Research help

The Santa Ana History Room will be closed to the public alongside the Main Library closure beginning June 20, 2024. Please contact us for more information.


Local institutions

During the History Room closure, here is a list of local Orange County institutions containing Santa Ana’s history.


Research assistance: historical photographs

To browse digitized collections visit here: Digital Collections.

You may download and reproduce jpegs for free from the database for personal use only. Any reproduction, redistribution, publication, exhibit, or other use, by any means, without prior written permission is prohibited.

For higher resolution commercial quality TIFF files or prints, please view the following fees and complete the necessary form.


Reliable and helpful web resources:

Online Periodical Databases

Online Archives of California (OAC): Provides historical materials from a variety of California institutions, including museums, historical societies, and archives.

The Statistical Abstract of the United States: Published since 1878, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.

The Library of Congress: The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, and it serves as the research arm of Congress.

The National Archives Genealogy and Family History Page: Provides information on accessing federal records for genealogical information.

The USGenWeb Project: Free genealogy websites organized by county and state.

*This file is viewable with free Adobe Acrobat Reader software that allows you to view and print PDF files.

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