The Pioneer Room
Escondido and North County Archives
The research room and archives are a part of the Escondido Public Library that provides the community with non-circulating reference material. The local history collections include books, journals, photographs, and archival material. The family history research material primarily contains reference books.
To preserve this history and enhance the collection, the Pioneer Room welcomes contributions of historical documents and photographs about Escondido and North County San Diego. For more information or to discuss donating materials, please get in touch with us at 760-839-4315 or pioneer.room@escondidolibrary.org.
Together, let's preserve Escondido's history!
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Archival Collections
Genealogy Resources
Historic Homes & Properties
Reference Materials
Obituary Research Request
Local History Research Request
Research Highlights
Donate to the Pioneer Room
Pioneer Room Friends
Research Assistance
While appointments are not necessary to use the Archives, we welcome getting advance notice for access to the Archives and Local History Collection. Please get in touch with us for more information:
Phone: 760-839-4315
Email: pioneer.room@escondidolibrary.org
Our archival team will digitally preserve your photos of Escondido! Let us scan your photographs, which will become part of our local history—sponsored by the Pioneer Room Friends.
The Pioneer Room is proud to bring you a central location for our digital collections. Click the banner to view photographs of historic Escondido. You'll also find our finding aids and more information about the collections. We're always adding new content, so check back often for new collections.
Ever wonder where the historic buildings of Escondido were located? Have you ever wandered along Grand Avenue and thought about what a business or restaurant used to be? Fear not! The Pioneer Room is now on Historypin, a website that "pins" photographs to geolocations. Features allow for searches by date and address or comparisons between the past and present.
Explore the historic buildings of Escondido here: Escondido Historic Building Collection.
Search the Times-Advocate, Escondido Times, and North County Times newspapers published before 1995 using Digital Reel. The Daily Times-Advocate was founded in 1909 following the merger of two weekly papers, The Escondido Times (founded by A. J. Lindsey in 1886) and The Escondido Advocate (founded by A. D. Dunn in 1891). Also known later as the Escondido Times-Advocate, it was one of the longest-standing institutions in Escondido's history. The North County Times was formed in 1995 from the merger of the North County Blade-Citizen of Oceanside and the Escondido Times-Advocate.
PLEASE NOTE: This resource is only available on Library computers and the wireless network in the Library.
About the Pioneer Room
The Pioneer Room was established in 1992 with a bequest from local historian Frances Beven Ryan (1901-1990). Documents, photographs, and other reference materials are available for researching various local history topics, including historic homes and properties, biographies of people and families local to Escondido, and events about the history and development of Escondido and the surrounding region. The Pioneer Room identifies, collects, preserves, and provides access to a non-circulating collection of records, manuscripts, and other significant resources of enduring historical, legal, administrative, and fiscal value for the community of Escondido.
Location & Hours
247 South Kalmia St.
Escondido, CA 92025
760-839-4315
pioneer.room@escondidolibrary.org
Thursday
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday:
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
See locations & get driving directions.