Collections Policy
Escondido Public Library's Pioneer Room is the primary historical research center for the community of Escondido. 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.
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 about 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 issued by local organizations. The Pioneer Room may also collect selected ephemera of regional significance. Non-print materials include Escondido-related visual and sound recordings, slides, artworks, and posters.
- Materials in the collection cover the 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 documenting 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 pursuing their family histories like the history of families or individuals who were born or who lived in Escondido but became prominent elsewhere.
- The primary focus is materials about 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 collecting materials representing Escondido and the surrounding region. We also focus on migration patterns throughout California.
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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, available 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's 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.
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Pioneer Room Friends
Who are the Pioneer Room Friends?
The Friends of the Pioneer Room is a non-profit organization that supports the Escondido Public Library's local history collection through organized fundraising projects such as the sale of the Pioneer Room Calendar each year. The group also sponsors local history and genealogy events.
Pioneer Room Friends Board Meetings
The Pioneer Room Friends Board meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Main Library. Meetings are open to the public.
What do the Pioneer Room Friends do?
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Promote the use of the Pioneer Room's archival and genealogical materials.
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Raise funds to help purchase items for the collection and archival preservation materials.
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Publish and sell an annual calendar that contains historic photos of Escondido from the Pioneer Room collection.
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Publish a quarterly newsletter for members.
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Sponsor workshops and speakers to raise awareness of local history, genealogy, and the Pioneer Room's resources.
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Participate in community events such as the Grape Day Festival.
How do I become a Pioneer Room Friend?
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Download and print a Pioneer Room Friend membership form. (Completed forms must be mailed to the address noted on the form along with a check.)
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Contact staff at the Pioneer Room to find out more about becoming a Pioneer Room Friends Board Member: 760-839-4315 or pioneer.room@escondidolibrary.org
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The Pioneer Room Friends continue their tradition of providing an annual calendar to support the Pioneer Room! This year's calendar explores Escondido's Historic Churches. Believing that churches were a solid foundation for a community, the Escondido Land and Town Company offered free land to religious groups. The calendar features photographs from the Pioneer Room collections and images from the History Center and Escondido's church communities.
Your donation provides local history and genealogy events and archival materials that allow our archives staff to continue the care and preservation of the Pioneer Room collections.
Calendars are available year-round for $10.00 in the Pioneer Room.
Calendars from previous years
Please contact the Pioneer Room at 760-839-4315 or email us at pioneer.room@escondidolibrary.org to check availability. The cost is $2 each.
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