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About this Database

This database is an online index to early newspapers published in Santa Cruz, California. The original paper indexes were created by the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries as part of a project that started in 1982--and which continues today. The papers indexed include the Santa Cruz Daily Surf, the Santa Cruz Evening News, and the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Without this group of dedicated indexers, the online database would not have been possible.

The disclaimers included with the print version apply to this database as well: "The dates and pages printed in the paper were occasionally incorrect. This index records them as printed, not as they should have been. And, the same [holds true] for the spelling of names. Check all possible variants of a name."

The current index is for the Santa Cruz Surf, covering the years 1883 - 1900, and the Pacific Sentinel and Santa Cruz Sentinel, covering the years 1856 - 1884. Print copies of the indexes are available at the Central Branch Reference Desk. Another online source of local newspaper articles is the index to the Library's Newspaper Clipping File.

Obtaining the actual article

The majority of the articles referenced in the index are available on microfilm at the Central Branch. If you live outside Santa Cruz County, copies of individual articles may be available by contacting the Reference Department.

Project Credits

Project and search design by Gary Decker, Deborah Stephens, and Ann Young. Database design and search scripts by Ann Young. Subject headings assigned by Gary Decker, Richard Morris, Eric Stricker, and Deborah Stephens. Data input by David Addison. Additional assistance from Victor Willis.