HIGHLIGHTS OF CALIFORNIA COLLECTIONS
FRESNO CITY & COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Preserving the Rich Heritage of California’s Central Valley Since 1919
A Century of Preserving Valley Heritage
Founded in 1919, the Fresno City & County Historical Society has spent more than a century preserving the oral histories, photographs, ephemera, and artifacts that define the communities and innovations of the San Joaquin Valley. From the earliest days of human activity, through settlement, and into the region’s growth as an agricultural center, the Society has worked to preserve Fresno’s diverse heritage to ensure that future generations can understand the people and events that shaped it.
The A.W. Peters Collection
Over nine hundred glass plate negatives capturing the Valley's turn-of-the-century transformation through the lens of a self-taught photographer.
Early Engineering Records
Rare documentation of the first hydroelectric power plant construction and the development of the region's electrical infrastructure.
Indigenous Heritage
Important photographic records of the Mono (Monache) people, capturing their community, dwellings, basketry, and family life in the late 19th century.
The A.W. Peters Collection: A Window to the Past
Among the many prominent collections in the Fresno City & County Historical Society’s archive, the remarkable A.W. Peters Collection provides a vivid recollection of the Valley’s turn-of-the-century transformation. As a self-taught photographer, Albert W. Peters (1866-1959) created over nine hundred glass plate negatives that captured the region’s landscapes, industries, and communities during a period of incredible change.
In 1895, engineer John Eastwood hired Peters to document the construction of the San Joaquin Electric Company’s first hydroelectric power plant near the North Fork of the San Joaquin River. His photographs followed the entire process of carving the flume system and reservoir as well as the completion of a powerhouse and transmission lines. This collection offers a rare visual record of early engineering and innovation in the Sierra Nevada.
During his months in the mountains, Peters befriended members of the Mono (Monache) people, and from this friendship Peters was allowed to photograph a series of images showing that community. His photographs of bark and grass dwellings, basketry, and family portraits are now recognized as an important record of this Indigenous group during a period of transition and adaptation in the late 19th century.
Beyond these noteworthy series of images, Peters turned his attention to the City of Fresno itself along with agricultural scenes, Fresno schools, class portraits, mountain portraits, and the logging industry. Through collections like that of A.W. Peters, the Fresno City & County Historical Society continues to illuminate Fresno County’s vibrant past.
Featured Images from the A.W. Peters Collection
Click on each image to view full photo
Access the Archives
The Fresno County Historical Society is committed to making its archival collections available to the community while ensuring their long-term preservation. At this time, the archive is closed for significant changes and an upcoming move to our new facility. That being said, researchers and the public may inquire about items or collections presently held by the Society.
Research requests are available on the Society’s website and may also be submitted by email with as much detail as possible regarding names, dates, and subjects of interest. After review, researchers receive a summary of materials related to their topic and, when appropriate, an invitation to schedule an on-site visit with the archivist to view the item(s). Otherwise, the information will be sent by email to the researcher.
Because each appointment requires careful preparation, in-person research sessions must be arranged at least two weeks in advance. Information requests can also be made by phone or email, both of which are available on the Society’s website.
Connect with Valley History
Explore the full collection and discover the stories that shaped California’s Central Valley
Contact Information
Website: www.valleyhistory.org
Email: info@valleyhistory.org
Phone: (559) 441-0862
Research Requests: www.valleyhistory.org/research
This feature is part of the monthly Highlights of California Collections series
Presented by Friends of California Archives
© Friends of California Archives | Celebrating California’s Cultural Heritage