Division of Special Collections
The Special Collections division is as diverse as the history of California itself and seeks to serve a variety of interests: Researchers, Students, Writers & the Casual Visitor. The primary collections focus upon themes, events, and individuals who contributed to the ongoing history of Redlands and Southern California. In addition to California-related collections, the division also stewards the Abraham Lincoln and Civil War collections of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine.
Learn about volunteer and internship opportunities.
Available by Appointment
In order to serve you in a safe and efficient manner, the Heritage Room has shifted to an appointment only system. Researchers are asked to provide information about their research topic and list specific titles they are interested in accessing when scheduling an appointment. Please review the Library’s catalog to identify titles and shelf numbers to include in your request. All researchers are required to provide their own writing materials; pens are not allowed. No more than two persons are allowed per research appointment.
In accordance with Smiley Library’s COVID-19 reopening procedures, research visits are limited to one hour and researchers are required to wear face coverings at all times during their visit. Hand sanitizer is available for all Heritage Room visitors to use upon entry. Any person feeling unwell or exhibiting signs of illness is asked to remain at home. All surfaces will be sanitized between research visits.
Donations to the Archives, Museum of Redlands, and Lincoln Memorial Shrine will also be accepted with an appointment. Contact Special Collections staff for further information.
Appointments are available during the new hours of operation: Tuesday 2-5pm, Wednesday-Thursday 1-5pm, and Friday-Saturday 1-4pm. To schedule an appointment, please submit a request on our online portal, call (909)798-7632, or email heritage@akspl.org. Appointments are only finalized when confirmed by Special Collections staff.
Hours of Operation
Tuesday 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday 1pm – 5pm
Thursday 1pm – 5pm
Friday 1pm – 4pm
Saturday 1pm – 4pm
For information: (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org
Celebrate Earth Day
With its tree-lined vistas and beautiful public spaces, Redlands has been recognized for its commitment to greenery since its earliest years. From its parks and emphasis on trees, flowers, and plants, to the work of community organizations focused on the environment, Redlands was once known as “the radiant garden spot of California”!
Celebrate Redlands’ dedication to its environment in new online exhibitions focusing on Redlands Parks and Arbor Day.
Learn more about how you can contribute to beautifying Redlands through the work of organizations like the Redlands Horticultural and Improvement Society, Redlands Conservancy, Arbor Day Foundation, and many more!
The Woman’s Vote: A Century of Suffrage
Celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment by exploring an online exhibit about the fight to enfranchise women. “The Woman’s Vote: A Century of Suffrage” discusses the efforts of women in Redlands, California, and across the country to win the right to vote. The long struggle culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment a century ago.
See the new exhibit here.
Resilient Redlands: COVID-19 and Our Town
A.K. Smiley Public Library is embarking on a new project to document life in Redlands during the outbreak and bring programs to you at home. Led by the Library’s Division of Special Collections, “Resilient Redlands: COVID-19 and Our Town” will both reach out to the community to collect the experiences that define this moment in time, and reach you at home through a weekly webinar series.
Community Outreach
We want to know how the pandemic has affected your life. The Redlands community is invited to share their experiences through photographs, stories, poetry, works of art, or anything that can be shared electronically that documents life during COVID-19. Submissions will become part of the Library’s COVID-19 remembrance collection.
Share your experiences through the new “Resilient Redlands” portal that allows you to upload photographs and documents, and answer a few questions about adjusting to life in this time of uncertainty. If email is your preference, please send these items to the Heritage Room at heritage@akspl.org. Submit your memories here. In person donations are accepted by appointment.
Webinar Series
If you crave opportunities to learn during your time at home, partake in the “Resilient Redlands” webinar series that will focus on topics related to Redlands history and the collections of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine. Webinars will take place each Saturday at 11am and will be led by the staff of A.K. Smiley Public Library and Lincoln Memorial Shrine. To register and for information on future topics, visit the Library’s events page.
Zoom Virtual Background
Find backgrounds for your virtual meetings and get-togethers courtesy of Smiley Library here.
If you have any questions, please contact the Heritage Room at heritage@akspl.org.
Archives
Established in 1972, the Archives of A.K. Smiley Public Library strives to collect, preserve, and make available historical materials relating to Redlands, San Bernardino County, Southern California, and the West. So, whether you are new in town or a lifelong resident, the Archives offers a variety of ways to explore Redlands.
Explore our Collections…
Books
California Collection, Rare Books, and Autograph Collection
The California Collection covers a wide range of subjects dealing with the history of Redlands, San Bernardino County, California, and the West. There are separate collections which house rare books and autograph books.
This collection began in 1910 by a gift from industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to honor his friend Albert K. Smiley. It includes rare and selected volumes primarily on the Native American tribes of California and the Southwest.
California Pamphlets & Periodicals
The substantial pamphlet and ephemera collection contains catalogued items relating to Redlands, San Bernardino County, and California. The material ranges from the 1860s to the present.
Early California magazines, including Out West and Land of Sunshine, are available alongside contemporary publications and historical society quarterlies.
Maps
Dating from as early as the 1850s to recent topographic maps, the map collection focuses on California, San Bernardino, and the Redlands area.
Newspapers
The newspaper collection is one of the largest of local and regional newspapers in Southern California.
Local newspapers include:
The Citrograph, Redlands’s earliest newspaper, has been indexed from 1887-1896
Redlands’s long-running newspaper, the Redlands Daily Facts has served the community since 1890
The Redlands Daily Review began in 1901 and merged with the Facts in 1919
The Colored Citizen served Redlands’s African American community between 1905 and 1906
El Amigo del Hogar focused on Redlands’s Spanish-speaking community at the turn of the century
Manuscripts
The California manuscript collection consists of thousands of pieces written by significant historical figures. Subjects include Redlands and San Bernardino County, as well as Southern California deserts, mountains, water development, and citrus.
Oral Histories
Over 100 oral histories of individual community members document their lives and experiences. Researchers utilize both audio and transcripts to add another dimension to understanding Redlands history. Two major oral history projects are “Citrus & Service” and “Citrus, Labor, and Community in East San Bernardino Valley.”
Photographs
Whether you are curious about how Redlands looked in the past or would like to relive the city as you remember it, the photograph collection has thousand of images that show the city throughout its long history.
The collection affords researchers a variety of subjects, relating to the history and development of Redlands, as well as the rest of California.
While these items are not available online, you can always make an appointment to access the collection in the Heritage Room.
Citrus Collection
The expansive citrus collection tracks the rise of the citrus industry in California and its role in the development of Redlands as a major citrus center. The collection includes citrus labels, financial journals, growers’ records, and much more.
Art Collection
The extensive art collection of the A.K. Smiley Public Library includes original works depicting scenes of Redlands, California, and the desert. Collection highlights include works by local artists Worden Bethell, Jean Cranmer, and Hazel Olsen.
#CLIR Water Project
A.K. Smiley Public Library is part of the Digitizing Southern California Water Resources Project, a 3-year collaborative digitization project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).
The collaboration forms a regional network of Southern California private and public institutions that demonstrates our commitment to leveraging our individual strengths (collections, subject knowledge, and professional expertise) and technical infrastructures towards the open proliferation of water heritage collections. See Smiley Library’s contributions to the project here.
Major Collections Include…
- A.K. Smiley Family Collection
- City of Redlands Collection
- Gerald A. Smith Indian Collection
- Nordhoff – Morrison – Stillman Collection
- Citrus Industry Collection
- Watchorn Family Collection
- Lincoln Memorial Shrine Collections
- Home Movie Preservation Project
The former Redlands Daily Facts building is the future home of the Museum of Redlands
The Redlands Historical Museum Association and the Special Collections of A.K. Smiley Public Library work to collect, catalog and preserve items related to the history of Redlands. Please contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 for information on how you can contribute. Arrangements can be made for pick-up of donations.
Visit the Museum of Redlands website.