Sonoma State University Library endeavors to provide free and open online access to archival and historical materials related to the region north of San Francisco known as the North Bay. The Library is digitizing selected resources in support of student learning, scholarship, and community interests. Items in our digital collections include photographs, unpublished manuscripts, correspondence, newspaper articles, and ephemera. Four digital collections are currently accessible: Gaye LeBaron Digital Collection, 1906 Earthquake Digital Collection, Lime Kiln Digital Collection and Environmental History Digital Collection.
The Gaye LeBaron Digital Collection includes materials selected from the Gaye LeBaron Collection, a special collection held in the University Library. Digital objects include letters, photographs and newspaper columns that chronicle the history of the region. New objects are added each week. Printed versions of these images can be viewed by appointment. To view LeBaron newspaper columns from 1995 to the present, go The Press Democrat website. More about the Gaye LeBaron Collection.
The Earthquake of 1906 Digital Collection draws together photographs and correspondence from various Special Collections.
The Environmental History Digital Collection represents an ongoing effort to gather documents, photographs, clippings, and ephemera relating to the pioneering role Sonoma County and northern California played, and continues to play, in actively addressing environmental issues. Particular emphasis is on coastal protection and public access but many other areas are represented. The collection consists of Sonoma State University Library materials as well as materials contributed by faculty, students and community members. Related materials may be found in the Gaye LeBaron Digital Collection.
The Lime Kiln Digital Collection is comprised of 16 photographs of lime kiln ruins in northern and central California. Historical and technical context is provided by photographer, David Dawson. A link to e-thesis "Lime Light", by Karin Goetter, is included.
Searches can be performed within a single collection by clicking the "advanced search" tab and de-selecting all but the desired collection(s). Search across multiple collections by using the search box in the upper left corner of screen. To view every item in a collection, select the collection from the drop-down list and click "go".
To cite these collections, go to How to Cite Special Collections Materials. (word)
To use materials for publication or in any manner other than personal research, read Conditions for Reproduction and Use of Library Materials and contact the Library for more information. Copyright restrictions and fees may apply.
Photographs and documents are scanned from originals, whenever possible, and archived as 300 dpi TIFF files. JPEG derivations are then uploaded to the web. Selected newspaper articles are uploaded as PDF files and may have been adjusted with Adobe Photoshop to fit a printed page. North Bay Digital Collections are powered by CONTENTdm® software.