Doris Foley Library for Historical Research
🏢 Nevada County Library · Nevada City, California
Doris Foley Library for Historical Research
A Carnegie-built landmark since 1907, the Doris Foley Library holds Nevada County's most complete archive of Gold Rush–era newspapers, probate records, and photographs — all housed in a Romanesque Revival stone building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 10am–4pm |
| Thursday | 10am–4pm |
| Friday | 10am–4pm |
| Saturday | 10am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 211 N. Pine Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 265-4606
Website: nevadacountyca.gov
Plus Code: 84FW7X7J+FC (Nevada City, CA)
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📖 About Doris Foley Library for Historical Research
Built in 1907 with a $10,000 Carnegie grant and designed by architect William H. Weeks in the Romanesque Revival style, this single-story stone building with arched doorways and a stained-glass 'lamp of knowledge' window has served Nevada City for more than a century. In 1997, the Nevada City mayor declared May 17 'Doris Foley Day of Honor' and renamed the branch to honor Foley (1904–1982), a local school teacher, writer, and charter member of the Nevada County Historical Society who spent her life documenting the county's past. Today the non-circulating branch holds manuscripts, photographs, diaries, maps, probate records, microfilmed newspapers dating to the April 19, 1851 Nevada Journal — the first newspaper printed in California's gold camps — and more than 10,000 pages of mortuary records, making it the primary archive for Gold Rush–era research in Nevada County. It is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places (December 10, 1990) and as a contributing property to the Nevada City Downtown Historic District.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1907 Carnegie library designed by William H. Weeks in Romanesque Revival style — individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places (December 10, 1990, NRHP #90001809)
- Non-circulating archive with microfilmed newspapers back to the April 19, 1851 Nevada Journal — the first paper printed in California's gold camps — and The Union from 1865 to the present
- Named in 1997 for Doris Foley (1904–1982), local teacher, writer, and charter member of the Nevada County Historical Society
- Houses the Arthur Cecil Todd Cornish Studies Collection and PG&E company archives (1911–1982) alongside manuscripts, diaries, maps, and Freemason lodge records
- Partner in the Nevada County Historical Archive (archive.nevadacountyhistory.org) — a freely searchable database of 300,000+ items and 660,000+ indexed records
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Nevada County Library cardholders access these free digital and research resources — including the free Nevada County Historical Archive available to anyone online:
📚 Services
- Non-circulating on-site research library — all manuscripts, microfilm, photographs, maps, and archival records used in-house (Wed–Sat, 10am–4pm)
- Genealogy research using birth, baptism, marriage, death, and cemetery records
- Microfilm reader access for historical newspapers (The Union from 1865–present; other papers from 1851–1980)
- Assessor's books, probate court documents, city directories, and Freemason lodge records
- Maps and official government records dating to 1856
- Archival materials including diaries, letters, personal papers, and business records
- Reference assistance from branch staff for local history and genealogy inquiries
- Link+ interlibrary loan requests for circulating materials (via Nevada County Library card)
🎸 Programs
- Annual anniversary celebration each October 4 (1907 dedication date) with free admission, historian presentations, and live music
- Public history presentations by local historians in partnership with the Nevada County Historical Society
- Collaborative programming with the Truckee-Donner Historical Society through the shared Nevada County Historical Archive
📍 Nearby Libraries in Nevada County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Nevada City · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Doris Foley, and why is the library named after her?
Doris Foley (1904–1982) was a Nevada City school teacher, local historian, and charter member of the Nevada County Historical Society who devoted her life to documenting and preserving the county's past. On May 17, 1997, the Nevada City mayor declared 'Doris Foley Day of Honor' and renamed the branch in her memory, recognizing her as one of the most dedicated chroniclers of Nevada County's Gold Rush heritage.
Can I check out books from the Doris Foley Library?
No — the Doris Foley Library is a non-circulating archive. All manuscripts, microfilm, photographs, maps, and archival records must be used on-site during open hours (Wednesday–Saturday, 10am–4pm). Many books in the collection are also held at other Nevada County Library branches, where they can be borrowed normally with a Nevada County Library card.
What is the oldest newspaper I can read here, and how far back do the records go?
The library holds microfilm of the Nevada Journal dated April 19, 1851 — the first newspaper printed in California's gold mining camps. The microfilm collection spans The Union from 1865 to the present and numerous other regional papers from 1851 through 1980. Maps and official government records in the collection date to 1856.
Is the Carnegie building itself historically significant?
Yes. Built in 1907 for approximately $10,000 funded by a Carnegie grant, the Romanesque Revival stone structure was designed by architect William H. Weeks and is one of the few California Carnegie libraries built in that style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places individually on December 10, 1990 (NRHP reference #90001809) and is a contributing property to the Nevada City Downtown Historic District.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.