Archives
The Archives collects, organizes, and preserves the historical records of the Mechanics' Institute, including, but not limited to, organizational records, the Board of Trustees by-laws and reports, records and ephemera from the Industrial Fairs, Chess Club records and photographs, and historical books, documents, and ephemera directly related to the activities and administration of the Mechanics' Institute. The Special Collections are comprised of books, photographs, and ephemera relating to chess, California, the history of San Francisco and Northern California, international expositions, the Arion Press, the Civil War, and Membership, Independent, and Special libraries.
Funding to support preservation and programming related to Mechanics' Institute Archives has been provided by California Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
MI Chess Club Records, Photographs, Tournaments, 1883-present
Besides its extensive collection of chess literature, the MI has a large collection of records documenting its chess club activities, including tournament records, and the visitors' register dating back to 1913, which includes signatures of World Champions from Alexander Alekhine to Boris Spassky. The photo collection comprises nearly 500 images dating from 1909 to 2012, primarily covering the history of chess in California, with particular attention to Northern California and the MI Chess Club.
Digitized holdings:
MI History: By-Laws, Historic Minutes, Historic Membership Records, Building Records, Photographs, 1854-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and fire destroyed the original MI building along with most of its collection and archives, we still possess a trove of historical documents, ephemera, and photographs covering our 165-year existence.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.
MI Industrial Exhibitions, 1857-1899
Between 1857 and 1899, the Mechanics' Institute sponsored 31 Industrial Exhibitions promoting industry and agriculture in California. Written reports were prepared for each of these Exhibitions giving an accounting of the income and expenses, rules and regulations, items exhibited, art pieces displayed, descriptions of the opening exercises, detailed descriptions of the awards (medals and diplomas) given in various categories, and reports of the various committees. The MI collection includes 51 bound volumes and booklets of the Exhibition Reports, 25 medals and at least 5 diplomas. (MI does not have a copy of the Report for the 31st Industrial Exposition in 1899.)
MI Industrial Exhibitions (1857-1899)
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