California State Library

I happen to have a few unusual days off due to the workers' Union I'm around, and so I eagerly anticipated today as a day to go Gedder Done!

I was just going to go to Folsom Prison to see some stuff on Benjamin Stewart and then take some pictures on the way back at a few cemeteries, but because my sister wants to be involved, too, I thought harder about what could be done in the Capitol City that I normally couldn't do...

What about the state archives? What about all the resources at the Library? Vital records for the whole state supposedly are there, too... Holy Cow! That's worth a trip if it's done smartly.

So I need to work on the smart part first.

(just got off the phone with someone there...)

The California State Library is open Mondays through Fridays (except holidays) from 9:30 to 4pm. No Saturdays. The address is 900 N Street, two blocks down from the State Capitol building between 9th and 10th. 916-654-0176

Some of the things I can do there is search the California Informational File, a card catalog, for people and events... So hopefully I should be able to find out the results of the 1910 Election when Frank Ambrose ran for Assemblyman. They have indexes of Deaths back to 1905, marriages (husband and wife seperately) from 1949 to 1986, and births have to go through the state Vital Records repository, which you cannot visit in person.

This has its limitations, but I can still certainly use it.

They ask you use pencils, never pens, just in case. You may bring a laptop, but not a scanner or digital camera. They ask you turn your cell phone off or on vibrate, talking only outside the library. You can photocopy most things either yourself or by asking a librarian. If you are not a state employee, you must register as an In-House Patron. There is no fee for this.

So... off we go!

* * * * *

I had some specific things I was looking for; Fragassi evidences, Avila evidences, anything on the Ambrose lines- particularly election results from 1910, Sprogis and Winkler to a lesser extent. I tried to multi-task whatever section I was in at the time. I was in the Calif Informational Files and statewide City Directories the most. I did look at the marriage and death indexes, but had more success with them online later.

I found George and William Ambrose of San Leandro, and thus learned what happened to Giovanni and Marie's son Antonio. I found Wallie Sprogis in the Sacramento directory from 1930. Rose Marie (Ambrose) and Lawrence Cobb in San Luis Obispo, 1942. In Los Angeles' city directory from 1938 was Michael and Frances FRAGASSI, Angelona, and Rozzi all living together in black and white on page 728. On page 729 of the same volume was Frank and Angelina FRAGISSI. The year before, LA directory 1937 page 702, Frank and Angelina were at the same address, but spelled FRAGASSI.

I could bore you with all the things that I looked for but didn't find... I did come away with some great stuff, but for the most part I now know a little better how it all works in there.

And in case you ever go, the entry foyer has the most extrordinary echo I've ever heard. We spent several minutes enjoying that alone...