Costa Mesa Historical Society

Collections and Resources

How can we help you?

· More Than 27,000 Photographs of Costa Mesa people and places

o Schools, Government, Commerce, Agriculture, Residential

o Santa Ana Army Air Base (SAAAB)

· 1,000+ Library Books on Costa Mesa and surrounding areas

o Most books are out of print

· Local Periodicals and Newspapers

o Phone Books, City Directories, Journals and Magazines

o Newspaper - Globe-Herald/Daily Pilot 1923-1961

o Subject News Clipping Files

· Hundreds of Maps

o Costa Mesa - Newport area, Orange County and Southern California

o 1900 to Present

· Audio & Video Recordings and Movies Films

o Oral History, Local and Regional History, World War 2

· Major Collections

o Mildred Fisher Collection - Costa Mesa Schools 1928-1965

o Nell Murbarger Collection - Personal and travel writings; research notes for "Ghost Towns of the Southwest"

o SAAAB Collection - Training Base 1942-1946

o Dodge Family Collection - Early Costa Mesa

o Ed Miller Collection - Research notes for "A Slice of Orange", "Hayburners of Orange County", and "SAAAB Story"

o Lions Club Collection - Papers and memorabilia, 1928-present

o Early Costa Mesa Collection - Rural/Agricultural Period, 1900-1950

· Estancia Historical Site

o Mission/Rancho/Farming Period, 1820-1920

o Native American & Archaeological Artifacts

o Period Furnishings and Personal Effects