A Huge "Thank You" from Some of the Folks Behind the 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl

Although certainly not what we're used to, the 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl was a great success, due in no small part to you - our patrons, researchers, colleagues, partners, and sponsors. For the month of October roughly 15,000 unique users visited our Facebook page for entry into live events, video tours, photo displays and any number of fantastic video and PowerPoint presentations. As we look forward to what is hope to be a brick and mortar undertaking in 2021 (October 2, 2021, to be exact), we simply want to say "Thank You" for your support during the Crawl and all throughout the year. Click on the image below to see and hear what WE have to say:

Week 5: The 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl

The lineup for our fifth and final week of the 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl:

(Watch Now!) Monday, October 26. We revisit the triumph that was - and is - the 19th Amendment with a terrific presentation from the El Dorado County Historical Museum on the suffrage drive in Placerville.

(Watch Now!) Tuesday, October 27. Drafting off their previous presentation of Votes for Women in the Placerville area, today, we head up Highway 50 to take a look at what the El Dorado County Historical Museum has to say about similar events in the high mountain paradise of Lake Tahoe. 

(Watch Now!) Wednesday, October 28. Our colleagues at the Placer County Archives take this moment to introduce their brand new online collections portal which will provide access to a newly digitized series of deeds and official records for Placer County. Exciting, way worthy of celebration, and a great research tool. 

(Watch Now!) Thursday, October 29. The West Sacramento Historical Society produces a wonderful video, dovetailing music and written narrative to tell its story as a trusted "collector - preserver - interpreter" of treasures that speak to everything from the city's proud culinary past to reclamation to city services. 

(Watch Now!) Friday, October 30. Earl Warren's gubernatorial desk is just one of many artifactual treasures that you'll find in this short video from the California State Archives on its artifact storage room. Would also love to take a closer took at that Placer County voting machine, last used for the 1988 general election. I love a good lever.

(Watch Now!) Saturday, October 31. We're back with our friends at the California State Library on this HapPy HallowEEn! Want to see the very elevations drawn up by James Marshall for a certain mill in Coloma? Who would have through that Marshall actually cartooned the very discovery of gold in California? This is a terrific window into some the best loved items within the California History Room.

 

Week 4: The 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl

Welcome to another week of archival magic! Here's the lineup through Sunday... 

(Watch Now!) Monday, October 19. Since 1990, Cox Black and White Lab has been one of the Sacramento Region's most trusted authorities in the realm of guarding your most cherished heritage treasures. This terrific overview provides a series of archival best practices for extending the meaningful life of your family's photographs, film and ephemera. Visit Katherine and Jeff for expert guidance in media restoration, protection and/or digitization.

(Watch Now!) Tuesday, October 20. We go back to the Yolo County Archives for a cool look at various holdings that reflect two centuries of "Anniversaries and Celebrations" in (and around) Yolo. "Votes for Women!," Yolo's presence in the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the robust heritage of Winter's Japanese American community, and Esparto's abiding love for the power of agriculture via its Almond Festival are highlights! The music's really good, too. 

(Watch Now!) Wednesday, October 21. The Rocklin Historical Society shares a beautifully serene flight around and into the Old St. Mary's Chapel, the site of centuries of weddings, christenings and other events worthy of celebration. Over 130-years-old, the chapel is a centerpiece of Rocklin's Historic Quarry District. Nice drone work on this production. 

(Watch Now!) Thursday, October 22. The County of El Dorado Historical Museum is back with two informative documentaries. We start our day with "Green Gold: A History of Logging in El Dorado County," which provides us with a window into what the region did to sustain itself when "mining the miners" was no longer an option. A film on the California Gold Rush's and the discovery of gold at Coloma will wrap up our day.

(Watch Now!) Friday, October 23. The California State Archives and their conservator, Juan Ramos, are back to share two educational videos on the "Tools of Preservation" and "Paper Damage and Preservation." We're lucky to have such a source on best practices in the realms of preservation and conservation.

(Watch Now!) Saturday, October 24. At 11:00 am went live to the Center for Sacramento History for an exclusive look-in at this wonderful hub of historical wonder with archivists Staci Cox and Kim Hayden. They provided a great overview of the Sacramento's "Days of 49" celebration and the many connected items that are in CSH's possession:

(Watch Now!) Sunday, October 25. We take a return trip to the California State Railroad Museum Library with a deeper dive into one of the most unique and truly enjoyable collections in the Sacramento Region - songbooks and dance cards. Take a waltz with a brakeman or have a chance to dip Allie. Librarian Chris Rockwell with a boffo performance.  

Week 3: The 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl

Welcome to Week 3 of the 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl!

(Watch Now!) Monday, October 12: We go live at 2 p.m. for Center for Sacramento History archivist Nick Pionchek, who will showcase parts of the repository's extensive film collection while also addressing its preservation needs and plans to extend its useful life.

(Watch Now!) Tuesday, October 13: The nation's centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment continues with an informative overview of important women in the history of El Dorado County: Women of Influence. This sharp Powerpoint is provided by our friends at the El Dorado Historical Society.

(Watch Now!) Wednesday, October 14: The Sacramento Region's flagship family history group, the Sacramento Genealogical Society takes up into its mission, educational initiatives and inner workings with this brief video.

(Watch Now!) Thursday, October 15: Provided by our friends at the Folsom Historical Society, his is a clever mouse/touchpad guided tour through a virtual hall of fame of Folsom residents throughout the years. Completely self guided you're able to ease yourself through a two rooms of human interest photographs that provide an intimate feel for Folsom with Community: "Big Lives of Small-town People."

(Watch Now!) Friday, October 16: Archivist Jason Sarmiento of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies and Welga Archive at UC Davis provides us with a pleasing video overview his repository and various digital collections that align with Archives Month and Filipino American History Month.  

(Watch Now!) Saturday, October 17: We start the weekend with short a trip to the California History Room of the California State Library for an overview of some terrific ephemera and photographs that capture the spirit of celebration in Sacramento and all of California. 

(Watch Now!) Sunday, October 18: We wrap up Week 3 with a jaunt down I-5 for a visit with our friends at the Holt-Atherton Special Collections and Archives at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. This detailed tour reveals collection gems, and insights into the repository's preservation planning, and research policy.

Week 2: The 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl

Welcome to Week 2 of the 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl. 

(Watch Now!) Monday, October 5: Come take an enjoyable walking tour through the good offices of the Yolo County Archives. An intimate look at a terrific repository on the other side of the river.

(Watch Now!) Tuesday, October 6: The California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives opens its doors to one of the coolest special libraries and archives in the Sacramento Region. Ephemera, photographs, corporate documents are a treasure trove for train enthusiasts, academics and writers.

(Watch Now!) Wednesday, October 7: The Special Collection and Archives of the University of California at Davis brings a timely overview of its exhibit on the centennial of the 19th Amendment with "Votes for Women," an outstanding presentation covering the suffrage fight on the national, state and local levels.

(Watch Now!) Thursday, October 8: Following up on two great videos, here's an informative click-through presentation by the El Dorado Historical Society that covers the welcome arrival of the railroad to El Dorado County.

(Watch Now!) Friday, October 9: Our friends at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park bravely go live with a look at one of the seminal spots/events in the history of California, the West, and the nation:

(Watch Now!) Saturday, October 10: Have you ever been able to take in the enormity of the California State Archives? Well, if not, you can now! What is certainly the largest and most comprehensive repository in the Sacramento Region, is placed on display in this brief, but highly pleasing tour.

Sunday, October 11: We round out Week 2 with this outstanding presentation on the impact of the grape industry on San Joaquin County, done by the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum. Wonderful archival material and sharp narration make for a lovely visit with our friends to the south.

Check back on Monday, October 12, for the schedule for Week 3!

Week 1: The Joy Drops Today! The 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl

Yes, you made it. Today is the first day and week of the 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl. Hop over to Archives Crawl's Facebook page or click on the link(s) provided below to get a look at the celebratory wares of the following repositories throughout this first week of the event. An active link for each day's visit will appear between 10 and 10:30 am.

(Watch Now!) Thursday, October 1: Be treated to two terrific educational videos, starring the California State Archive's master conservator (and veritable Bob Ross of the archival world) Juan Ramos as he takes us through the archival processes of encapsulation and book restoration, the latter with a century-old Folsom Prison mug shot book!

(Watch Now!) Friday, October 2: Courtesy of the Placer County Archives and a digitized Recordiogram disc, enjoy a wonderful window into a WWII-era birthday party at Auburn's DeWitt General Hospital.

(Watch Now!) Saturday, October 3: The Sacramento Public Library's Sacramento Room is on full display in this tour and presentation of several items that reflect celebration in the Sacramento Region: "The Jewel in the Crown."

(Watch Now!) Sunday, October 4: The County of El Dorado Historical Museum presents a delightful "then and now" journey through historic Placerville with "Placerville, Then and Now," plus a lovely documentary on the evolution of travel to Lake Tahoe through El Dorado County with "The Road to Tahoe."

Check back on Monday, October 5, for a new week of virtual destinations for the 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl.

It's Nearly Time to Celebrate!

We're just a week away from an archival celebration of a decade. Starting on October 2, you can go to our Facebook page or here for the week's docket of contributors to our virtual Sacramento Archives crawl.

The end of prohibition is celebrated at the Senator Hotel bar in Sacramento, 1933. California State Library, McCurry Photograph Collection, no. 28878-2, 2009-0533.

 

The Time to Celebrate...is Just Weeks Away

The 2020 Sacramento Archives Crawl is just weeks away! Join us for the entire month of October for a pleasing array of exhibits, tours and educational videos. All of them will appear on the Sacramento Archives Crawl's Facebook and YouTube pages. Also, check here every week for links and a list of which repositories will be throwing their virtual doors open.

John Jefferson of Sacramento celebrates his 109th birthday with his great-granddaughters, 1976. Center for Sacramento History, Sacramento Bee photo collection, 1983/001/SBPMP04065.

 

Archives and Activism - the 2019 Archives Crawl Makes a Meaningful Impact for Rocklin Student

You may recall that the theme of last year's Archives Crawl was "Preserving the Struggle: Archives and Activism." Aptly enough, it was through 2019 iteration of the event - and as reported in the Sacramento Bee - that Rocklin student Diego Liebman learned about the acrid racism and exploitation experienced by Chinese workers at the hands of by none other than the namesake of his current high school, Joel Parker Whitney High School. Liebman didn't just learn about Whitney's dark past, he decided to do something about it. 

It was Whitney, a white landowner and one of the wealthiest men in Placer County, who maintained a massive 18,000 acre farming complex that was built, cultivated and maintained through the exploitation of hundreds of Chinese laborers. To right the narrative, Liebman seeks to change school district curriculum to include the contribution of the Chinese and see a school building named after an impactful Chinese American. He will propose his ideas as a Rocklin School Board meeting on August 5, which you can watch live at 6:30 pm by clicking here.

And it all started with the 2019 Sacramento Archives Crawl.

Don't miss your chance to change history as we head toward this year's Archives Crawl, to be held virtually all throughout October of 2020. 

Joel Parker Whitney

     

Sacramento Archives Crawl: Celebrating 10 Years! (and more)

This year, the Sacramento Archives Crawl turns 10! Social distancing protocols mean we can’t have our usual in-person Crawl, so instead we’ll be having a monthlong virtual celebration in October for National Archives Month.

Expect to see videos and photos right here throughout October from archives and special collections libraries from around the Sacramento region. We’ll be highlighting pieces from our collections, taking you on virtual tours of our storage vaults, sharing exhibits, and hosting Facebook Live sessions. Stay tuned!