Fresno, California…May 26, 2020…
For over 100 years, the Fresno County Historical Society has been gathering and preserving our past and, for nearly as many years, the McClatchy-owned
Fresno Bee
has been documenting the stories of the Valley in newsprint and photographs. Now, these two venerable organizations have embarked on a collaboration to ensure that the history of our region will be protected for years to come.
This past February,
The Fresno Bee
relocated to new offices at Bitwise 41 which positioned the media outlet to adopt a multi-platform service model. As the paper left its 19
th
& 20
th
century space behind, the immense catalog of history, that had been held safely in the newspaper’s morgue, was in immediate need of a secure home.
This vast assembly of photos, negatives, clip files, newspapers, as well as a library of hundreds of books, chronicles over a century of unfathomable local, national and world moments – from the founding and growth of many Valley communities to every conflict since the Spanish-American war through 9/11 and beyond. Volumes of
The Fresno Morning Republican
, which served the region prior to the birth of the
Bee
in 1922, are remarkably well-preserved and intact. Achievements, momentous and small, include everything from the installation of streetlights in Fresno to the moon landing to the birth of the world wide web. All are represented within the pages of this irreplaceable archive.
Upon learning that this chronicle of our collective past would require relocation, the Fresno County Historical Society stepped up to request the privilege of housing and preserving
The Bee
archive for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
Fresno County Historical Society President, Elizabeth Laval said, “No other collection thoroughly brings to life the growth of our Valley than the pages of
The Fresno Bee
. Prior to radio, television and the 24/7 world of the internet, people relied on their daily paper to inform and educate them about everything from, literally, cradle to grave. Our responsibility to preserve such a true Valley treasure was clear and we are grateful to
The Bee
for working with us to ensure not a single document is lost. The value of this endeavor cannot be overstated.”
“What’s important to me is the long legacy of
The Bee’s
journalism, which dates back nearly 100 years. Retaining that history is important and I’m thrilled to partner with the Historical Society in this effort,” said
The Fresno Bee
Publisher Tim Ritchey.
Scott Stanley, President of Max's Artisan Breads Inc. has provided the Society use of 5,000 square feet of space to temporarily store the collection while a permanent home can be sought.
"In 1987 I spent many enjoyable hours in
The Bee's
archive selecting historic photos of famous Fresnans and city scenes for display in my restaurant, City Cafe. The history in this valuable asset is so important and I am happy to be part of saving it for future generations," Stanley said.
“We will be relying on the generosity of the public to assist in helping us to raise the funds necessary to secure permanent housing for this collection – so, if we call you, please do what you can,” Laval implored.
The Bee
and Society are working on long-term plans for accessibility to the collection.
The Bee
journalists will retain access to the archive materials. Digital archives are unchanged, and all content remains the property of
The Bee
.
