To register for an event or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.
Questions? Email [email protected]
I previously wrote about the California Digital Newspaper Collection (https://cdnc.ucr.edu/) drama here: https://www.californiaancestors.org/emergency-california-digital-newspapers-collection/
We’ve now received an update from Daryle Williams, Professor and Dean:
Last year, more than 1,000 private donors joined the Office of the Governor and the State Legislature to support the CNDC in its moment of profound need. Individual gifts alone exceeded $145,000!
These donations have been essential to the ongoing work of preservation and access. With the financial support of our donors, in combination with an ongoing General Fund allocation to sustain the California Newspaper Project, we have secured staffing, restored vendor support and site reliability, purchased new hardware, enhanced cybersecurity, and completed an urgent backup of data at risk of permanent loss. A large collection of microfilm reels, some at imminent risk of deterioration, has been transferred to the University of California library system for proper cataloguing and storage.
Additional accomplishments include restoring relations with the National Digital Newspaper Program. We have responded to inquiries from select county libraries and historical associations across the State who were dismayed that the project appeared to be on the brink of going dark. Finally, we have made steady progress in exploring new partnerships with other California institutions that share a commitment to open-access resources documenting the life, history, and culture of the Golden State.
While the past few months have included some unwelcome and unearned frustrations among long-time friends and site users, the future of the California Digital Newspaper Collection is looking bright.
I thank you — our community of genealogists, local historians, academic researchers, librarians, and fellow Californians — for patiently and passionately supporting the project during a rough patch.
As we look towards significant new investments in data backup and cybersecurity, you are invited to remain at our side, working towards stability, sustainability, and growth. I extend a warm invitation to make an additional gift (or perhaps your first!).
Thank you once again for your engagement and commitment to preserving our shared rights to a free press.
Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar view: https://www.californiaancestors.org/cgs_calendar/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes
FEB
2026
