Collections Policy

Escondido Public Library's Pioneer Room is the primary historical research center for the community of Escondido. The Pioneer Room identifies, collections, preserves, and provides access to a non-circulating collection of records, manuscripts, and other significant resources of enduring historical, legal, administrative, and fiscal value. 

Documents, photographs, and other reference materials are available for researching a variety of local history topics, including:

• Historic homes and properties
• Biographies on people and families local to Escondido
• Events pertaining to the history and development of Escondido and the surrounding region

Scope of the Collection

The Pioneer Room maintains a collection of Escondido newspapers on microfilm, supported by a topical file of news clippings and scrapbooks. The Library also acquires current newspapers and periodicals about Escondido, a representative selection of magazines published in Escondido, and many newsletters and other publications issues by local organizations. The Pioneer Room may also collect selected ephemera of local significance. Non-print materials include Escondido-related visual and sound recordings, slides, artworks, and posters. 

• Materials in the collection cover the time period after the discovery of California by the Spanish through the present day. Archival holdings on pre-contact American-Indian culture, represented by drawings or photographs of the non-sacred inscriptions, which represent the historical record of indigenous culture, may also be considered.

• The collection may include materials that preserve the histories of the City of Escondido; Escondido Public Library; local clubs, organizations, schools, churches, businesses, and institutions; local customs and culture, and important local events and people.

• The Pioneer Room collects primary and secondary materials that document the history of the founding/pioneer families and other individuals who have contributed to the development of Escondido and the surrounding region to assist present and future residents in the pursuit of their family histories. This could include the history of families and/or individuals who were born or who lived in Escondido but became prominent elsewhere.

• The primary focus is on materials pertaining to early Escondido pioneers, the early Spanish and Mexican settlers, present-day community leaders, and the American Indians of the area. The secondary focus is on the collection of materials representing Escondido and the surrounding region. Migration patterns throughout the state of California may also be included.

Donate to the Pioneer Room

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. Donations to the Pioneer Room require a completed Escondido Public Library Deed of Gift form, which can be obtained from the Pioneer Room or Library Administration staff. Please note artifacts will not be collected.

The Pioneer Room accepts donations, particularly when the material relates to Escondido’s founding families, the City of Escondido, and its official functions. Some examples of our current needs are:

• Manuscripts - original written or typewritten documents
• Collections of papers - personal documents detailing significant people or events in Escondido History
• Memorabilia - objects of historical interest to Escondido
• Photographs - digital or print photos of Escondido and its residents
• Audiovisual recordings - digital recordings including music, performances, or oral histories significant to Escondido history

Click here to fill out a donation request form.

For More information or to discuss donating materials, contact us by phone at 760-839-4315 or by email at pioneer.room@escondidolibrary.org.