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The Placentia Library History Room

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Welcome to the Placentia Library History Room!   

The History Room is open to the public during regular library hours and features books, photographs, videos, oral histories, maps, and other materials documenting the city’s rich and colorful history. Boasting a collection of more than 5,000 photographs, books by local authors, historic orange crate labels and other memorabilia, the Placentia History Room is an invaluable custodian of Placentia’s past. As a resource center for the people of Placentia, this collection includes both historical and current information concerning the cultural, geographic, agricultural, economic, social, and political development of the Placentia area. 

 If you would like research assistance, feel free to make an appointment by calling (714) 528-1906, ext. 224 or emailing historyroom@placentialibrary.org. 

Placentia History Collection

How to Donate Historical Resources

Persons with historical materials may donate them to the Placentia History Room. Due to the nature of preservation and available space, we only accept donations that fit within the scope of our collection.  

Donations can be made through appointment only by emailing historyroom@placentialibrary.org or calling 714-528-1906 ext. 224. 

Responsibility for accepting any offer of donations belongs to the History Room Librarian and, ultimately, to the Library Director. 

Discover our Digitized Materials

Calisphere: Placentia Local History Collection 

Calisphere hosts numerous resources contributed by many cultural heritage organizations in California. Here you will discover free access to the Placentia Library District's photograph and periodical collections. The photograph collection includes images of historical interest of Placentia from the mid 1800s to 2000. Images document the citrus industry and early oil industry; residential, religious and public buildings; street scenes; significant individuals, including the Bradford family and Kraemer family; and annual events, such as the Heritage Day Celebration. The periodical collection includes digitized scans of the Placentia News Times from the 1970s to 1990s.  

 

California Revealed: Placentia Periodical Collection 

California Revealed is a State Library initiative that helps public libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other heritage groups digitize, preserve, and provide online access to materials documenting the state’s history, art, and cultures. Here you will discover free access to the Placentia Library District’s digitized periodical collection from the late 1970s Placentia News-Times and Placentia Courier. 

 

Internet Archive: Placentia Periodical Collection 

The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library that hosts cultural artifacts in digital form. The Placentia Library collection contains texts from the 1970s to 1980s. A majority of the collection consists of a newspaper titled, the Placentia News-Times. 

 

The Placentia Library would like to thank all individuals and organizations for contributions to the Local History Room, included but not limited to the Placentia Community Foundation, the Placentia Library Friends Foundation, the Placentia Historical Committee, the California State Library, CA Revealed, the Bradford House, Calisphere, and our dedicated volunteers, interns and staff.