In a recent letter to members, the trustees of the 153-year-old California Historical Society announced that it is “winding down and permanently closing.” It’s collection, estimated to contain over 600,000 items dating as far back as the early 18th century, is being transferred to Stanford University Libraries, in parthership with the Bill Lane Center for the American West. Through this arrangement, its collection will continue to be accessible to scholars and the public.

The historical society had other near-death experiences. Much of its collection was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, and it faced other major financial crises in the 1970s and again in the 1990s, when it avoided possible closure by selling its primary asset, the Whitter Mansion, which had taken title to in 1956.

According to the board’s letter:

In its early years, CHS’s operating deficits were often resolved through generous year-end contributions from members and donors, a trend that has markedly declined in recent years. And unlike other large, well-established collecting institutions, CHS’s early benefactors did not leave sufficiently large endowments to cover the ongoing operational costs of maintaining its sizeable collection in perpetuity.

Furthermore, despite being recognized as California’s official state historical society, the State has declined to fund CHS’s operations. Although CHS has lobbied the California Legislature for budget appropriations, it is one of the few state historical societies that has never received operating funds from it’s state government.

The organization’s tax returns available online via Guidestar.com, confirmed substantial operating losses. In 2022, expenses exceeded income by over $1.6 million, and the deficit grew to over $1.8 million in 2023, the most recent tax year available.

I was introduced to the California Historical Society in about 2014, when my late sister, Bonnie Stevens, asked me to visit their library in downtown San Francisco, which held the original copy of a handwritten memoir of my great-great-grandmother, Eleanor Howard (Thomas) Brittain Knowlton, written before her death in 1908.

It was a quiet thrill when I was escorted into a reading room, provided gloves, and presented the original two handwritten volumes, which I carefully leafed through and photographed. Bonnie then transcribed the volumes from the photos, and I’ve been posting them here, bit by bit, since last May.

I’m sorry to see a nonprofit like this forced to disband, and looking closer to home, hope that the Hawaiian Historical Society is able to continue its efforts in perpetuity. The Hawaiian Historical Society offers discounted membership to seniors and students, and I would encourge you to become a member and do your small part to keep the organization healthy and active.

Need I mention that the Trump administration seems hell-bent on ending public support for organizations like this as well as many other vital public services, so now is the time to step up.