Frequently Asked Questions

Contents:

1. What's available on this site?
2. Do you have a question about an archival collection, image, or text? Would you like to view the original version?
3. Are you seeking permission to publish or reproduce an image or text?
4. Do you want to cite an image or text in your paper or presentation?
5. Do you have an item you would like appraised?
6. Are you a representative of a California library, archive, museum, or other institution that wants to join the OAC?

1. What's available on this site?

The Online Archive of California (OAC) brings together historical materials from a variety of California institutions, including museums, historical societies, and archives. These historical materials consist of items such as legal documents from a company or organization, a person’s diary, or historical photographs. The OAC does not own any of these materials, but only hosts them online.

The OAC provides an online inventory of these materials, also known as a guide or "finding aid", and links to the institutions that own the originals. For example, the California State Archives in Sacramento owns the archival records of the Department of Motor Vehicles (which include conference records from the Governor's First Traffic Safety Conference in 1946, original news clippings from 1950, photographs, and other items). The California State Archives created an inventory of these files, which the OAC makes available online.

In some cases, the documents or photographs have been digitized by California institutions and can be assessed directly from the OAC. You can search for online materials by using either the Images or Text tabs on the Search page; also, look for the image icon or the text icon throughout this site.

2. Do you have a question about an archival collection, image, or text? Would you like to view the original version?

If you have a question about an archival collection, image, or text that you found through this site, or if would like to see the original version of an online item, you will need to contact the institution that owns the item. The OAC does not own any of these materials, but only hosts them online.

To locate contact information for the institution, click on the name of institution in the "Want to Learn More?" box displayed at the bottom of the item's page.

3. Are you seeking permission to publish or reproduce an image or text?

The contents of the OAC database are made publicly-available by the institutions who own the collections. These materials are intended to be used for research, teaching, and private study. All items may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Usage of some items may also be subject to additional restrictions imposed by the copyright owner and/or the institution.

Please contact the institution that owns the collection for information about the copyright status of a particular digital image or text. For permission to publish or obtain a reproduction of a particular collection item, please also contact the institution directly. The OAC does not own any of these materials, but only hosts them online.

To locate contact information for the institution, click on the name of institution in the "Want to Learn More?" box displayed at the bottom of the item's page.

For more information, see the OAC Copyright Statement & Conditions of Use.

4. Do you want to cite an image or text in your paper or presentation?

Cite materials according to the owning institution's preferred form of citation.

Suggested citation information is included on the first page for all texts in the OAC.

To locate preferred citation information when viewing an image, do the following steps:

• Click on the hotlink to the guide to the collection of which the digital image is a part. The collection guide is listed at the top of the page.
• Click on the Administrative Information section in the sidebar to the guide to the collection. Locate the Preferred Citation information .
  
  

5. Do you have an item you would like appraised?

Unfortunately, the OAC does not offer appraisal services. If you have an item that you feel one of the OAC contributing institutions would be interested in or might have more information about, you will need to contact the institution directly.

To locate contact information for the institution, click on the name of institution in the "Want to Learn More?" box displayed at the bottom of the item's page.

Alternatively, see the List of OAC Contributing Institutions page.

6. Are you a representative of a California library, archive, museum, or other institution that wants to join the OAC?

Please see our How to Join the OAC as a Contributing Member page.