Research & Resources

Archives

Mechanics' Institute Archives include historical documents, ephemera, and photographs covering the period since our founding in 1854.

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Mechanics' Institute History

1854 to Present

While the 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed the original MI building along with most of its collection and archives, we still possess a trove of historical documents, ephemera, and photographs covering our 165-year existence. Highlights include Board of Trustee minutes, Annual Reports, original linen-backed blueprints for our 1910 building designed by architect Albert Pissis, MI's constitution and bylaws, membership lists, registers and cards, some records from the Mercantile Library Association which merged with MI just prior to the 1906 earthquake, and a small collection of photographs.

Industrial Exhibitions

Between 1857 and 1899, the Mechanics' Institute sponsored 31 Industrial Exhibitions promoting industry and agriculture in California. The MI collection includes 51 bound volumes and booklets of the Exhibition Reports, 25 medals and at least 5 diplomas.

Chess

Materials include a large collection of records documenting our chess club activities. Our founders were dedicated to the game of chess as an integral part of Mechanics’ Institute.

Special Collections

Books, photographs, and ephemera relating to chess, Californiana, the history of San Francisco and Northern California, and membership libraries are housed in our extensive collection. Special books include a collection from Arion Press, the Civil War and the Bancroft Library.

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Chess Books and Journals

late 1700s-present

Mechanics’ Institute houses the finest public repository of chess literature west of the Mississippi including over 2,500 publications (books and journals) on chess from the late 1700s to the present.

Californiana

1840-present

The Californiana collection consists of books, bound journals, atlases, maps, San Francisco city directories, and gazetteers.

Western Americana

early 1800s-present

Books, maps, and printed ephemera document the exploration, settlement, and development of the Trans-Mississippi West including Hawaii and Alaska, the history of the Spanish Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, and the Overland Trails after the discovery of gold.

The Civil War

1894-1962

Our collection of Civil War books not only documents the conflict that took place between the North and the South but also the role that California played in the War Between the States.

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Join as a new member today and receive 13 months of an annual membership in this time limited offer. Explore our literary and chess events and access to our historic library.

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Site photography by Greg Habiby

What’s Inside

Online Databases

The Mechanics' Institute offers access to a wide array of databases

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Special Collections

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Research & Resources