History San José Collection FAQs

History San José manages the City of San José’s historic collection as part of its contract with the City. The seismically retrofitted, climate-controlled Collection Center is located in the City of San José’s Central Services Yard and is managed by our Collections & Exhibitions full-time staff members.

Who are we?

  • Katrina Anderson – Curator of Artifact Collection
  • Ken Middlebrook – Curator of Artifact Collection
  • David Tharp – Curator of Library & Archives

How can I see the Collection?

1. Explore the collection online

You can find thousands of items in our PastPerfect Online catalog. In addition, audiovisual content is available through YouTube and the Internet Archive, as well as Google Arts & Culture.

2. Visit one of our physical spaces to see what’s on view.

We use our collection for rotating exhibits as well as permanent exhibits throughout History Park, and our downtown site.

Is the Collection Center open to the public?

Our storage warehouse is not open to the public; however, we occasionally host special behind-the-scenes tours, or a tour can be booked by groups for a fee. The Research Library & Archives is open to researchers by appointment.

What’s in your collection?

Artifacts

Artifacts document the lives of the diverse inhabitants and the history of the institutions of the Santa Clara Valley. The collection brings together locally-made Native American artifacts, Spanish/Mexican Era artifacts, furniture, household items, costumes and textiles, personal items, toys, vehicles, agricultural equipment, canning machinery, art, tools, and technology. Major collections include:

Historic Images

The collection comprises over 70,000 images on glass-plate negatives, daguerreotypes, tintypes, and albumen prints, as well as modern formats, from the San José Chamber of Commerce, local freelance press photographers, early portrait artists (such as the eccentric Astley D. M. Cooper), and personal family albums of Santa Clara Valley citizens. Notable series include:

  • Photographs by Alice Hare, one of a handful of female photographers working in Santa Clara County at the turn of the 20th century
  • Photographs of Big Basin Redwoods Park taken by local photographer Andrew P. Hill
  • Images of post-War San José by commercial photographer Shirlie Montgomery
  • Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) cannery equipment sales/marketing photographs (1919-1978)

Research Library and Archives

In addition to the Photograph Collection, the Research Library and Archives holds more than 5,000 linear feet of archival records and manuscripts, architectural drawings and specifications, maps, oral histories, audiovisual materials, sheet music, and books documenting the history of Santa Clara Valley from 1777 to the present. Included are the records of the Pueblo of San José (founded 1777), the oldest municipal records in the state.

Historic and Reconstructed Buildings

The Gonzalez/Peralta Adobe-Fallon House Historic Site is located in the center of the San Pedro Square Market in the historic heart of San José, and includes the original 1797 Gonzales/Peralta Adobe and 1855 Carmela & Thomas Fallon House.

History Park represents San José’s past through 32 original and reconstructed historic buildings, many relocated to the 14-acre Park to prevent their demolition. History San José partners and affiliates conduct programs at the buildings, bringing to life the diverse stories of Santa Clara Valley.

Do you take donations?

History San José is a collecting institution and welcomes donations that reflect our mission. Please visit our Donations page for guidelines.

Do you loan to outside organizations?

Yes, HSJ loans to outside museums and libraries for a minimum of 6 month term. Please complete the Loan Request Form to initiate the process. Please note that not all items are available for loan, and photographs and documents will only be provided as digital facsimiles. In addition, there is a nominal fee to cover administrative costs. Please see our Collection Management Policy below for our policies and conditions.

Do you have a collections management policy?

History San José Collection Management Policy

History San José Digital Preservation Policy (Adopted January 19, 2017)