The History Collection can be searched by consulting the subject files. These files include pamphlets, newspaper clippings and other written material about South San Francisco. The South San Francisco Enterprise Journal is available on microfilm from 1895 to present. Other materials that are preserved in the History Room are the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce business directories, South San Francisco’s budgets and general plans, photographs, oral history tapes, city government records and maps. City Council documents can also be accessed online. The books in the History Room cannot be borrowed or removed from the library. WPA (Works Progress Administration) paintings and works by local artists are displayed in our collection.

There are approximately 2000 photographs, slides from the 1850s to the present. The collection also contains local school photographs and yearbooks from 1917 to present.

Portions of the photograph collections are available online. The Bits of History collection for San Mateo County focuses mostly on buildings and/or sites. You can visit the South San Francisco portion of the site or search by topic. Shades of California - South San Francisco, is a historical photograph collection focusing mostly on residents.  Photographs were donated to the Library by local residents and digitized to be shared with the community.  There are also photo collections from other California cities.

This part of the History Collection consists of general genealogical reference materials, city directories (1905, 1908, 1929, 1938, and 1940), local telephone books from 1979 to the present, photocopies of the local telephone books (1912, 1915, 1920, 1937, 1942, and 1944), a historic building survey (1986), Sanborn Maps (1910 and 1929), South San Francisco zoning and area maps (1840s to present), Historic Preservation and Old House Journal magazines, and Oral History tapes.

Included are the 40 bills introduced in that term along with bill analyses, committee materials, arguments and assorted other items.

Also added to the Archives in the History Room of the Grand Avenue Library are copies of the approximately 200 state Resolutions presented in the 2002-2008 terms of office. These resolutions were presented to individuals, organizations and other entities to mark special events, milestones and other significant occurrences in San Mateo County.