UCSC publishes 10,000 images documenting more than a century of Santa Cruz history

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) UC Santa Cruz's University Library has published a collection of more than 10,000 images documenting more than 100 years of Santa Cruz history.

The photos in the Santa Cruz County Historic Photograph Collection includes original photos and copy prints from 1866 to 1995 showing local attractions, tourism, agriculture and the film industry in the early 20th Century. Most of them are from the City of Santa Cruz, but some are from the northern and southern parts of the county.

In addition to showing well-known attractions, it also shows the daily lives of residents.

"As memory institutions, libraries are key in preserving history and making it as accessible as possible,” said University Librarian Elizabeth Cowell. “In this instance—the work to preserve and share our unique local history—the power and importance of this role is clear.”

Most of the photos came from local historian, journalist and photographer Preston Sawyer. The university said he was born in Santa Cruz in 1899 and spent time working as an extra in movies filmed in the Santa Cruz area. The university acquired Sawyer's photos after his death in 1968.

Other sources for the collection include C.L. Aydelotte, C. Aichberg, Alice Halsey, Kroughs, McKean and Ort, Ole Ravnos, Reese, W.H. Sherer, George Webb and the Wicklund Studio.

See the Santa Cruz County Historic Photograph Collection online here.