California State Historical Association

Agency History

The California Historical Survey Commission (hereafter cited as C.H.S.C.) predecessor to the California State Historical Association, was established ( Stats. 1915, ch. 763) to make a survey of local historical material within the state and to compile and keep a record of such resources. The commission was abolished in 1923 whereupon its duties and powers were transferred to and vested in the Regents of the University of California ( Stats. 1921, ch. 398). In October, 1923, the Regents authorized the formation of the California State Historical Association with the stipulation that it be self-supporting.

The California State Historical Association (hereafter cited as C.S.H.A.) was given a statutory base in 1927 ( Stats. 1927, ch. 753). The stated purpose of the organization was to promote interest in and disseminate knowledge of the history of California. The law provided that the property, records, and archives formerly held by the C.H.S.C. should be administered through the State Board of Education as Trustees of the C.S.H.A.

The State Treasurer had jurisdiction over the association's appropriations until 1931 (ch. 430) after which time the Department of Finance received this responsibility.

The C.S.H.A. was abolished in 1949 (ch. 1289).

Additional records of the C.H.S.C. War History Committee are available on microfilm in the California Section, California State Library, (Mifm C110) while more of Dr. Owen C. Coy's, C.S.H.A. Director, correspondence and research records can be found at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.