California in Print

Join us in welcoming California in Print: Highlights from the Eleanor McClatchy Collection.

Early California immigrants brought the latest printing technology with them to record and communicate their ideas. The printed media introduced California to the world during a time when this distant land was still a captivating mystery.

The exhibit is installed in the R. Burnett Miller Gallery on the museum’s third floor. Reflecting the ways Californians chose to document their lives through printed media. This collection recounts stories of adventure, hardship, discovery, and triumph, and highlights how perceptions of this new paradise evolved over time.

The colorful exhibit showcases items and collectibles from the Eleanor McClatchy Collection that were donated to the City of Sacramento and the Center of Sacramento History.

Eleanor McClatchy (1895 to 1980) was the granddaughter of James McClatchy who became editor of The Sacramento Bee in 1857, its founding year. Later, Eleanor went on to preside over the newspaper from 1936 to 1978. In addition to helping run the family newspaper business, she was an avid collector of California history.