b'State Library. As part of this very slow process, Doris Foley Library special cradles holdthese large books so thepages can be scanned.Treasure trove of unique items So far, the digitizedavailable in person and online collection is reallysmall, but its growing,Pappani says.I nside the former NevadaShe has been aBranch Manager Laura Pappani of the Doris FoleyCall us and chat! City Library downtown,librarian in the countyLibrary for Historical ResearchLibrarian Laura Pappanisystem for nearly 20 opens up an old book biggeryears. Both the historical collections unique nature, Margaret Gilmorethan a photo album with theand its vulnerability, became apparent to her during theMadelyn Helling Branch Managertitle, Marks and Brands. Onshutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she worked thick paper pages are crudealone in the old building.pen drawings of cows heads,For those who can come in personally, file cabinets showing nicks in their ears. hold folders with material already organized by topic. A hand-written entry fromUnder C, for example, one can browse photocopies of 1877 affirms that Thompsonnewspaper clippings, photos, even emails, about the local Lane, of Grass ValleyChinese community and the Cornish Choir.Township, marked his cattleMaterials also include notes, photographs, artworks and The Nevada City Library was built of rough- and sheep on both the leftslides from local historian Bob Wyckoff and Nevada City hewn granite block in the Romanesqueand the right ears to identifyartists and cultural leaders David Osborn and Charles Revival style and opened in 1907. TheWoods. The library recently received the archives of stone was later painted white. The buildingthem as his. the former Woolman School, the educational program became the Doris Foley Library for HistoricalOn another page, a type-Research in 1992. founded by the Society of Friends in the Jones Bar area written entry dated 1918west of Nevada City. Were working hard to create attests that Joe Casci registered a brand, simplyJ C, for his cattle.descriptions of the collections so people know whats in This gives them recourse if they run away or get rustled, Pappanithem and try to make them easier to find, Pappani says.explains. Its like a copyright.Another large book offers a summary of court cases, such asDoris Foley Library for Historical ResearchChampion Mining Co. vs. Consolidated Wyoming Gold MiningBranch Manager: Laura PappaniCo., dated 1876. This building is now the Doris Foley Library for211 N. Pine St., Nevada City, CA 95959Historical Research, a treasure(530) 265-4606trove of local court records, landwww.NevadaCountyCA.gov/337/Doris-Foley-Library-deeds, estate records, birth andfor-Historical-Researchdeath records, ledgers of financial Library named after local historiansupport for orphaned children, naturalization documents, letters, diaries, business records,Booklovers formed Nevada Countys first library in 1857, and newspapers, photographs, mapstheir collection was housed in various locations in downtown and, of course, books. Nevada City. The city took over administration in 1902, and We have things that onlyproponents soon petitioned the Carnegie Foundation for funds exist here, Pappani says. Ifto build a dedicated structure. The Nevada City Library opened anything were to happen to thein 1907, according to county records.In 1992, the new building was renamed to honor Doris Foley (19101982),ateacherandimportantlocalhistorianwho building, or to the town, theres Inside the Doris Foley Library for Historical Research, century-old newspapers are leftno replacing them. helped start the Nevada County Historical Society and started open for visitors to read. Advertisements onShes not paranoid. A firethe societys Searls Library for Historical Research, according to this page, from Aug. 10, 1924, include names that are still familiar today: The Owl Tavernthat swept through the town inan article by Gage McKinney published in The Union. Helling, and the Bret Harte Inn. 1856 burned down the originalFoley was a long-time friend of the late Madelynthenew courthouse, destroying early county records. When a library burns,theformerNevadaCountyLibrarianafterwhomlocal history burns, too, she warns. branch was named. Helling credited Foley for preserving history, saying, Doris research and writing are the basis of our Thats why Pappani is on a mission to both preserve these materials and make them accessible to the public. As the librarysknowledge, according to McKinney. Register The Carnegie building was listed on the National branch manager, she has started an online catalogue of imagesof Historic Places in 1990. Nevada City still owns the building, scanned from the collection, with some support from the Californiaaccording to the county website.8SENIOR DIRECTORYWestern Nevada County Edition 2024'