Local History

The Local History Department is the archives for Carmel-by-the-Sea, and is devoted to acquiring, preserving, and making available historically significant items concerning the history of Carmel. These collections include: photographs, books, letters, diaries, programs, manuscripts, maps, scrapbooks, and works of art. 

Online Resources

• America’s Obituaries & Death Notices: US obituaries from 1860 – current
• Ancestry Library Edition: US & international genealogy research (In-library use only)
• California Death Index: Deaths occurring 1940-1997
• Carmel House & Building Research: A resource guide put together by our local history librarian
• Carmel House Names Map (This map is not created or maintained by the City of Carmel-By-The-Sea.)
• Digital Sanborn Fire Maps 1867-1970: Ask librarian for password, or use in the library
• Find A Grave: Millions of cemetery records
• Homes of Famous Carmelites Map (Additional information)
• Legacy.com: Find obituaries from over 1000 newspapers, 1998-present
• Social Security Death Index: 1935-2014, nationwide

In-Library Resources

• Carmel Development Company Collection
• Carmel Preservation Foundation Collection
• City directories and reverse look-ups (1926-present, some gaps)
• City of Carmel Building Permits (1920-1933, 1939-1940)
• Historic Resources Inventory: Information on properties in Carmel deemed historic
• List of Deeds of Property, Carmel Development Company Papers (1903-1935)
• M.J. Murphy estimates/costs for home building/projects (1915-1917)
• Nixon File: Newspaper articles and obituaries from local newspapers (1900-present)
• Yearbooks and alumni resources