NEVADA CITY, Calif. —The Nevada County Historical Society (NCHS) has launched a groundbreaking website offering unprecedented access to the combined archives of the Searls Historical Library and the Doris Foley Library for Historical Research. The Nevada County Historical Archive now provides researchers, genealogists, historians, and curious residents a single digital platform to explore nearly two centuries of local history.
A Comprehensive and Searchable Treasure Trove
The newly launched archive already contains more than 300,000 searchable items — including photos, maps, videos, documents, and newspapers — alongside over 660,000 indexed records. This extensive content comes from the collections of both the Searls and Doris Foley libraries. In collaboration with Nevada County Libraries, the site also features more than 16,000 scanned newspaper issues and over 10,000 pages of mortuary records from the Foley Library.
According to project lead and retired software engineer Dom Lindars, the ultimate goal is to bring all of Nevada County’s historical materials into one easily accessible digital home. “We recently began working with Nevada City to scan historical minute books dating back to 1854, and the Grass Valley Museum is now contributing images from their new scanning initiative,” said Lindars.
Growing Collaborations Across the Region
The Truckee-Donner Historical Society is also exploring participation in the archive project. “This archive is a goldmine of information and presentation,” said Heidi Sproat, the society’s webmaster. “It’s wonderful to have everything in one place instead of searching multiple sources. It’s a fabulous technological advance for accessing factual historical information.”
Decades of Volunteer Dedication
The archive builds on decades of volunteer work. Around 20 years ago, volunteers transitioned the Searls Library’s card catalog into a searchable digital database—originally developed by current Searls Director Pat Chesnut. Today, it includes more than 660,000 records, many of which Chesnut personally entered, including detailed descriptions of over 30,000 photographs that she also scanned.
The digitization effort gained momentum in recent years. In June 2023, Lindars made the Searls indexes searchable online, and by May 2024, a photo search function was added. The broader archive project began in September 2024 and continues to expand with new materials added weekly.
Mobile-Friendly and AI-Enhanced Search Tools
The mobile-responsive archive allows users to search collections from any device. It also helps visitors locate the physical source of each item, encouraging in-person visits to local libraries and museums. An AI-powered feature enhances photo searches by identifying and suggesting visually similar images.
“In the past five years, the County has digitized several local newspapers in the Foley Library’s collection thanks to generous support from The Ruth B. Heller Administrative Trust and the Friends of the Nevada County Libraries,” said Laura Pappani, branch manager of the Doris Foley Library. “The new archive allows us to present them online in a searchable format. It’s a fantastic resource for local history research, and we are thrilled to be part of it.”
The archive now includes more than 18,000 newspaper issues, dating back to the April 19, 1851 edition of the “Nevada Journal” — the first newspaper printed in California’s gold camps.
Call for Community Contributions
To continue growing the archive, NCHS encourages community members to donate historical items such as photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, or journals — often discovered in attics, garages, or barns.
“We want to preserve and share our community’s rich history,” said Dakota Stroh, NCHS secretary and digitization organizer. “And we don’t want people throwing away our history. Donate it to us — we’ll care for it, or scan it and return it to you.”
Visit the Archive and Explore Local History
The Nevada County Historical Society invites everyone to explore the archive by searching names, landmarks, organizations, or keywords. Community feedback is welcome and can be submitted through the site’s “Contact Us” page.
To begin your historical journey, visit the Nevada County Historical Archive at https://archive.nevadacountyhistory.org.
More Information
The Nevada County Library system provides a range of resources and services to inspire learning, discovery, and connection for community members of all ages. Nevada County Library remains committed to enriching the community through dynamic cultural programming and invites everyone to join in these exciting events!
The Doris Foley Library is located at 211 North Pine Street, Nevada City, California, 95959. For more information about this event and other library programs, visit https://nevadacountyca.libcal.com or call 530-265-4606. Don’t forget to follow Nevada County Library on Instagram and Facebook for the latest program updates!