Hours
To be certain the Arda Haenszel California Room is open, please call (909) 381-8208 (Arda Haenszel California Room) or (909) 381-8221.
Monday & Tuesday: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Many treasures of San Bernardino's past are preserved in the Arda Haenszel California Room of the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library.
Learn about the Indians who were living here when the settlers came. Read how the valley appeared to the early explorers.
Discover how San Bernardino was laid out with broad streets in a grid pattern by looking at the early maps that are available. See pictures of pioneers and early streets and buildings downtown.
Trivia Quiz
How well do you know the history of San Bernardino? Take the Ultimate San Bernardino Trivia Quiz online or get the PDF. The quiz was compiled by the Arda Haenszel California Room Volunteers.
Read about the...
The room also includes:
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Shades of San Bernardino Photo Project
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Great Register of San Bernardino County for 1880 - 1886
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Marriage Records, Birth and Death Records up until 1910 (incomplete)
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Census Records for San Bernardino and for Riverside from 1850 to 1920
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Los Angeles Mexican Census for 1836 and 1844
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San Bernardino Sun newspaper from 1894 to present on microfilm
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City Directories from 1887 to 1968
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Criss-Cross from 1976 to present
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Telephone books from 1918 to present
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Assorted early diaries from early San Bernardino
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Family histories and biographies of early San Bernardino residents
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Mary Lewis collection of early settlers from 1853 to 1909
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San Bernardino Obituaries - some in print and some on microfilm
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San Bernardino Valley Genealogical Society Quarterlies from 1962 to present - only San Bernardino County Information
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Pioneer and Aqua Mansa cemetery burial records
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Records of Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
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Books on early pioneers of San Bernardino with photographs and synopsis of families
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Miscellaneous photographs of San Bernardino Area
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San Bernardino High School Annuals
Vital Records
FEES - Our prepaid mail-in research fee is $20.00 per hour or any part thereof. This fee is in addition to copy costs of 25¢ per page.
Librarians will be glad to provide the information you need if you can provide us with the date: month, day and year of items requested and/or other pertinent information regarding your question.
A self-addressed stamped envelope with your request is appreciated.
Please send requests to:
San Bernardino Public Library
Research Question
555 West 6th Street
San Bernardino, CA 92410
If you prefer, you may ask your hometown library to borrow microfilm of the San Bernardino SUN from the California State Library in Sacramento. In this way, you will be able to search for yourself and avoid our research fee.
Other Historical Research Resources
SB Sun Online - Library Card Needed for Remote Access
America's News Full-text articles from U.S. newspapers including The San Bernardino Sun (9/14/2001 - current) and Riverside Press Enterprise (9/28/1992 - current.) Updated daily, it includes obituaries.
Subscription generously provided by Edison International grant
The California Digital Newspaper Collection is a project of the Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research (CBSR) at the University of California, Riverside. Includes scanned versions of the San Bernardino News (1912-1918), San Bernardino Daily Courier (1886-1894) and San Bernardino Daily Sun (1894-1997).
Online Archive of California
As California's central repository for collection guides, the OAC is a vital resource that serves everyone interested in California's rich collections: browse online, search for information about specific items and their location, and learn how to access them. New technology solutions enhance discovery, making it easy to locate specific items quickly or browse collection contents online.
Calisphere is the University of California's gateway to more than 150,000 digitized primary source items that "reveal the diverse history and culture of California." Its content "has been selected from ... the UC campuses, and from a variety of cultural heritage organizations." Searchable, or browsable by individual subjects or themed collections, which are "primary source sets organized to support California [K-12] Content Standards." Also includes selected historical essays and lesson plans.
