Following are a few fine California research libraries for geneaological and/or maritime history. Excellent facilities exist around the globe. Smith's Master Index to Maritime Museum Web Sites is helpful for conducting research beyond California.
The Bancroft Library
The Bancroft Library officially dates from 1905, when the University of California acquired Hubert Howe Bancroft's personal library. However, it was actually started 42 years earlier, when Bancroft discovered 75 volumes pertaining to California and the West on the shelves of his own San Francisco bookstore. Over time the scope of his interests came to encompass the entire Trans-Mississippi West, extending from Alaska to Central America.
The original scope was enlarged to include a number of other "special collections," including the former Rare Books Collection. The Library now includes the Mark Twain Papers and Project, the Regional Oral History Office, the University of California Archives, and the Pictorial Collection. It has become one of the largest special collections in the United States.
The California Historical Society
Collections of historical documents and manuscripts including fine arts, phoitogrpahs, texts, maps and several special collections found nowhere else in the country.
678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
The J. Porter Shaw San Francisco Maritime Library
The San Francisco Maritime Library at Fort Mason has an extensive
collection of reference materials for maritime researchers. It is filled with
photos, historical papers, books on California maritime history, photographs
and additional information on the ships listed at this site. Well worth a visit and open to the public; call first as the Librarian may have to meet you there.
National Historical Maritime Park
Houses an impressive collection
of large-scale model ships to the larger-than-life figureheads that once crowned
the bows of Gold Rush-era clippers, and Gold-Rush era photographs. The Museum
features special exhibits and discussions relating to the Gold Rush.
The Maritime Historical National Park, which is adjacent
to the Museum, has a large collection of historical
vessels. Some are open to the public and the Pampanito is available to scout troops for overnight adventures. Beach Street at the Foot
of Polk, just two blocks from Fisherman's Wharf, across from Ghirardelli
Chocolate Factory, San Francisco.
National Archives and Records Administration, Pacific Region (San Francisco)
Contains nationwide holdings relating to family history/genealogy research and veterans' service records, reproductions, NARA Archival Information Locator (NAIL) database, Government documents and library materials, and more. Their Northern California office is at:
NARA - Pacific Region (San Francisco)
Archival Operations Staff (NRHA-S)
1000 Commodore Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066-2350
(Approximately 12 miles south of San Francisco)
Holdings include records from Federal agencies and courts in northern California, Hawaii, Nevada (except Clark County), the Pacific Trust Territories, and American Samoa. Call 650-876-9009 for information. They also have ships logs from about 1880 onward.
San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch
The Main Branch at 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco holds microfiche of newspapers published in early San Francsico — invaluable to any researcher. The information therein is not catalogued. Their collections include an African America Center, Chinese Center, Filipino American Center, San Francisco History Center (invaluable reference works), San Francisco Photo Collection.
The
Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum has ongoing displays of early California artifacts, including
a model gold assayer's office, a fire engine and a classic carriage. The museum
also features displays of the State's indigenous cultures and flora and fauna.
General information: 510 238 2200.
Maritime History Archive
A Guide to Maritime History on the Internet
The Maritime History Virtual Archives
A gentlemen named Lars Bruzelius has put up the most impressive site of: Biblioteca Nautica, Bibliographies and Antiquarian Bookshops; Etymology, including Dictionaries; Biographies; Societies; Conferences & Lectures; Maritime and Naval Museums; Ship models; Shipbuilding and Naval Architecture - Mainly wooden shipbuilding; Masting and Rigging; Seamanship; Ships - Mainly sailing ships from the second half of the 19th century; The Duties of Officers and Men; Maritime History, including Shipwrecks and other Disasters at Sea; Naval History; images of ships and ship models; Health of Seamen, with a couple of quotations on scurvy.
Schoonerman
A site for lovers of all tall ships. Schoonerman has details and photographs of schooners, brigs, brigantines, barks and fully rigged tall ships. If you love the history of the sea or the feel of the wind, don't miss this site.
Ozships: Australian shipping 1788-1968
This site contains shipping and passenger information for Australia and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand. As well as arrival and departure details, where possible, background information is also provided. The site contains over 51,000 shipping movements and more than 70,000 passenger entries, with the shipping information starting at 1788 and going through to 1968.
Virtual Museum of San Francisco
The Museum's Web site features stories of San Francisco through the years. Well organized, excellent collection of facts and photographs chronicling the growth of one of the world's greatest cities.
Chinese Historical Society Museum
This small museum is the only one in San Francisco to focus on the Chinese experience in America, from The Gold Rush to present day. Open Tuesday-Saturday. Free admission. 650 Commercial Street, San Francisco. 415 391 1188.
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