Shields Library is closed through January 1. Requests for books, digitization services, and interlibrary loan will be fulfilled after the new year.

Local and California History

The stories of our region

Through historical photographs, newspaper archives and local government documents, our collections tell the story of Davis, the Greater Sacramento region, and the State of California. Explore where we are, and where we’ve been.

Featured Collections

City of Davis Collection

Sacramento Union Newspaper. Archives.

Eastman’s Originals Collection.

Local History Collections

College Park Association Collection (D-512)
Craig, Thornton W. Papers. (D-088)
Davis (Calif.) Land Records Collection. (D-032)
Davis Boy Scout Troop No. 1 Photograph Album. (MC201)
Davisville 1905: The Year the Town Woke Up Exhibit Materials. (D-450)
Eddy, Charles L. Collection of Yolo County Photographs. (MC208)
Fisher Family Correspondence. (D-427)
Hackett, C. Nelson (1888-1979). Papers. (D-152)
Heringer, Robert P. Recollections of Clarksburg, California. (MC212)
Larkey, Joann Leach. Papers. (D-430)
Li, Jon. Collection. (D-353)
Lindley Family Papers. (D-159)
Lofland, John. Papers. (D-473)
McKevitt, Frank B. Papers. (MC216)
McKinnon and Ruble Families Papers. (D-405)
Partansky, Julie. Papers. (D-422)
Pierce Family Papers. (D-022)
Plant, Forrest A., Sr. (1889-1933). Collection. (D-113)
Portraits of the Past Collection. (D-510)
Riley, Norman E. Photographs (D-550)
Rodgerson, Eleanor, MD. Papers. (D-439)
Russell, William O. (1910-1997). Papers. (D-275)
Shields, Peter J. (1862-1962). Collection. (D-169)
Slater, Colby E. “Babe.” Collection (D-394)
Smith, Alfred F. (1919-2008). Papers (D-484)
Stumpf, Paul K. Slides of the University of California, Davis and Davis, California. (MC107)
Sutter Basin Company Records (D-491)
Sutter Buttes Oral History Collection (D-459)
Trafton-Crane Family Photographs (D-592)
Walters, Shipley. Papers. (MC046)
Westgate, Warren A. (1904-1989). Collection. (D-167)
Wilcoxson, Jefferson. Papers. (D-416)
Wolfskill Family Collection (D-023)
Yolo County, Justice Court, Putah Township, Records Collection. (D-194)

Exhibits

Colby E. “Babe” Slater Collection

The first University of California, Davis alumnus to win an Olympic gold medal.

Davis 1917-2017: Celebrating 100 Years of Community

100 years of Davis history come to life through photographs, newspaper clippings and other archival materials.

Davisville 1905

Scenes and documents record the history of the town’s effort to secure the University Farm site for Davisville.

McKinnon and Ruble Families Papers

The life of Aloysius John McKinnon, M.D. (1870-1933), a physician and rancher in the California Delta region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.