Californiana
Owning Institution: LA County Library
About this Collection
Step into the heart of the Golden State through "Californiana", a vibrant collection where history meets heritage while showcasing the complexity of persons and groups who shaped the American West. The Californiana collection of LA County Library captures valuable artifacts reflecting the state’s rugged landscapes, diverse culture, and unique way of life.The Californiana digital collection at LA County Library begins with rare historical books and will grow to include digitized city directories and maps for locations inside Los Angeles County.
The first items in LA County Library’s digital Californiana collection include A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean for its historical look at the geographical and cultural make-up of the state of California prior to its formation.
A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean provides the account of three separate major exploration missions – primarily in pursuit of the Northern Passage, from 1776 to 1780. The expedition was commissioned by the British monarch, King George III, to explore and discover new territories in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is during the events described in Volume III that the mapping of the coast of California is detailed, making for the first official documentation of the western coast of North America, and putting an end to the long-debated idea that California was an island off the coast of North America and separated from the main land by a strait.
While the material in this collection includes harmful and outdated language, all three collection volumes present historical perspective and context, and are available to read online here.
Acknowledgement:
Items in the Californiana collection are made possible through the support of Reference Services at Norwalk Library of LA County Library. For more information, visit Special Collections at LA County Library (https://lacountylibrary.org/collections/) View this collection on the contributor's website.
View our statement on digital primary resources and historical description.
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