University of California at Berkeley Establishment of the “California Mormon Collection” Project Bancroft Library, UCB

1. Identifying all "Mormon" related items at Bancroft and identifying them as part of the California Mormon Collection.
2. Processing of the Norma Ricketts' Collection. Sister Ricketts donated her collection last year, which includes all the materials she had gathered since about 1945 as part of her research for the books and pamphlets she wrote - about 25 boxes of materials.
3. Processing of the Dale Morgan Collection: Brother Morgan worked as an archivist at The Bancroft Library and collected materials, particularly Mormon art, that he planned to publish. Unfortunately, he passed away before completing the project. All his collection was donated to Bancroft and has been sitting in boxes awaiting funding.
4. Transcription of the Bancroft Dictations - hand written oral histories of Mormon pioneers both in California and in Utah. A transcription of approximately 60 Dictations is now underway, using LDS volunteers. Eventually the transcriptions will be available online - probably with the original handwritten text alongside the transcribed text. The exciting aspect of Bancroft's California Mormon Collection is that it will be integrated into perhaps the most prestigious research libraries in the world.

Mormon California History in Art is the theme of this year’s competition sponsored by the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation. Artwork will be displayed for seven weeks at The Folsom History Museum starting March 20, 2010. Official Rules and Entry Form

Developing and distributing audio/visual, written material, lesson plans, and activity materials for teachers to use in teaching California History. This project is to develop lesson plans, written supplemental material, and activities for students to accompany Historical VHS or DVD presentations. Currently the Foundation is distributing the “More Precious Than Gold” video tape, and is working on the development of a DVD of this presentation. We are also working on a short presentation about the historic voyage of the Ship Brooklyn. Long range plans are to develop a presentation on the Southern California Settlers.

This project is the development and distribution of historical information brochures. These are distributed in state parks, visitor’s centers, parades, historical events, schools, historic societies, firesides, etc. The California Pioneer Heritage, Saints, Soldiers, and Settlers is a general information brochure about the contribution of the early LDS to California History. San Diego Mormon Battalion Historic Sites gives a map location and explanation of important sites in that area. Other pamphlets in progress are: Driving Guide to the Mormon Emigrant Trail, Sacramento Area Historic Sites, Los Angeles Area Historic Sites, San Francisco Bay Area Historic Sites, and numerous others.

The Living History Re-Enactors do a tremendous job in telling first person histories and giving the public the firsthand “flavor” of pioneer history. These individuals give of their time and money to accomplish this. The Foundation is hoping to increase the amount of financial help to these re-enactors for such things as black powder for the cannon and musket firings, twine for showing school children how to make rope, materials for showing school children how to make pioneer cloth and cornhusk dolls, Dutch oven cooking supplies for demonstrations to the public, and many other similar activities.