Santa Cruz County has a rich and interesting history. In addition to Santa Cruz Public Library, there are many resources in the County for those who are researching local history.
Santa Cruz Public Library
Santa Cruz Public Library has:
Agricultural History Project Center and Museum
2601 East Lake Avenue Watsonville, CA 95076 (at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds) 831.724.5898 www.aghistoryproject.org
The Center supports the agricultural history of Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, and the Pajaro Valley through exhibits, historical archives, and agricultural research in the Codiga Center and Museum.
The archives include:
Aptos History Museum
7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA 95003 831.688.1467 www.aptoshistory.org
The museum's focus is on the area comprising Aptos Village, Rio Del Mar, Seacliff, Seascape, and the surrounding hills and beaches. Besides exhibition space, the collection includes local artifacts, photographs, and other information.
California State Library - California History Room
900 N Street, Room 200 Sacramento, CA 95814 916.654.8777 www.library.ca.gov
The State Library has an extensive California history section which includes books, newspapers, periodicals, manuscript collections, maps, and ephemera.
The Sutro Library in San Francisco, which is part of the state library, offers the most extensive genealogy collection west of Salt Lake City, as well as a comprehensive local history collection.
Capitola Historical Museum
410 Capitola Avenue Capitola, CA 95010 831.464.0322 http://www.cityofcapitola.org/capitola-museum
The Capitola Museum maintains extensive collections of photographs, newspaper articles and artifacts related to Capitola's history, and offers changing exhibits on the history and art of the area, as well as on special seasonal and topical themes. Museum grounds now include a reconstructed cottage from the era of the early 20th century beach resort.
Covello & Covello Photography
303 Potrero St. #40-D Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831.423.2922 covellocovello.com
Covello & Covello Photography was founded in 1938 and was well known locally as the news photography service that provided the photos for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Their photo collection is recognized as one of the most extensive photographic archives of the Santa Cruz area. The Capitola Museum has a searchable database to some of this collection.
Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County
224 Church Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 PO Box 72 Santa Cruz, CA 95063-0072 831.427.7707 ext. 5794 http://www.scgensoc.org
The Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County provides a collection at the Downtown Branch of Santa Cruz Public Libraries. There are more than 9,000 books, microfilm, periodicals, CD-ROMS and other items in the collection that cover Santa Cruz County, as well as every state and many countries.
These resources are available to researchers during normal library hours. Volunteers are available to aid beginners, to help locate materials, and to suggest research techniques. Call ahead to verify volunteer hours.
Pajaro Valley Historical Association
332 E. Beach St., P.O. Box 623 Watsonville, CA 95077 831.722.0305 www.pajarovalleyhistory.org
The PVHA's major activities are the management of the Bockius-Orr House, and the operation of the Borina Archive and Alzora Snyder and Jane Borg Research Center, and the Volck Museum. The Archive holdings include the following items dealing with the Pajaro Valley:
San Lorenzo Valley Historical Society
12547 Highway 9, P.O. Box 576 Boulder Creek, CA 95006 831.338.8382 www.slvmuseum.com
The society's mission is to preserve the history of the San Lorenzo Valley through collecting and exhibiting artifacts, gathering historical information, and providing education through its museum and educational outreach programs. The museum collection includes archives, objects and artifacts, and photographs.
Santa Cruz County Museums Partnership - History Museums
Santa Cruz County has several other museums and historic sites which are described on this website.
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History Archive/Library
705 Front Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831.429.1964 x17 www.santacruzmah.org
The museum's History Gallery has a long-term exhibit, "Where the Redwoods Meet the Sea: a History of Santa Cruz County and Its People." In addition, there are collection guides on the website, and an archive with research materials on all aspects of county history which is open by appointment.
Scotts Valley Historical Society
http://history.scottsvalleychamber.com/
The Scotts Valley Historical Society has articles and photographs on their website called "Scotts Valley History Web." The society provides assistance to persons interested in researching the history of their homes, neighborhoods, or pioneer families.
Soquel Pioneer and Historical Association
5270 Pringle Lane Soquel, CA 95073 www.soquelpioneers.com
The Soquel Pioneer and Historical Association is a volunteer organization whose mission is to preserve the history of Soquel. The Pioneers own many artifacts, books, and pictures, some of which are at the Porter Memorial Public Library in Soquel.
University of California, Santa Cruz, Special Collections & Archives
McHenry Library 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 831.459.2547 library.ucsc.edu/speccoll
The University Library has collections of pre-statehood documents, scrapbooks and clipping files, photographs and photo albums taken and compiled by local residents and professional studio photographers, and publications by local authors and institutions. Highlights include the Porter Family collection, the Hihn-Younger archive, the Leon Rowland Research collection, and the Regional History Project.
The UCSC map collection (part of Special Collections) Historical Maps includes:
Watsonville Public Library
275 Main Street, Suite 100 Watsonville, CA 95076 831.768.3400 https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/202/Library
Watsonville Public Library has:
