History and future of Alta California’s destroyed Archive

Abstract

This article explores the history and prospects of reconstructing the destroyed Archive of Alta California, a crucial repository of Spanish and Mexican administrative documents lost in the 1906 San Francisco fire. Despite the physical loss, the 19th-century bibliographic summaries known as the Archives of California, housed in the Bancroft Library, preserve much of its content. These documents, however, are highly disorganized due to war damages and inadequate archival practices during the American takeover. By analyzing the archive’s original administrative structure, the impact of subsequent mishandling, and its transformation into a bibliographic collection, this study underscores the challenges of historical reconstruction. Employing archival and bibliographic methodologies, I propose two strategies to improve access: producing detailed descriptions or comprehensive transcriptions with indexing. A cost-benefit analysis reveals that, while both approaches are feasible, full transcription would yield the most significant benefits for historical research, providing a robust platform for exploring Alta California's legal, social, and political heritage.