Express Bibles in error.… Read more >>
Coming Up: Weird & Wacky Archives Crawl Oct. 7th
The annual Archives Crawl is rapidly approaching! The State Library’s California History Room will be participating again with some “weird and wonderful collections” on display. In addition, scavenger hunt partipants will be entered into a drawing with a chance to win a Samsung Tab 4 Nook. Three Nooks will go to K-5 grade students, three to 6-12 grade students, and three to adult participants.… Read more >>
Alfred A. Hart Monument Unveiled by Mead B. Kibbey
On Monday morning, August 21, Foundation Board Member Mead B. Kibbey dedicated a beautiful granite monument dedicated to pioneer photographer Alfred A. Hart. The ceremony took place before an appreciative audience at Sacramento’s Historic Old City Cemetery. The monument is adjacent to the Kibbey Family Plot.
Hart (1816-1908) was the official photographer for the Central Pacific Railroad (1863-1869) and photographed with a dual-lens camera thousands of men rushing to build the transcontinental railroad from Sacramento, over the High Sierra, and to Promontory, Utah, a distance of 690 miles.… Read more >>
Purchasing Books for the State Library in 1853
By Gary F. Kurutz
When California State Government was in its infancy, high level officials became involved in routine activities such as the purchase of books for the State Library. Recently, the Foundation acquired on behalf of the Library a beautifully printed warrant from the Comptroller’s Office for $260 dated March 14, 1853.… Read more >>
New Acquisition: The Ozcot Photograph Album
“Ozcot” was the name of the Hollywood residence at Magnolia and Rose streets, in which L. Frank Baum, author of the children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), lived from 1911 – 1919. The book was later transformed into the now-iconic film The Wizard of Oz, released by MGM in 1939.… Read more >>
The Dr. Kevin Starr Memorial Issue of The Bulletin
Members of the Foundation automatically receive a copy of the Bulletin. Hard copies can be ordered here for $7.50 each, plus shipping. If you would like to become a member of the Foundation, click here to join online, or mail in the form provided.
The following is Mr. Kurutz’s introduction to this very special issue:
This special memorial issue of the Bulletin is devoted to the considerable
contributions of Dr.… Read more >>
For the Joy of Doing
(Press Release reprinted with permission from the California State Library, June 15, 2017):
“For the Joy of Doing,”
A Selection of Fine Printing from the Collections of the California State Library
On display now at the State Library Branch at 900 N Street is an exhibit devoted to the history of fine printing and book arts in California.… Read more >>
New Acquisitions for California History
A Propeller-driven Snow Mobile
Among the many items acquired by the Foundation on behalf of the Library’s California History Section is an album of 62 original photographs documenting the construction of the Rush Creek Hydroelectric Project in Mono County, 1913––1923. Found in the album is a group of four images of a power “snow sled” built by Billy Young at Rush Creek in 1918.… Read more >>
Board Member Gary Noy Publishes Newest Book on the Gold Rush
Gary Noy, an esteemed member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, has just released his latest book, Gold Rush Stories: 49 Tales of Seekers, Scoundrels, Loss and Luck (Heyday Books and Sierra College Press, 2017). At the most recent Night at the State Library event, Mr. Noy gave a fascinating talk that was well-attended and enthusiastically received.… Read more >>
New Bulletin Hot Off the Press
The latest edition of the Bulletin is out in print, and the full color version is available on our website.
In this issue CSUS Professor Emeritus Mark Riley details the treasure trove of “minor arts” found on the edifice and interior of the State Library’s Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building at 914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento. … Read more >>