California Historical Society Closes, Stanford University Acquires Collection

The California Historical Society (CHS) has permanently closed due to ongoing financial difficulties and has transferred its extensive collection of over 600,000 items to Stanford University Libraries. Established in 1871, CHS struggled for years without state funding, leading to its board's decision to dissolve the organization last summer. The collection, now known as the California Historical Society Collection at Stanford, features significant historical materials, including Gold Rush diaries and documentation of Jim Jones's Peoples Temple. Stanford, in partnership with the Bill Lane Center for the American West, will ensure the collection remains accessible to the public and scholars. This acquisition enhances Stanford's archival resources and supports continued historical research and digitization efforts. The closure of CHS marks a significant transition in California's historical preservation landscape.